Colorblock Hand Towels
When it comes to hand towels, what sets apart the great from the good enough? The good enough get the job done, but the great… The great get the job done, and look and feel amazing while doing it!
Our totally great Colorblock Hand Towels are knit up in our new Lantern yarn, whose cotton-linen blend makes for a perfectly absorbent combination. There are 25 colors to choose from, so have some real fun putting together your favorite pairings!
Lantern brings its own character to our Colorblock Hand Towels, but we added another layer by knitting them up in linen stitch. This simple stitch creates a woven texture on one side and nubby seed-stitch texture on the other. Combined with the luminescence of Lantern, you have a wonderfully speckly and beautiful pattern on your hands!
If you are looking for the perfect portable project for gift giving or just for enhancing your own happy place, our Colorblock Hand Towels are this summer’s go-to. Just be prepared to make more than one batch, because as soon as everyone sees these gems you may find yourself fielding special requests!
UPDATE: NOW IN SUNSHOWER COTTON
JULY 2022
Sunshower Cotton is a 100% organically grown, unmercerized cotton yarn. It has a satisfying, supple hand and a sturdy heft that makes for a lovely Colorblock Hand Towel! The true magic of this yarn is the printed pigment on its surface whose hues shift across a creamy base… Sunshower Cotton passes our is-this-yarn-special test with flying colors!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoColorblockHandTowel, and #PurlSohoLantern. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- Main Color (MC): 3 skeins of Purl Soho’s Lantern, 61% cotton and 39% linen. Each skein is 164 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 441 yards required. (NOTE: We no longer offer Lantern, but check out our Sunshower Cotton version of this pattern or choose from one of our other worsted weight yarns.)
- Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein of Lantern; approximately 132 yards required.
- US 8 (5 mm) straight or circular needles
Samples:
- MC: Lavender Frost + CC: Cinnabar Red
- MC: White Smoke + CC: Frost Blue
- MC: Platinum Gray + CC: Horse Chestnut
Gauge
26 stitches and 46 rows = 4 inches in Linen Stitch Pattern
Size
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 18 inches wide x 31 inches long
Notes
This pattern can be worked over any even number of stitches.
Slip stitches are slipped purlwise unless indicated otherwise.
Pattern
With the Main Color (MC), cast on 118 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in front (wyif), *p1, slip 1 (see Notes) with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 knitwise wyif, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 24 inches from the cast-on edge, or until you have used all of MC, ending with Row 1.
Cut MC and join the Contrast Color (CC).
With CC, starting with Row 2, repeat Rows 1 and 2 for 7 inches or until 31 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 1.
Bind Off Row (right side): K1, *slip 1 purlwise wyif, pass stitch over, k1, pass stitch over, repeat from * to end of row.
Cut yarn and pull through the remaining stitch.
Weave in ends and block. We recommend a full wet block to let the linen relax and soften.
Would love a pattern for ridged heddle loom from any of your amazing yarn, this or cotton pure!
Hi Abby,
Thanks for the suggestion! We do have a number of rigid heddle loom patterns for our yarns! They can all be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/category/weave/weave-view-all/
We certainly plan on releasing more in the future as well!
Best,
Cassy
How many towels does the suggested amount of yarn make?
Hi Grace,
Thanks for reaching out! This pattern will yield one hand towel! Each of these towels does use up most of the 4 skeins used to knit it! Depending on your personal gauge and knitting style, you may well have enough yarn left over to make a coordinating wash cloth if you like!
Best,
Cassy
The yarn is beautiful and nice to work with but at $19 a skein that is one expensive hand towel!
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for reaching out! We hear you! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. We are always happy to recommend less expensive (but still beautiful!) alternatives. In this case, we suggest that you try Cotton Pure! You will need to alter the cast on and your needle size. You will need 2 skeins of your main color and 1 skein of your contrast color. You will want to use a US 5 needle and knit a little gauge swatch to figure out how many stitches you are getting per inch. Once you know this number, you will multiple that by 18 inches and the nearest even number will be your cast on number.
Thanks again for sharing your concerns with us! I am sure others will appreciate your question as well!
Cassy
Thanks for the suggestions Cassy!
Does this pattern make one towel or more than 1? Just wondering… 4 skeins seems like a lot. Thank you!
Hi Lela,
Thanks for reaching out! This pattern will yield one hand towel! Each of these towels does use up most of the 4 skeins used to knit it! Depending on your personal gauge and knitting style, you may well have enough yarn left over to make a coordinating wash cloth if you like!
Best,
Cassy
Hey there – are towels like these machine washable? Or how are they laundered? Thanks!
Hi Mally,
Thanks for reaching out! Although our official recommended care instructions for Lantern are to hand wash and lay flat to dry, our insider practical knowledge is that Lantern holds up great in a cold or warm machine wash and even in a low or warm dry cycle. There may be a very small amount of shrinkage (about 2%) and washing with like colors or with a color catcher is always a good idea!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
How many yards per skein?
Hi Linnet,
Thanks for reaching out! Our Lantern has 164 yards per 100g skein.
Best,
Julianna
Wow. Never spent $80 for a handtowel.
Hi Anne,
We hear you! We totally understand that sometimes our yarn suggestions are more of an inspiration than a reality for many people. We are always happy to recommend less expensive (but still beautiful!) alternatives. In this case, we suggest that you try Blue Sky Worsted Cotton. We also have several patterns that use our Cotton Pure which is quite a bit more economical! I would suggest taking a look at our Slip Stitch Dishtowels, Baby Bath Set, and Close Knit Washcloths for a few equally lovely options!
Thank you so much for asking. We’re sure that lots of other readers will thank you, too!
Julianna
It does seem expensive (wow – I just calculated the cost of knitting 2 full-size towels in this lovely yarn).
The full-size towels are out of my reach – however, when I stopped to think about it, I buy wool for wraps that is more expensive than this – and the hand towels will look so beautiful in my new home. They are something special that I will have for years, so for me, the price seems worth it for this hard-to-duplicate look/feel. Having said that, my husband thinks I’m nuts!
Beautiful towels. But what are the care instructions — machine wash cold, tumble try low? Line dry?
Hi Mary Jane,
Thanks for reaching out! Although our official recommended care instructions for Lantern are to hand wash and lay flat to dry, our insider practical knowledge is that Lantern holds up great in a cold or warm machine wash and even in a low or warm dry cycle. There may be a very small amount of shrinkage (about 2%) and washing with like colors or with a color catcher is always a good idea!
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Curious about using the Field Linen hand towel pattern with Lantern yarn. Just haven’t had the patience to click back & forth to try to figure out weight, gauge, etc — none of which I’m good at even when I’m feeling patient…
Thanks for your clear, clean patterns, your gorgeous yarns, and your kind responses to all our queries…..
-Patty
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for reaching out and for the kind words! These hand towels are very similar to our Linen Stitch Hand Towels out of Field Linen – the differences are that the gauge has been adjusted from fingering to worsted, the Lantern version is about an inch longer and wider, we added a single slip stitch selvage, and they are color blocked instead of striped. I think it would be quite easy to follow the instructions for the Colorblock Hand Towels and mix in a bit of the stripe pattern from the Linen Stitch Hand Towels for a different look!
I hope that helps – please let us know how your version turns out!
Julianna
This looks wonderful. Would like to make smaller version to use as powder room hand towels. Any suggestions to scale it down?
Thanks
Beth
Hi Beth,
Thanks for writing in! Linen stitch works on any even number of stitches, so to figure out your cast on number, you will want to knit a gauge swatch in pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and cast on the closest even number of stitches.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Thanks for another great project! I am wondering what the repeat is….I can see this towel larger. Thanks!
Julie
Hi Julie,
Thanks for writing in! Linen Stitch works on any even number of stitches!
Best,
Julianna
Is there a crochet pattern for these? I used to knit but my hands won’t allow that anymore. But I can still do crochet.
Hi Juanita,
Thanks for writing in! Although we do not have a crochet version, I think you could achieve similar results with half double crochets! To figure out your starting chain, you will want to crochet a gauge swatch with an F or G hook in half double crochets . Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch, you can multiply that number by the width that you would like and chain that number plus two for a turning chain. Crochet does take about a third more yarn than knitting, so I would suggest getting two skeins of the contrast color and four of the main color for a similar sized hand towel.
I hope that helps! Please let us know how your crocheted version turns out!
Julianna
What beautiful hand towels! Like Abby, I would love a version for my Cricket loom. Your beautiful scarf in Habu bamboo and Anzula Squishy is still one of my most successful projects and am grateful that it got me into weaving! It would be wonderful if you could include some weaving patterns for kitchen towels too. Your beautiful and practical projects are fabulous.
Best wishes,
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary,
Thank you so much for the kind words! We are always developing new weaving projects, so stay tuned! We will also keep your feedback in mind for future projects!
Best,
Julianna
Even though I cannot afford the prices of your yarns, I so appreciate the manner in which you offer patterns and your expertise! Have been able to learn many new things by subscribing to your site.
Blessings and many thanks for your kindness and generosity.
Hello PurlSoho,
Thank you for sharing this lovely pattern. Question re stitches:
do both rows start with the same stitch? Slip 1 knitwise wyif?
Was wondering if the rows would alternate with slip 1 knit and next row: slip 1 purl?
I checked other linen stitch patterns you have and this one seems to differ just a bit. Thanks 🙂
Hi Martine,
Thanks for writing in and for the kind words! Although this edge treatment varies a bit from what we have used in our other linen stitch patterns, we found it worked quite well and is a bit easier to remember! If you would prefer, you can certainly start Row 2 by slipping the first stitch purlwise with the yarn in front.
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
What is “qk1”- “q” knit 1?
Thank you.
Hello Margaret,
Thank you for writing! I’m not seeing qk1 anywhere in this pattern, is this question meant for a different pattern? I hope I can help!
-Marilla
I am thinking that lantern would make a cool knock about drapey summer cowl for air conditioned indoors. Any idea for a pattern that would work with this beautiful yarn?
Hello Lisa,
I agree, that sounds lovely! I would check out our Cotton Cowl which you could knit up using just Lantern without the stripes.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
If I wanted to use lantern to make a cowl on circular needles in the same pattern how would I do the pattern since I would be just working on the right side? Thanks, lisa
Hi Lisa,
What a beautiful idea! To work Linen Stitch in the round, you will need to cast on an odd number of stitches, and work the Linen Stitch as follows:
Round 1: K1, *slip 1 wyif, k1, repeat from * to end of round
Round 2: Slip 1 wyif, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to end of round
I hope that helps, and please do let us know how it turns out!
Julianna
For anyone looking to save a little money, I am using Cascade Yarns Nifty Cotton for the main color and just using Lantern for the contrast color!
Would simply love to have a pattern for a wash cloth, as well as a matching bath towel and perhaps a pattern for a bathroom rug . I coordinate my ensemble. Thank you
Hi Chere,
A full bathroom set sounds lovely! You could easily size this pattern down for a washcloth or up for a bath towel. For a 7″ by 7″ washcloth, you would need to cast on 46 stitches and switch colors after 5 inches, and you would be able to get about 3 washcloths from one skein each of your chosen main color and contrast color. To knit a 36″ by 52″ bath towel, you will cast on 234 stitches and it will take about 11 skeins of your main color and 3 of your contrast color. We don’t have a pattern for a bath mat, but I think it would be really neat to follow the same pattern but with Lantern held double on a larger needle for a scaled up version. I will certainly pass your suggestion along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
Would it be possible to use Cotton Pure instead with the same pattern or would adjustments need to be made? Thanks!
Hi ERP
Thanks for writing in! Cotton Pure would definitely work for this pattern. You will need to alter the cast on and your needle size. You will need 2 skeins of your main color and 1 skein of your contrast color. You will want to use a US 5 needle and knit a little gauge swatch to figure out how many stitches you are getting per inch. Once you know this number, you will multiple that by 18 inches and the nearest even number will be your cast on number. I hope this helps!
Happy Knitting
Jessica
Can you please tell me which cast on method would you recommend for the Colorblock Hand Towels?
Thank you.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for reaching out! Since we didn’t specify a cast on method in this pattern it is up to you to use whichever method you are most comfortable with! I would recommend Long Tail Cast On since there are a fair amount of stitches to cast on!
All the best,
Gianna
Thank you.
When I follow the pattern one edge is more loopy (loose) than the other. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Anne,
It may be that you are ending the row a little loose so when you are slipping the stitches they are not as tight! I would recommend pulling a little tighter when you finish a row before lipping the stitch at the beginning of the next row.
I hope this helps!
Gianna
When I do the bind off row –
1st question: After I K1, slip 1 purlwise wyif, do I take the yarn behind ready for the next Knit stitch before I pass stitch over
OR
do I leave the yarn in front and pass stitch over, then take the yarn behind to knit the next stitch?
2nd question: if I knit the first stitch, the last stitch will be a slip stitch. Is this right?
Thank you.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes so after you slip the stitch purlwise with the yarn in front you will bring it to the back so it is ready to knit the next stitch! And yes if the last stitch is a slip stitch that is fine!
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi I love this pattern! Just started and I noticed that my edges aren’t turning out as well as I had hoped. Looks like it’s double twisting at times. Do you have any video references or tips to do it properly? Thanks!
Hi KC,
Thanks for reaching out! My best guess is that your may be slipping the slip stitches the wrong way causing it to be twisted instead on laying flat! Be sure that all the slip stitches are slipped purlwise unless indicated otherwise, the best way to do this is to use your needles and go into the stitch as if you were going to purl it, but instead of working the stitch you simply move it to the other needles!
I hope this helps!
Warmly,
Gianna
Would you need to alternate skeins for this, or would pooling be avoided with the linen stitch? Thank you!
Hi Kim!
Thanks for commenting! The linen stitch will hide any pooling concerns with this yarn, so there is no need to alternate skeins for this pattern.
Happy knitting!
Best,
Margaret