Loom Knitters Circle Magazine

Mitered Dishcloth
by Denise Layman

I have been interested in working out mitered squares on the looms for a long time. I wanted to see if they would work and it turns out they work very well especially on the adjustable style looms. This issue gave me the opportunity to play with mitered squares because they are a nice small project you can take with you, and they are a great stash buster especially for those small amounts of leftover variegated yarns that you might have from other projects. So here is a great little mitered corners dishcloth, the perfect little summer stash busting project!

Pattern Information

Knitting Loom: Small gauge, or extra small gauge loom or rake with a minimum of 21 pegs. An extra small gauge Mini Wonderloom was used in knitting the sample.

Yarn: Color A: 50 yards of worsted weight cotton yarn in a solid color, and Color B: 50 yards of cotton yarn in a variegated or contrasting color. Peaches and Crème yarns were used in the sample.

Notions: Tapestry Needle, Knitting tool, Optional: crochet hook

Gauge:

Pattern Notes:

This dishcloth is worked in sections starting with the center strip, then stitches are picked up from the center square on both sides, and the cloth is finished off with a mitered square in each corner.

While it is possible to work this pattern on any loom or rake, it does work best on the adjustable style looms.

In this pattern we really want the ‘ugly edge’ of the garter stitch, this helps give a place to pick up stitches for the side sections and mitered corner squares. To get this, on the purl row do not slip the first stitch, simply bring your working yarn around the front of the first peg and purl it. This will leave that purl bump at the end of the row that is needed later on.

Center Strip:

With color A:
Using the e-wrap cast on, cast on 10 stitches.
Work in garter stitch pattern for 20 rows.

Switch to Color B:
Work in garter stitch 20 rows.

Switch back to color A
Work in garter stitch for 20 rows.

Bind off and break yarn.

Side Squares:
The center square of the strip will have 10 garter ridges. To pick up stitches for the side square, take the end bump from each and place them on a peg on the loom.
Starting with a purl row; work 20 rows in garter stitch.

Bind off, and break yarn.

Repeat on the other side of the square, being sure that the ‘wrong side’ of the work is facing you, when you pick up the stitches from the other side of the central square.

Mitered Corners:

You will now have a plus shaped piece.
To cast on for the mitered squares, pick up 10 stitches from one side of the corner space as shown below:

Pick up a bit of yarn from the corner area between the two edges. This will be your center stitch.

Pick up the remaining stitches from the other edge as seen in the diagram.

Working with Color B, start with a purl row.

You will be working a basic mitered square as follows:

Row 1: (Knit row) Move the stitches on either side of the center stitch onto the central peg (there will be 3 stitches on this peg)
Move the other stitches in toward the center so there are no gaps. Wrap and knit; being sure to lift the 3 loops on the central peg over the top one.

Row 2: Purl all stitches.
Repeat these two rows until only 3 stitches remain.
K3Tog, as you do on the knit rows, and cut the yarn pulling it through to secure.

Repeat on remaining corners.

Finishing:

Weave in ends, and add crochet edging if desired. On the example I did two rows of single crochet as a border.

About Designer:

Denise is a home schooling Mom of 4 kids. Somehow she manages to find time to knit, crochet & loom knit and write up some patterns from time to time. Even she doesn't know how she manages it all! You can read about her crafty pursuits at her blog Knitting Without Needles.

Contact Denise.