Author Archives: Coffee Tea Knits

Toward Center Mitered Dishcloth

Posted in August 2020 by

Toward Center Mitered Dishcloth

This mitered dishcloth is knitted in the round from the cast on edge, and then through a series of decreases moves towards the center. The seed stitch pattern is similar to the previous dishcloth pattern (July 2020 post) except that this one is knitted in the round and has four smaller mitered squares that merge in the center.

Toward Center Mitered Dishcloth Pattern*

The seed stitch pattern:
Round 1: *K1, P1*; repeat from *…* to end of the row
Round 2: *P1, K1*; repeat  from *…* to end of the row
Knit in seed stitch pattern: Knit the purl stitches and purl the knit stitches

Yarn: PREMIER HOME® COTTON CONE YARN Colorway: Jelly Dots
Knitting Needles: US #7 circular needles
Crochet hook: US size 7 or 4.5 mm crochet hook
Gauge: Not needed for this project
Abbreviations:

  • K: Knit
  • P: Purl
  • K2tog: Knit two stitches together
  • ssk: slip slip knit (slip 2 stitches to right hand needle then insert the left needle in front of the two slipped stitches and knit them together).
  • sm: slip marker
  • BOR: beginning of round

1. Cast on 128 stitches using the cable cast on method (several tutorials available on Youtube) with US #7 size knitting needles placing stitch markers after every 32 stitches till all 128 stitches are cast on. Place a BOR marker at the end of the row. 

2. Join the round making sure the stitches are not twisted and knit the following:

  • Round 1: ssk, *K1, P1* (or knit in seed stitch pattern) till 2 stitches before first maker, K2tog, sm, ssk, knit in seed stitch pattern till 2 stitch before second marker, K2tog, sm, ssk, knit in seed stitch pattern till 2 stitch before third marker, K2tog, sm, ssk, knit in seed stitch pattern till 2 stitch before BOR marker, K2tog, slip BOR marker.

  • Round 2: K1, knit in seed stitch pattern till 1 stitch before first maker, K1, sm, K1, knit in seed stitch pattern till 1 stitch before second marker, K1, sm, K1, knit in seed stitch pattern till 1 stitch before third marker, K1, sm, K1, knit knit in seed stitch pattern till 1 stitch before BOR marker, K1, slip BOR marker.

  • Repeat rounds 1 and 2 till 8 stitches left on the needles

  • K2tog 4 times removing all markers.
  • Cut yarn and with a darning needle thread tail through the 4 stitches, pull tight and fasten off.

  • Weave in the ends, wash and block the dishcloth. 

  • To crochet the hanging loop, insert a size 7 crochet hook at one side of the BOR mitered corner and chain 15 stitches. Slip stitch into the other side of the same mitered corner, cut yarn and weave in the end.

*Pattern text and photo for personal use only.

~coffeeteaknits

Knitting a seed stitch mitered dishcloth

Posted in July 2020 by

A Seed Stitch Mitered Dishcloth



In between large and lingering knitting projects (blankets, sweaters etc.), I find knitting dishcloths both appealing and interesting. I can explore and learn different stitch patterns using a particular knitting technique without spending too much time to finish the project. Dishcloths, of course, are useful to have around the kitchen and they also make great gifts. During one such in between period I knit this seed stitch mitered dishcloth (see a previous blog post “To knit a mitered square” for more information about this knitting technique). Below with photos and text (for personal use only), is the knitting progression of this mitered dishcloth in a seed stitch pattern.


The seed stitch pattern:
Row 1 (RS): *K1, P1*; repeat from *…* to end of the row
Row 2 (WS): *P1, K1*; repeat  from *…* to end of the row
Knit in seed stitch pattern: Knit the purl stitches and purl the knit stitches

Yarn: PREMIER HOME® COTTON CONE YARN Colorway: Jelly Dots
Knitting Needles: US #10 and US #7
Crochet hook: US size 7 or 4.5 mm crochet hook
Gauge: Not needed for this project
Abbreviations:



  • K: Knit

  • P: Purl

  • K2tog: Knit two stitches together

  • ssk: slip slip knit (slip 2 stitches to right hand needle then insert the left needle in front of the two slipped stitches and knit them together.

  • rm: remove marker

  • sm: slip marker

  • wyif: with yarn in front

  • RS: right side

  • WS: wrong side


1. Cast on 64 stitches with US #10 size knitting needles and place a removable stitch marker after 32 stitches.



2. Switch to a US #7 needle and start knitting the dishcloth as follows:



  • Setup Row 1 (RS): K1, *K1, P1* (repeat from*…* 14 times), K1, K2tog, sm, ssk, *K1, P1* (repeat from *…*14 times), K1, wyif slip the last stitch purlwise.




  • Setup Row 2 (WS): K1, knit in seed stitch pattern till 1 stitch before marker, P1, sm, P1, knit in seed stitch pattern till 1 stitch before last, wyif slip the last stitch purlwise.




  • Row 3 (RS): K1, knit in seed stitch pattern till 2 stitches before maker, K2tog, sm, ssk, knit in seed stitch pattern till 1 stitch before last, wyif slip the last stitch purlwise.

  • Row 4 (WS): K1, knit in seed stitch pattern till 1 stitch before marker, P1, sm, P1, knit in seed stitch pattern till 1 stitch before last, wyif slip the last stitch purlwise.

  • Repeat the last 2 rows till 4 stitches are left on the needle.










  • Bind off row (RS): K2, pass the first stitch over the second stitch on the right hand needle, rm, *K1, pass the first stitch on the right hand needle over the second stitch*; repeat from *…* once more and one stitch is left on the needle.




  • Insert a 4.5 mm ( US 7) crochet hook into the remaining stitch and single crochet along the edge of the dishcloth.




  • To get a more curved corner edge on the two non mitered corners, single crochet twice into the same corner edge stitch.




  • Single crochet all around ending at the first bind off stitch. Crochet 15 chain stitches.




  • Slip stitch into the first single crochet stitch.




  • Weave in the ends, wash and block the dishcloth.




  • The finished dishcloth.




Enjoy! 

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

To knit a center out blanket

Posted in June 2020 by

A center out knit blanket



Yarn used: Lion Brand Pound of Love® Yarn


This garter stitch blanket is knit center out with two different colors of yarn I already had. Compared to the center out crochet blanket I posted about in February 2020 which was completed within two months, knitting this blanket has taken me longer than six months to complete. This is because as the blanket grew larger, I could only knit a few rounds in one sitting due to issues with hand fatigue. There were close to 800 stitches on the needle at bind off. 

The number of garter ridge stripes for are based on the Fibonacci sequence till the last stripe for both yarn colors. I did not have enough yarn left so the number of garter ridges for the last stripes are shorter than the next Fibonacci number in the sequence. The blanket was finished with a single crochet border and diagonal crochet duplicate stitches for the four corners. Although I like how the center out seamless knit blanket looks, I still find the process of crocheting a center out seamless blanket more appealing. 

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

To knit during a pandemic

Posted in May 2020 by

Four years ago my May 2016 blog post was about “The Simple Elegance of the Garter Stitch” and how with this stitch pattern we can create several beautiful and elegant knits. This year amidst the stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus pandemic, I would like to add that I’ve also found knitting with the garter stitch pattern both meditative and comforting.

A Garter Stitch Wrap

I used the Zaden Spring Shawl pattern by Staci Perry of Very Pink Knits as inspiration and also to learn the bias knitting technique for a wrap. I modified the pattern by using a different stitch count, sock yarn, and knit the wrap using just the garter stitch pattern. 

May knitting bring you comfort!

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.