Knitty Gritty Pattern: Star Athena’s Bar Cloths

Bar Cloths, by Star Athena

Materials
Lily Sugar ‘n Cream, 1 ball of each: Sage Green, Wine, Grape, Warm Teal, Yellow
embroidery needle
embroidery word charts: use those provided or create your own by using a computer or making them by hand with knitter’s graph paper
needles in US size 7/4.5mm

Gauge: 20 sts/26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

Note: Gauge is not crucial for this project.

Star Lattice
CO 33 sts and knit 4 rows.

Work stockinette panel:
Row 1(ws): k3, p27, k3.
Row 2: k.
Rep rows 1 and 2 twice more.
Row 7: rep row 1.
Row 8: rep row 1.

Start lattice pattern:
Row 1(ws): k3, p27, k3.
Row 2: k5, *wyf sl5, k1. rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.
Row 3: k3, p27, k3.
Row 4: k7,* insert needle under strand from row 2 and k next st, bringing st under strand and out toward you, k5. rep from * to last 8 sts, insert needle under strand from row 2 and k next st bringing st under strand and out toward you, k7.
Row 5: k3, p27, k3.
Row 6: k4, wyf sl3, *k1, wyf sl5. rep from * to last 8 sts. k1, wyf sl3, k4.
Row 7: k3, p27, k3.
Row 8: k4, *insert r needle under strand from row 6 and k next st, bringing st under strand and out toward you, k5. rep from * to last 5 sts, insert needle under strand from row 6 and k next st bringing st under strand and out toward you, k4.

Repeat these 8 rows until cloth measures 10″. K 3 rows and bo. Weave in ends.

Diagonal Eyelet
Note: The diagonal eyelet stitch is knit in the soft teal yarn.

CO 32 sts and knit 4 rows.

Work stockinette panel:
Row 1(ws): k3, p26, k3.
Row 2: k.
Rep rows 1 and 2 twice more.
Row 7: rep row 1.
Row 8: rep row 1.

Start eyelet pattern:
Row 1(ws): k4, *yo, k2tog. rep from * until last 4 sts, k4.
Row 2: k.
Row 3: k5, *yo, k2tog. rep from * to last 5 sts, k5.
Row 4: k.

Repeat these four rows until cloth measures 10″. K three rows and bo. Weave in ends.

Knot Stitch
CO 32 sts and knit 4 rows

Work stockinette panel:
Row 1(ws): k3, p26, k3.
Row 2: k.
Rep rows 1 and 2 three more times.

Start knot pattern:
Row 1(ws): k3, p26, k3.
Row 2: k.
Row 3: rep row 1.
Row 4: k6, *(make knot) Insert R needle under thread between next 2 sts on L needle, wrap yarn and loosely draw up a loop and place on R needle. Insert R needle above same thread and loosely draw up a second loop and place on R needle. Wyf, p first st from L needle. Move yarn to the back. Pass first loop over second loop and p st, then pass second loop over p st – knot made; k5. Rep from * to last 7 sts, k7.
Row 5: rep row 1.
Row 6: rep row 2
Row 7: rep row 1
Row 8: k9, *make knot, k5. Rep from * to last 4 sts, k4.

Repeat these 8 rows until cloth measures 10″. K 3 rows and bo. Weave in ends.

Crosshatch
CO 32 sts and k 4 rows.

Work stockinette panel:
Row 1(ws): k3, p26, k3.
Row 2: k.
Rep rows 1 and 2 twice more.
Row 7: rep row 1.
Row 8: rep row 1.
Row 9: rep row 1.

Start crosshatch pattern:

Note: The crosshatch stitch pattern can be tight, so try using one size larger needle or knitting loosely.

Row 1(rs): k4, *sl1, k1, psso but before dropping the sl st off the left needle, k into back of it. Rep from * until last 4 sts, k4.
Row 2: k3, *p2tog, do not slip st off needle. P first st again, sl both sts off needle. Rep from * until last 4 sts, k3.

Repeat these 2 rows until cloth measures 10″. K three rows and bo. Weave in ends.

Finishing
Using freehand embroidery or duplicate stitch and yellow yarn (figure A), work text shaken, stirred, rocks and neat into the four different stockinette panels of the bar cloths. If you prefer, you may choose your own theme words.

Tips:

Consider the number of letters in your word before starting to embroider and work accordingly. For example, the letter “r” in stirred is the middle letter. Therefore, it’s suggested that if you’re stitching this word, you begin embroidering this letter first, making sure it’s placed in the middle. This will ensure the letters are all evenly spaced.
If you’re using freehand embroidery, you don’t need a chart, but if you’re using duplicate stitch, the charts (see links, at right) may prove helpful.
Each black space on the charts represents a stitch.
If you’re using duplicate stitch, it’s helpful to make the bar cloth a little bigger (a few extra stitches on the sides) because it’ll take more room. It does work better if you use shorter words (such as rocks).

Knitty Gritty Patterns printed courtesy of the designer. Please contact him/her directly for questions.