Ease into the New Year: How to Make a Simply Sophisticated Spa-Style Washcloth

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Tina Hilton, contributor

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A trio of natural linen spa cloths.

Tina Hilton

Stitch markers will remind you to begin the center pattern.

Tina Hilton

Slip the first stitch as if to purl and slip the second stitch as if to knit, then slip the left needle in the front of these stitches to knit together.

Tina Hilton

A trio of natural linen spa cloths.

Photo: Tina Hilton

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A simple washcloth may have been many of our first knitting attempts. Maybe they were gifts from well-meaning aunts. Misshapen squares comprised of cotton “washrag” yarn in colors not found in nature are often the reason we’ve shied away from our own washcloths. The distinctive design and the luxury linen fiber used in this project will change your mind about washcloths and you will become addicted to the process and begin cranking them out in record time.

Begin with the original version designed by Jill Wilcott of Y2Knit and try out the two additional versions I developed. They are so much fun to make that you will be inspired to experiment with your very own versions.

What You'll Need:

• Louet Euroflax 100% linen (270 yards) (I used fine sport weight double stranded in Natural and easily made four cloths. Substitute any cotton or cotton blend you may have on hand that produces a similar gauge. Hit your local Wal-Mart or mega craft store for a New Year’s Day fix if you don’t have a suitable yarn in your stash.
• Knitting needles size 8 (or size to achieve gauge)
• Tapestry needle
• Cable needle

Gauge
Around 3.75 stitches/inch

Abbreviations
Cb3: place 3 sts on a cable needle and hold in back
Cf3: place 3 sts on a cable needle and hold in front
Cn: cable needle
In: inch
K: knit
K2tog: knit 2 together
Pm: place marker
Rs: right side
Rep: repeat
Ssk: slip-slip-knit
Sts: stitches

Step by Step
Y2Knit Fan-Shaped Face Cloth
Cast on 43 sts.
Row 1: (Rs) K19, pm, k5, pm, k19.

Stitch markers will remind you to begin the center pattern.

Row 2: Every even row, knit.

Slip the first stitch as if to purl and slip the second stitch as if to knit, then slip the left needle in the front of these stitches to knit together.

Row 3: K17, ssk, k5, k2tog, k17. Pm to indicate right side (rs).
Row 5: Knit to 2 sts before marker, ssk, k5, k2tog, knit to end.

Knit two together makes a right-slanting decrease.

Repeat even and row 5 until you have 9 sts remaining. End with an even row. Remove the markers on the last row.

Remove the stitch markers when 9 stitches remain.

Row 7: K1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1. 7 sts.
Row 9: K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1. 5 sts.
Row 11: K1, sk2p, k1. 3 sts.
If you wish to make a hanging loop on the end, knit these 3 sts until the loop is the length you desire.
Row 12: Sk2p, cut the thread, leaving a tail long enough to sew down the loop.

Sk2p - slip 1 sts to the right needle as to purl, k2tog, use the left needle tip to pass the slipped stitch over the k2tog and off the right needle.

Make the loop on the end smaller than you think you need because it will stretch considerably when wet.

Weave in the loose ends.

Face Cloth with Center Seed Stitch Design
Cast on 43 sts.
Row 1: (Rs) K19, pm, k, p, k, p, k, pm, k19.
Row 2: K19, pm, k, p, k, p, k, pm, k19.
Row 3: K17, ssk, k, p, k, p, k, k2tog, k17. Pm to indicate right side (rs).
Row 5: Knit to 2 sts before marker, ssk, k, p, k, p, k, k2tog, knit to end.
Repeat even and row 5 until you have 9 sts remaining. End with an even row. Remove markers on the last row.
Row 7: K1, ssk, p, k, p, k2tog, k. 7 sts.
Row 8: K2, p, k, p, k2.
Row 9: K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1. 5 sts.
Row 10: K5.
Row 11: K1, sk2p, k1. 3 sts.
Knit optional hanging loop knitting in garter stitch (knit every row) until you reach the length desired.
Row 12: Sk2p.

Face Cloth with Center Cable
Cast on 44 sts.
Row 1: P19, pm, k6, pm, p19.
Row 2: K17, ssk, p6, k2tog, k17.
Row 3 and all odd rows: Purl to center and knit 6 sts in pattern then purl to the end.
Row 4: K to 2 sts before marker, ssk, p6, k2tog, knit to end.
Repeat row 4 and odd rows until you have 9 sts remaining. (This will be at row 38. From there, complete as directed through row 43)
Row 5: P to marker, k6, p to end.
Row 7: P to marker, cf3, (place 3 sts on cn and hold in front), k3, k3 from cn, p to end.
Rows 9, 11, 13: P to marker, k6, p to end.
Row 15: P to marker, cb3 (place 3 sts on cn and hold in back), k3, k3 from cn, p to end.
Rows 17, 19, 21: P to marker, k6, p to end.
Row 23: P to marker, cf3, (place 3 sts on cn and hold in front), k3, k3 from cn, p to end.
Rows 25, 27, 29: P to marker, k6, p to end.
Row 31: P to marker, cb3 (place 3 sts on cn and hold in back), k3, k3 from cn, p to end.
Rows 33, 35, 37: P to marker, k6, p to end.
Row 38: K1, ssk, p4, k2tog, k1.
Row 39: P2, cf2, p2.
Row 40: K1, ssk, p2, k2tog, k1.
Row 41: P2, k2tog, p2.
Row 42: K1, sk2p, k1.
Row 43: Sk2p.

Cut yarn, thread tail through the loop and pull tight to secure. Weave in loose ends.

The cloths as they appear before washing.

The cloths softened up considerably and will continue to soften the more they are washed.

Original Fan-Shaped Face Cloth pattern courtesy of Y2Knit designed by Jill Wilcott.

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Comments (15)

KJRas writes: Tina, these are great! I am not seeing the red clarifications to the cable pattern and would like to make that one. Thank you!

Posted: 2:20 pm on February 9th

Readerwoman writes: Would like to see a crochet version of this!
Posted: 2:59 pm on December 30th

munazzah writes: Wowy blog

spa packages
Posted: 8:10 am on June 28th

SusieNS writes: Where do I find the clarification for the cable center for the sophisticated face cloth?

Thanks
Posted: 2:11 am on June 5th

Sewing2enjoying writes: These are fabulous! I wish I could feel confident enough to make them. I just finished my very first project - a prayer shawl done with the help of the knitters in a church group of knitters. I presented my shawl to a lady that I know desperately needed it and would appreciate it. I told the group it was so poorly done that it had to go to someone who badly needed a shawl or loved me a whole lot! These lovely and useful wash cloths are exactly the type of knitting that is so appealing to me. I'll bet one of the ladies at the church knitting club will help me to learn to do these stitches and to follow directions you have provided. Thanks so very much. I will talk to them and get the necessary yarn. This is such a helpful site!
Posted: 2:30 am on December 31st

K1Drink2 writes: Wonderful! Was looking for a quick, easy (but not boring) project to use as a teaching tool for a beginner. This is it! Thanks for such wonderful directions and photos, too.
Posted: 3:33 pm on March 13th

cjms writes: Your blog is the best and I can't wait to see what else you come up with. You rock!
Posted: 4:55 pm on January 18th

SMVG writes: Tina,
I love your blog!!! These washcloths are fabulous. The linen yarn provides just the right texture to get off stubborn make-up. Thanks so much for another project that I can enjoy and is useful. P.S. My friends loves them too.
Posted: 11:13 am on January 10th

nancye writes: Thank you for posting your clarification so quickly; and it makes so much sense to have written it in red. And...ooooh - fingertip towels!! I can't wait for those!!
Posted: 9:22 pm on January 8th

Tina_Hilton writes: Hi LindyLu - I just stocked up on more linen yarn and plan on expanding the pattern to make fingertip towels for the guest bath. Look for the pattern in March or April.
Posted: 7:39 pm on January 7th

Tina_Hilton writes: Please see the clarification I added for the "Face Cloth with Center Cable" as indicated in red.
Posted: 7:31 pm on January 7th

LindyLu writes: Knitting these is great therapy after finishing all of those knitted gifts. They are a one session knitting fix and I've even given a few to my daughter to take back to college with her. She appreciates a bit of maternal coddling even while she enjoys being away from it.

Thanks for these instructions.
Posted: 7:22 pm on January 7th

Tina_Hilton writes: Hi Nancy - Thank you for your question. I'll post a clarification of the pattern within 24 hours.

Tina
Posted: 4:34 pm on January 6th

nancye writes: Face Cloth with Center Cable. Is this instruction correct: Repeat row 4 and odd rows until you have 9 sts remaining. Thanks for checking.

Posted: 9:22 pm on January 4th

jalama writes: These are a really cute idea. I'm just getting back into knitting and this will be a great next project to go beyond my basic skills.
Posted: 9:14 am on January 3rd

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