Simple Stripe Washcloth
Many beautiful hand knits are complex feats of engineering, but the wonder of knitting is that even the simplest pattern, accessible to the most beginner of knitters, can be just as beautiful.
Our garter stitch Simple Stripe Washcloths require only the knit stitch, but what they lack in intricacy, they make up for in timeless charm. Our classic Field Linen lends a lovely drape and a satisfying touch that just gets better and better with use.
We’ve also added nine gorgeous new colors to our Field Linen palette, all pictured here. From rosy Red Radish to cool Blue Heron, we love the punch and depth these colors add to our world of linen. A stripe of creamy Queen Anne’s Lace serves to make each color zing!
For old pro knitters who appreciate simple beauty and for newbies who are just finding our what they’re capable of making, our Simple Stripe Washcloths appeal to the maker in us all!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoSimpleStripeWashcloth, and #PurlSohoFieldLinen. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
To make two Simple Stripe Washcloths, you’ll need…
- Main Color: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Field Linen, 100% linen. Each skein is 295 yards; approximately 107 yards required per washcloth. We used the colors Trowel Gray, Blue Heron, Electric Blue, Purple Plum, Ruby Pink, Red Onion, Red Radish, Carnelian Orange, and Warm Copper.
- Contrast Color: 1 skein of Field Linen; approximately 26 yards required per washcloth. We used the color Queen Anne’s Lace.
- US 2 (3mm), straight or 24-inch circular needles
- If using straight needles: Two US 2 double pointed needles for I-Cord
NOTE: With just 1 skein of each color, you can reverse the Main and Contrast colors to make two additional washcloths. Also, if you’re thinking about making lots of washcloths, it’s helpful to know that one skein of the Contrast Color can make stripes for 11 washcloths.
Gauge
24 stitches and 52 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch
Size
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 10 x 10 inches
Pattern
With Main Color (MC), cast on 60 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Row 1: Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, knit to end of row.
Repeat Row 1 until piece measures 2½ inches from the cast-on edge.
Cut MC.
With Contrast Color (CC), repeat Row 1 for 1 inch, ending on the same side you ended the MC, i.e. the wrong side.
Cut CC.
With MC, repeat Row 1 until piece measures 10 inches from cast-on edge, ending with a wrong-side row.
With right side facing you, bind off knitwise to last 2 stitches, k2, leaving 3 stitches on right needle.
Make I-Cord
With remaining 3 stitches, work an I-Cord for 3 inches, working last row as follows…
Bind-Off Row: K1, k2tog, pass first stitch over second stitch and off right needle.
Cut yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail and pull through remaining stitch.
Thread tail onto a tapestry needle. Make a loop with I-cord and weave tail into fabric of washcloth at base of I-cord, then weave it through the looped I-cord, and back into fabric of the washcloth.
Weave in the ends and wet block!
Yet another great, understated, inspiring design from Jake Canton. Thank you.
Hi I have a question. Im writing from UK.
Is a wash-cloth what we call a face flannel?
If so I’m interested as to whether when wet, does it regain
it’s shape again when drying?
And how does the waffle stitch feel against the face?
Thanks
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, I believe that is the same thing! And yes, when the washcloth dries it will maintain its original shape. The garter stitch texture is also quite nice and is great for cleansing your face!
I hope this helps!
Gianna
Love it 🥰
Is there a wrong side to this pattern? When I change MC to CC I get a white line on the wrong side, is this normal, or is there a way to avoid this?
Thank you,
CT
Hi CT,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, there is a wrong and a right side to the pattern! Even though this is a simple garter stitch and it is actually the same on both sides, you will want to designate a right and wrong side especially for switching colors. You can tell the right from the wrong side based on the cast on, the right side will have a smooth twisted edge and the wrong side will have a hint of the purl bumps. Once you identify the sides I recommend using a safety pin to mark the right side of the fabric! When it is time to change colors you will only want to start knitting on the right side of the fabric so that the color change will be seamless on the right side and you will only see the line on the wrong side. Unfortunately with garter stitch, there will always be a line where you change colors, but you can keep it consistently on the wrong side of the fabric so that the right side is seamless!
I hope this helps, happy kitting!
Gianna
Hi, your patterns, yarns and colour combos are always inspiring. I have some cotton pure waiting to be used, would this pattern also work for that? Would you suggest a 3.25mm needle to make it a bit denser or just a 3.5 and then adjust the cast on number? Thanks, Jane
Hi Jane,
Thanks for writing in! Cotton Pure would be excellent for this project! The only thing to consider is that Cotton Pure is a sport weight and Field Linen, as we used here, is a fingering weight, so it is a bit thicker and you will need to make a few adjustments! Before beginning, I would suggest working a gauge swatch with an appropriately sized needle. For Cotton Pure we recommend a US 3-5 needle. Once you finish your swatch you can measure your gauge and adjust the cast on amount from there! I would also suggest checking out our tutorial All About Gauge, it is an excellent resource to use!
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any more questions!
Gianna
When you are slipping the first purl wise which looks great.
Now when you change colors ….do you slip first stitch in main color that is on needle and start CC in second stitch??
Thank you for your help
Karolyne
Hi Karolyne,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, you absolutely have the right idea, just slip the first stitch in the MC, and then join the CC on the second stitch. Hope this clarifies things, but let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Lili
Hi!
Could I use the linen stich that you use for your soft cotton wash clothes with this pattern rather than a garter stich?
Hi Marianne,
Thanks for writing in. Yes, you can absolutely use linen stitch for these wash clothes!
All the best,
Lili
Hello!
I would like to make them for a friends kids. Is the material suitable for babies or is it to harsh for baby’s skin?
Thanks!
Hi Tina,
Thanks for reaching out! These washcloths are knit in our Feild Linen (100% linen), which should soften up with use and not be too rough on a baby’s skin! Alternatively, I would recommend using Buttercup Cotton, it is 100% organic cotton, and will be super soft for a baby! Just be sure to check your gauge prior to beginning!
Happy knitting!
Gianna
Is 100%linen superior to a cotton linen blend for face cloths or dish cloths? And do you have cotton /linen yarn in stock?
Hi Kay,
Thanks for reaching out. Both linen and cotton are great choices for those items! We have one yarn that contains both linen and cotton, and that’s Lantern, which is linen-wrapped cotton. For an 100% linen yarn, we carry Field Linen and Blackbird Linen. I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Very helpful!
Thank you
Given the bright color with the neutral stripe is there any danger of color transfer and, if so, how would you suggest we handle it?
Hi Stephanie!
Great question! If using dark, saturated colors with lighter colors of Field Linen, we recommend taking the precaution of soaking the dark colors first in a vinegar and cold water bath to remove excess dye. We have a tutorial for Re-Fixing Dye here if you would like to learn more about this process! Additionally, if you want to be extra cautious, you can also wash your washcloths with a color catcher sheet. These look just like dryer sheets except they are thrown in the washer instead of the dryer, and they help to soak up any excess dye, therefore pulling it away from any lighter-colored yarn.
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
I have a lot of Blackbird Linen that I purchased for your placemat pattern. I have decided not to make the placemats and wonder if I could use the Blackbird Linen for this Simple Stripe Wash cloth? If so, could you give me some help on the needle size I might use. My knitting is usually very close to your guage suggestions.
Hi Brenda,
Thank you for your questions! You can absolutely use Blackbird Linen to knit the Simple Stripe Washcloths, but the gauge for this yarn will require you to change your cast-on number if you want to make washcloths in the same dimensions as our samples!
The recommended needle size for Blackbird Linen is a US 3-5, so feel free to start swatching on those sizes until you get a fabric density that you like. After knitting and measuring your gauge swatch on your preferred needle size, you can multiply the stitches per inch from the swatch by 10 for the width of the washcloth in inches, and this will give you your cast-on number.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Carly
Thanks so much, Carly. Can’t wait to get started!
You’re very welcome, Brenda!
Happy knitting!
Carly
Hi there,
I’m interested in your use of linen vs cotton for a washcloth. Is it as absorbent as cotton? Would you recommend linen yarn for a dishcloth as well?
Thank you!
Hi Beverly,
Thanks for reaching out. I’d say that while linen isn’t as absorbent as cotton can be, it does absorb some moisture! The benefit of linen in washcloth patterns is that it has a great scrubby texture. It’s a bit rougher than cotton, so a textured stitch pattern can create a very useful cloth for scrubbing. That’s definitely a useful characteristic for a dishtowel to have as well!
All the best,
Lili
I was wondering if you are no longer carrying the yarn LANTERN.And if not is this something that you may bring back to purl soho in the near future. Love the yarn for making dishcloths.
Hi Maryjean,
Thanks for reaching out. I’m so sorry to say that we’ve discontinued Lantern! While we loved this yarn, not everybody else felt the same way, so we’ve had to make the sad decision to stop producing it. We hope you can understand!
Apologies for the inconvenience, and please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns.
All the best,
Lili