star fish wishy facecloth

This was my submission to Knitty. They didn't say yest this time. I suppose it's a bit summery. I should have probably waited for next summer's edition. Ah well.

Here's the pattern. If you try it and find it confusing or that I have made mistakes, please contact me and I'll do my best to explain and/or amend the pattern.


STARFISHYWISHY FACECLOTH

MATERIALS:

Yarn: Calico DK by Sirdar, 60% cotton, 40% acrylic. 1 x 50g/158m/172 yards approx.

Needles: set of four dpn 3.00mm/US 3/UK 11.

If using different yarn, choose needle size to suit.

Notions: Darning needle, scissors.

Gauge: Not really applicable, but remember a tighter stitch will create a firmer fabric and make K2tog and picking up stitches harder to do.

NOTES:

Making the welt/pintuck is just like a three needle bind off, but without the bind off step.

The short row section includes wrapping and turning. Instructions are in the main text of pattern.

Photos illustrating both the above are available on Georgie’s website listed at the bottom.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Make the first arm:

Using two needles and cable cast on.

CO 29 stitches.

Row 1:   K.

Row 2:  slp 1, P.

Row 3:  slp 1, K.

Row 4:  slp 1, P.

Using the free needle, pick up 28 st from cast on row. (see blog for ‘how to”)

Using a third needle, sl1 knit-wise then knit together the live stitches from both needles, in pairs, to create welt/pintuck.

29 st.

Short rows as follows:

Row 1:  slp 1, *P1, K1*, rep *-* to last 4 st, P1, slp 1, turn work.

Row 2:  Bring working yarn between needles to front of work, slp 1, *P1, KI* rep *-* to end.

Row 3:  slp 1, *P1, K1*, rep *-* to last 6 st, P1, slp 1, turn work.

Row 4:  as row 2

Row 5:  slp 1, *P1, K1*, rep *-* to last 8 st, P1, slp 1, turn work.

Row 6:  as row 2

Continue short rows, working 2 less stitches on every subsequent odd numbered row.

NB: The short rows with the wrap and turn will leave the stitches in clearly separated pairs. (see blog)

When you reach the final wrap and turn, it will leave a group of 3 stitches (see blog):

Row 24:  slp 1, P1, slp 1, turn work.

Row 25: Bring working yarn between needles to front of work, slp 1, P1, K1

You will now work the next row all the way back to the tip of the arm. See blog for how to pick up wraps.

Row 26:  slp 1, *P1, K1*, rep *-*, picking up wraps on the K stitches as you go, to last 2 st. P1, Slp 1.

Row 27:  sl 1 knit-wise, BO in K until one live stitch remains.

You are now ready to make the next arm.

CO 28 to get 29 st total.

Repeat from Row 1 four more times, to make five arms in total, with one remaining live stitch.

You are now ready to pick up the slipped stitches at the top edge of the arms, and join in the round.

Pick up 14 from the RS across top of the fifth arm, making sure to pick up 1 st in the top of the welt/pintuck (see blog).

Continue to pick up from the RS, 15 st across top of each remaining four arms. 75 st total.

Divide over 3 dpns (25, 25, 25)

Join in round as follows:

Round 1:  (K2tog, P11, K2tog) 5 times

Round 2:  (K1, P11, K1) 5 times

Round 3:  (K2tog, P9, K2tog) 5 times

Round 4:  (K1, P9, K1) 5 times

Continue decreasing every other row until you have 15 stitches remaining.

Round 12: (K1, P1, K1) 5 times – 15 st

Round 13: (K2tog, K1) 5 times – 10 st

Round 14:  K2tog 5 times – 5 st

Using darning needle, cut yarn and thread tail through remaining 5 st, pull firmly together and weave tail neatly into the underside.