Mary Ellen's Seed Stitch Halfcloth
Well I’ve been knitting some dishcloths this week. They tend to be one of my default settings when I need to feel like I’m accomplishing something, but really don’t have a specific project I want/need to get done. I even managed to write up 3 patterns for different ones that I played with and will be sharing them along the way. If you knew me, you’d know that was huge, because usually I will either get into a rut of just doing seed stitch cloths or inventing new patterns, but not writing them down.
I have a philosophy about dishcloths. I think they are a great project for anyone at any level of ability. When talking to or teaching anyone who is starting to knit, I recommend they play around with dishcloths. I even recommend them to seasoned knitters learning a new technique. My reasons: Everyone can use a dishcloth even if you make a mistake. They make great gifts. Dishcloths are the perfect size to try out new pattern stitches or techniques on because they are big enough to see the general idea but small enough to not spend too much time on while mastering what it is you need to learn.
A few years back, while working at the bookstore/yarn shop, someone came in with a dishcloth that was half the size that patterns normally were designed to. Most dishcloths seem to be in the 8×8 to 10×10 inch range. This dishcloth was 9×4 1/2 – 5 inches. They didn’t feel too bulky when washing the inside of a glass yet they were plenty big enough to wash down a counter or wipe up a spill. I played with the original pattern, but as is always the case when you put Mary Ellen, yarn, patterns, and her brain in the same space for any length of time I started seeing a myriad of possibilities. The halfcloths pictured above are just one of the patterns I developed over the years.
The nice thing about using the seed stitch for a default pattern is that as long as you cast on an odd number of stitches you don’t have to really pay attention. You can be talking or watching TV, your hands and the needles in them just move along, and by the end of an episode or two you will look down to see that it is time to bind off. And like potato chips, the next thing you know there’s another one in your hand.
As you might suspect I’ve got another wash cloth started. I’ve go 37 stitches cast on and have done knit one, purl one across. Where it is going to go from here I don’t know yet, but I think it’s time to go find out.