These dishtowels look really complicated to make, don’t they? I love that because, just like you want hard things to look easy, it’s a great coup to make easy things look difficult!

These three stitch patterns all come from Barbara Walker’s classic Treasury of Knitting Patterns and are created by the simple technique of hiding yarns behind slipped stitches. There’s no tricky stranding or two-hand knitting or even issues of tension; there’s just the easy matter of slipping stitches and watching as amazing patterns emerge!

Slip stitch color patterns are terrific for scarves (check out Laura’s gorgeous Reversible Stripes Scarf), sweaters, blankets and even dishtowels. For these, I looked for patterns that would evoke traditional kitchen textiles: no-nonsense designs with the geometry of vintage linens.

And for a yarn that would match these hard-working stitch patterns I chose Louet’s Euroflax 100% linen. As tough and absorbent as any fiber around, linen is a great friend to have over your shoulder when you’re cooking up something good!

Happy slip stitching! -Whitney

Materials

  •  4 skeins of Louet’s Euroflax, 100% linen
    • Indigo: 2 skeins of Cream, 1 skein of Caribbean Blue (this color has since been discontinued) and 1 skein of Navy
    • Natural: 2 skeins of Cream, 1 skein of Natural and 1 skein of Pewter

Note: This is enough yarn to make these three dishtowels plus one more.

You will also need…

Gauge

23 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Size

Finished Dimensions: 11 1/4 x 17 1/4 inches

Notes

COLORS

  • For the Indigo dishtowels
    • COLOR A: Cream
    • COLOR B: Caribbean Blue
    • COLOR C: Navy
  • For the Natural dishtowels
    • COLOR A: Cream
    • COLOR B: Natural
    • COLOR C: Pewter

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • Slip all stitches purlwise.
  • When changing colors, carry the new yarn up the selvedge in front of the old yarn. In this photo the Navy yarn is the “new yarn” about to knit the first stitch.

Patterns

Three-and-One Tweed Pattern

With Color A, cast on 75 stitches.

Row 1 (wrong side): Purl.

Row 2 (right side): With Color C, k3, *slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), k3, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 3: With Color C, slip 1 wyib, k2, *slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), k3, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 4: With Color A, k1, *slip 1 wyib, k3, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, slip 1 wyib, k1.

Row 5: With Color A, slip 1 wyib, *slip 1 wyif, k3, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, slip 1 wyif, k1.

Repeat Rows 2 – 5 until piece measures 17 inches, ending with a Row 3.

Cut Color C.

Next Row (right side): With Color A, knit to last 2 stitches, k2 onto a double pointed needle.

Finish

With the right side facing you, work an I-cord on those last 2 stitches until the cord measures 3 inches from its base.

Work the last row as a k1, slip 1 wyib, yo.

Now starting at the base of the 3-inch I-cord, work an Attached I-cord down the left selvage.

Pick up 1 stitch for every 4 rows (which means picking up 1 stitch at either every Color A or every Color C stripe) until you reach the bottom corner.

Pass the first stitch over the second, cut the yarn and pull it through the remaining stitch.

Now, with Color A, cast 2 stitches onto a double pointed needle.

K1, slip 1 wyib, yo and with right side facing, pick up a stitch in the bottom right corner.

Work an Attached I-cord up the right selvage to the top corner.

Knit 1 row of a regular, unattached I-cord, then pass the first stitch over the second so that 1 stitch remains.

Using the double pointed needle with 1 stitch on it, knit the first stitch that is on the circular needle and bind off. Continue to bind off all the stitches that remain on the circular needle.

Cut the yarn and pass it through the remaining stitch.

Weave in the ends and block your new dishtowel!

Basket Stitch

With Color B, cast on 71 stitches.

Row 1 (wrong side): Purl.

Row 2 (right side): With Color A, k3, *slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), k3, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 3: With Color A, slip 1 wyib, k2, *slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), k3, repeat from * to end of row.

Rows 4 and 5: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.

Row 6: With Color B, knit.

Row 7: With Color B, slip 1 wyib, purl.

Repeat Rows 2 – 7 until piece measures 17 inches, ending with a Row 5.

Cut Color A.

Next Row (right side): With Color B, knit to last 2 stitches, k2 onto a double pointed needle.

Finish

Using Color B, follow the finishing instructions as for the Three-and-One Tweed, above, except, for this stitch pattern, pick up 2 stitches for every 6 rows (which means picking up 2 stitches at the Color A stripes and skipping the Color B stripes).

Triple L Tweed

With Color C, cast on 76 stitches.

Row 1 (wrong side): Purl.

Row 2 (right side): With Color B, k3, *slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), k2, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 3: With Color B, slip 1 wyib, k2, *slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), k2, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 4: With Color A, *k2, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 5: With Color A, slip 1 wyib, *slip 1 wyif, k2, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 6: With Color C, k1, *slip 1 wyib, k2, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 7: With Color C, slip 1 wyib, k1, *slip 1 wyif, k2, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, slip 1 wyif, k1.

Repeat Rows 2 – 7 until piece measures 17 inches, ending with a Row 5.

Cut Colors A and B.

Next Row (right side): With Color C, knit to last 2 stitches, k2 onto a double pointed needle.

Finish

Using Color C, follow the finishing instructions as for the Three-and-One Tweed, above. Pick up 1 stitch for every 4 rows (which means picking up 1 stitch at every other stripe of color).