What better stitch to use with our brand new Field Linen than linen stitch? And what better project than linens? These Linen Stitch Hand Towels make all sorts of sense, and they also happen to be stunning little knit specimens.

Linen Stitch Hand Towels | Purl Soho

Linen Stitch makes a flat and very sturdy fabric, which is smooth and woven looking on one side and pleasantly nubbly on the other. Stripes of our May Apple color against warm and creamy Queen Anne’s Lace harken to vintage kitchen linens and make these Hand Towels true heirlooms.

Linen Stitch Hand Towels | Purl Soho

We love Field Linen for this job. It’s machine washable, durable, and absorbent, and Field Linen is also a totally classic choice for hard-working housewares!

Linen Stitch Hand Towels | Purl Soho

And once you’ve made yourself a pair, Linen Stitch Hand Towels also make very special gifts for people getting married, for people who welcome you into their home, or for people you simply love! -Laura

Linen Stitch Hand Towels | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoLinenStitchHandTowels, and #PurlSohoFieldLinen. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Linen Stitch Hand Towels | Purl Soho
  • Main Color (MC): 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Field Linen, 100% linen. Each skein is 295 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 240 yards required per towel. We used the color Queen Anne’s Lace.
  • Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein of Field Linen; approximately 50 yards required per towel. We used the color May Apple.
  • US 6 (4mm) straight or 24-inch circular needles
  • If using straight needles: Two US 6 double pointed needles for I-Cord

NOTE: Each Towel uses under one skein of yarn, so with 3 skeins of Field Linen, you can make 3 Towels in total, using the CC as the MC for the third one!

Gauge

32 stitches and 48 rows = 4 inches in Linen Stitch

Size

Finished Dimensions:  11 inches wide x 17 ½ inches long

Notes

Slip all stitches purlwise unless indicated otherwise.

Stitch Patterns

One-Color Linen Stitch

Row 1 (wrong side): P1, *slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), p1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 knitwise wyib, *k1, slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, slip 1 knitwise wyib.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2.

Two-Color Linen Stitch

With CC…

Row 1 (wrong side):  P1, *slip 1 wyib, p1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 knitwise wyib, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, slip 1 knitwise wyib.

With MC…

Rows 3 and 4: Repeat Rows 1 and 2.

Repeat Rows 1-4.

NOTE: Carry the color you’re not using up the side of the work by bringing it in front of the working yarn when you purl the first stitch of Row 1

Pattern

NOTE: What follows are exact directions for making your Hand Towels like ours, but feel free to place stripes wherever you want!

Hand Towel #1

Linen Stitch Hand Towels | Purl Soho

With MC, cast on 87 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Work in One-Color Linen Stitch (see Stitch Patterns, above) until piece measures 2 inches from cast-on edge, ending with a right-side row.

Join CC and work in Two-Color Linen Stitch (see Stitch Patterns, above) for approximately 3 inches, ending with Row 4. Cut CC.

With MC, work in One-Color Linen Stitch for 10 inches, ending with a right-side row.

Join CC and work in Two-Color Linen Stitch for approximately 1 inch, ending with Row 4. Cut CC.

With MC, work in One-Color Linen Stitch for 1½ inches, ending with a wrong-side row.

Next Row (right side): Bind off knitwise until 3 stitches remain (1 stitch on the right needle and 2 stitches on the left needle), k2, leaving 3 stitches on the right needle.

Make i-Cord

With the remaining 3 stitches, work an I-cord for 3 inches, working the last row as follows…

Last Row: K1, k2tog, bind off first stitch by passing it over the second stitch and off the right needle. Cut yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail and pull through remaining stitch.

Secure Loop + Finish

Linen Stitch Hand Towels | Purl Soho

Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle. Weave in the tail at the base of the I-cord on the wrong side of the towel, securing the tail and creating a loop with the I-cord.

Weave in the remaining ends and block as desired.

HAND TOWEL #2

Linen Stitch Hand Towels | Purl Soho

With MC, cast on 87 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Work in One-Color Linen Stitch (see Stitch Patterns, above) until piece measures 2 inches from cast-on edge, ending with a right-side row.

Join CC and work in Two-Color Linen Stitch for approximately ¼ inch, ending with Row 4. Cut CC.

With MC, work in One-Color Linen Stitch for ¾ inch, ending with a right-side row.

Join CC and work in Two-Color Linen Stitch for approximately ¼ inch, ending with Row 4. Cut CC.

With MC, work in One-Color Linen Stitch for ¾ inch, ending with a right-side row.

Join CC and work in Two-Color Linen Stitch for approximately 1 inch, ending with Row 4. Cut CC.

With MC, work in One-Color Linen Stitch for 10 ¼ inches, ending with a right-side row.

Join CC and work in Two-Color Linen Stitch for approximately ¼ inch, ending with Row 4. Cut CC.

With MC, work in One-Color Linen Stitch for 2 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.

Next Row (right side): Bind off knitwise until 3 stitches remain (1 stitch on the right needle and 2 stitches on the left needle), k2, leaving 3 stitches on the right needle.

Make i-Cord, Secure Loop + Finish

Make I-cord, secure it and finish towel, as described above for Hand Towel #1.

Linen Stitch Hand Towels | Purl Soho