Free Knit Pattern: Checker-Square Garter Dishcloth
This dishcloth looks deceivingly difficult, but garter stitching and slipped stitches keep it simple. The stitch pattern is easy to memorize but keeps you interested.
You will need cotton yarn in two contrasting colors. I used Size 8 needles for a gauge of approximately 4 stitches/inch. The finished size is a generous 10 1/2″ square.
To Begin, cast on 51 stitches with white. Knit 1 row. Do not tie off.
Row 1: Attach Red. K 1, *sl 1, K 11* across to last 2 sts; sl 1, K1.
Row 2 and all alternating rows: Use the same color from previous row to knit all knit stitches and slip all slipped stitches with the yarn in front.
Row 3: Using white, K 4, *(sl 1, K 1) 3 times, sl 1, K 5* across to last 11 stitches, *sl 1, K 1* three times, sl 1, K 4.
Row 5: Using red, K 3, *sl 1, K 7, sl 1, K 3* to end.
Row 7: Using white, K 2, *sl 1, K 3, sl 1, K 1* to last stitch, K last stitch.
Row 9: Using red, K 5, *sl 1, K 3, sl 1, K 7* across to the last 10 stitches, sl 1, K 3, sl 1, K 5.
Row 11: Using white, K 2, *sl 1, K 1, sl 1, K 5, (sl 1, K 1) twice* across to the last stitch, K last stitch.
Row 13: With red, K 7, *sl 1, K 11* across to last 8 stitches, sl 1, K 7.
Row 15: As for 11
Row 17: As for 9
Row 19: As for 7
Row 21: As for 5
Row 23: As for 3
Repeat these 24 rows 3 times more.
Repeat Row 1 once more.
Knit 2 rows in white. Bind off in knit.
Despite the colorwork, this dishcloth keeps a cute rear view.
Free Patterns and Tutorials at Kayla K’s Thrifty Ways
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My birthday is in December….red is my favorite color. You already know that though. Mom
This is awesome! I love knitting dishcloths and this pattern is so gorgeous, I might use it for a table runner and placemats too! Thank you so much for offering it free!
I love the thick, sturdy fabric that garter stitch creates. Placemats and a table runner would utilize this well. Great idea!
Thanks for this pattern! I have started knitting and am looking for different dishcloths for practice and for sprucing up my sorry lot of old ragged cloths that currently reside in the towel drawer in the kitchen. Looking forward to trying this out, and seeing you on Saturday!
What a great pattern! Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks for sharing your pattern. I love this cloth
Kayla-
Thank you for sharing this pattern with us. It is so cute. It’s great for anyone, especially those just learning to knit, who want to try knitting with two different yarn colors.
Happy Knitting,
-Tina
Hi I love your pattern for the checkered square dishcloth,I would like to make it a little bigger for a towel could you tell me how many more stitches I would have to add.Thank you.
Mary B
Help. There is a part of the pattern that I don’t quite understand how to do. It is “knit all knit stitches and slip all slipped stitches with the yarn in front.” I can not figure out how to do that. Can you offer a little advice. The pattern looks gorgeous so i am really looking forward to getting started. Thanks so much for your help.
Beth
The mosaic pattern is done with garter stitch. When you are working the wrong side of the dishcloth you should knit all of the stitches that you knit in the previous row. All of the stitches that you slipped in the previous row should be slipped as well, only be sure to hold the yarn in front so that the yarn does not show on the front side of the dishcloth. Hope this helps!
Hi Kayla K,
I really like the dishcloth pattern. Have a friend who’s going to be a grandmother in february and her daughter wants a black and white baby blanket. is this a multiple of 12 +1?
Thanks in advance for your quick reply as I have a lot of quick knitting to do!
Kim
Yes, it is. I added extra stitches for a garter stitch border.
Since this comes from Barbara Walker’s 2nd Treasury of Knitting Patterns, it would be really great if you could give her credit… :o)
Sounds like a book I would enjoy, thanks for the suggestion!
Love this pattern – I’ve already made 8 different dishcloths, but I can’t figure out how casting on 51 stitches gives you a multiple of 12 + 1, when 12×4 = 48
I’d like to make something wider, but can’t figure out the math. For example, would adding an extra pattern make it cast on 61 (12×5+1), 73 (12×6+1), 85, 97, etc?
SUPERT…! Nice…! Like it…! Perhaps Iwill try to do the same, afraid that it is a bit ”difficult”…. Funny:))
What do the asteriks mean on these instructions, sorry I’m kind of new to knitting instructions
Hi Barb! The asterisks indicate that you should repeat the instructions within them. So if we were using Row 1 for example:
“Row 1: Attach Red. K 1, *sl 1, K 11* across to last 2 sts; sl 1, K1.”
This would mean that you attach your red yarn, k1, and then repeat “*sl1, k11*” until you have only two stitches left on your left needle. Then you slip1 and knit1 to finish the row. Hope this helps!
Additionally, I’m completely new to knitting with colors and attempting any sort of visual pattern, but the knitters at KnittingHelp.com’s forum helped me figure out the slipped stitches. Just thought I’d pass along the information in case someone else had the same issue as me:
Per Jan in CA:
“On the pattern rows, the odd numbered ones, you slip pwise with yarn in back. On even rows (alternate rows) you slip pwise with yarn in front. The reason you do this is because the even rows are technically the back or WS.”
Thanks for providing us this pattern!
The pattern seems more difficult than it is. It does not look like knitting, more as though it were hand woven on a loom.
After you get the first tier setup, you can look at your own work to see what to do. Most of the slip stitches are made with the white yarn, the ones made with the dark ones are the outlines of the divisions between the diamonds.
Lovely pattern. Thank you very much.
Great pattern! Love the design and colors.