This is probably a trick you learned long ago. If so, disregard this post. Maybe some readers haven't tried this time-saving technique, though, so I'll soldier on. To make a short story long, I had my kitchen redone. Looking at my old dishcloths, I decided they had to go. Needed some new ones to match the fresh new look of the kitchen. So, I had a nice cone of turquoise cotton that would do the trick. Rather than knit each one separately, I did the waste yarn method of knitting a continuous strip. You'll need a fairly fine crochet hook. If you don't have one, you may be able to get by with your latch hook, but I find it more difficult to use than a plain crochet hook when doing this.
Here's what you do: (Directions apply to a standard gauge Brother machine. You would adapt for other gauges and machines.)
1. Cast on any old way with waste yarn over 61 stitches. Knit about 12 rows to make sure things don't unravel. You're going to need quite a bit of weight to help the tuck stitches knit off. Move them up every few inches.
2. Pull off main yarn that is 4 times the width of the knitting and put the yarn in the yarn feeder at that point.
3. Use the 1 x 1 punch card or electronic pattern. (See below.) Row counter on. KC II with main yarn right to left. This sets up the tuck pattern.
4. Push in both tuck buttons and engage the weaving brushes to help the stitches knit off.
5. Knit to RC 30. Leaving the KC II on, turn off/release the tuck buttons and knit 4 rows. (RC 34) This makes a nice band.
6. Push in both tuck buttons again. Knit 146 rows to RC 180.
7. Leaving the KC II on, turn off the tuck buttons and knit 4 rows. (RC 184)
8. Push in both tuck buttons again. Knit 30 rows to RC 213.
9. Set change knob to normal, release tuck buttons. Knit one plain row left to right. (RC 214)
10. Pull off yarn that is 4 times the width of the knitting and cut, leaving the end hang.
11. Knit 12 rows of waste yarn, plain stockinette.
Repeat from #2-11 as many times as you have yarn for.
And the snake like tube is what you take to the couch. Cut the dish cloths apart, half way into each band of waste yarn. Then, you watch a good movie whilst crocheting the ends shut (single crochet stitch works fine) with the long end of yarn. Throw away the waste yarn and end up with a whole new bunch of dishcloths that look like this:
I got 10 dishcloths out of this cone. Your mileage will, of course, vary.
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7 comments:
These are terrific, Mar!
Thanks for the detailed pattern too. I have been toying with trying to knit up simple guest hand towels - this will certainly fill the gaps :D
You are welcome. I knit some hand towels for my daughter out of cotton to go with the dishcloths. Your cotton will probably be different, but I used 100 stitches, 40 rows then 10 rows for the bands each end, 170 rows for the center part.
very useful! What cotton did you use and maybe where did you get it?
It was in a box of yarn a friend gave me---looks and feels like Perla, by Tamm. Not sure they make it anymore.
Can you show me how you crochet the ends shut?
For the last row I turn off the tuck (carriage is on the left when I do that) then turn the tension really loose for the last row left to right. Do a few rows of waste yarn again and remove from the machine. As the directions say, cut evenly between the dishcloths on the waste yarn to cut them apart. Then take a medium sized crochet hook and pull the second stitch through the first all across, pulling through the last stitch again to secure. Then remove the waste yarn. You can bind off on the machine without the waste yarn if you'd rather.
I hope this makes sense to you.
Mar
It makes total sense. Thank you so much.
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