Hanging Kitchen Towel Set

Last year it nearly seemed as if every one of the oldest daughter's friends were getting married. One of the brides is a life long friend of hers, and is considered to be one of my 'extra kids'. Another Bride, was a college friend of my daughters and I had taught her to knit not too long ago. So of course, it would stand to reason, knitting would be the theme of their gifts.

For my 'extra' kid...I was also invited to the shower. Daughter was working with the Bride's mother and the rest of the Bridal party to get it all ready, while my needles got to flying.

Thinking we'd put together a kitchen gift, I wanted to knit up a bunch of dishcloths and added the recipe and ingredients for her favorite recipe from me-brownies. My grandmother's recipe for brownies....and that isn't handed out lightly.

I chose several cloth designs that are available around the internet like Grandma's favorite, and decided to add a hanging towel. That is a pattern I wrote this summer. How often do you go to cook/bake/etc. and need something to dry your hands on? We've all had those terry towels with the crocheted tops. But I got to thinking I could come up witha whole knitted one, since I love knitted dishcloths so much. I've since made a bunch of these, not just for the Brides of last summer, but also for my Aunties and Mom, and me!

Note: Again I am using Lion Cotton because it comes in 5 oz. balls so I can knit the whole piece with only one strand, and don't have to combine 2 balls! I'm not sure if the larger balls of Sugar and Cream would work, that's something you'll have to try on your own. But I can tell you that one 5 oz. skein will knit up both the hanging towel and a matching dishcloth. I really like these. And the huge rack of cutesy buttons at Jo-Ann's is a great place to theme up your towel. For Christmas, I put a ghost button on a black towel for my brother. He's Halloween Obsessive. I.kid.you.not. And it really makes it easy to choose what to send him. Halloween stuff, red/black stuff, or Nestle's Quick.

Columns Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel and Dishcloth

© Cathy Waldie, August 5, 2006

US 7 (4.5mm) needles, Lion Cotton, 1 button
Gauge, preblocked: 18 sts/28 rows per 4”, 10 cm.
Finished size: 21 ½” x 13”, without button fastened
Time:5 hours

Columns Hanging Hand Towel

Cast on 59 sts.K 4 rows for lower border.Begin pattern
1) K across
2) Sl 1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* across, end K3

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for a total of 36 pattern repeats, or until 13” from the beginning.
K4 rows.

Begin decreases for the Towel Top

1) K8, *(Sl 1, k2tog, PSSO), K7* 4 times, end , (Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO) K8. (49 sts.)
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) K across
3) K7, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K5* 4 times, last 10 sts: Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K7 (39 sts.)
5) K6, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K3* 4 times, last 9 sts: (SL1 K2tog, PSSO), K6. (29 sts.)
7) K5, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K1* 4 times, last 8 sts: (Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO), K5. (19 sts.)
9) K4, (K2tog) 6 times, K3 (13 sts.)
11) (K2tog) 3 times, K1, (K2tog) 3 times. (7 sts.)

Tab Section of Towel Top

1) K across
2) K2, P3, K2.
3-16) repeat rows 1 and 2 of the tab section.
17, 18) K across
19) K2, P3, K2.
20-33) repeat rows 18 and 19 of the tab section
34) K2, Bind off center 3 sts, K to end (4 sts) (creates buttonhole)
35) K1, Kfb next st, Kfb next st, K1 (6 sts)
36) K2 tog, K2tog, K2tog
37) Bind off in Knit. Block.
[(optional: 37: K 1, K2tog, PSSO.
38) k1, row
39): pull live tail through the stitch and secure. (Makes the tab pointier.)]
Cut thread ~18” long, whip stitch around the button hole for added strength, weave in ends, cut, sew on button into center stitches on tab decrease row #12.

Columns Dishcloth

9” square., approx 2 hours.
Cast On 38 sts
Knit 4 rows..Begin pattern

1) K across
2) Sl 1, K2, P2, *K1tbl, P2* 10 times; end K3

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for a total of 23 pattern repeats.
Knit 5 rows. Bind off in Purl. Block.