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The Story:
My family’s annual summer retreat to Star Island, New Hampshire, inspired this towel’s design. Every year, we spend a week on Star, one of the Isles of Shoals. There, we catch up with the friends whom we see every year at this magic place. Many of us "Shoalers" enjoy knitting while we go through all the activities offered on the island. Over the years, it’s become clear that knitting a simple piece that works up with only one skein of yarn is the ideal project
When I started to design this star-shaped wash cloth, I knew that I wanted it to work up from start to finish in one piece. I don’t like weaving in ends! I looked at lots of knitting motif patterns that started from the outside and ended up in the center (like a tam o’shanter), but I was having trouble figuring out a way to make 5 points ease into one center spot and still have the piece really look like a star.
I then turned to short rows, a technique that has intrigued me for some time—and it worked! Short rows gave me a way to control the shape of the piece as I knitted it up one section at a time. But one problem remained--the center of the star wasn’t flat enough to suit me. A few more design attempts—I added to the width of the widest point of each star section and narrowed the points that meet in the center—did the trick!
Enjoy making this Star Wash Cloth using short rows. It also works well as a trivet, pot holder, and whatever else you can think of.
The Yarns:
Provence — 100% mercerized Egyptian cotton
Provence is spun from sturdy, extra-long-staple Egyptian cotton. The longer the fiber strand (or staple), the stronger, smoother, and silkier the final yarn.
To make Provence, the Egyptian cotton is mercerized, a process that smooths the fiber and adds sheen. Mercerized cottons take dyes beautifully, as can be seen in Provence’s 57 solid colors—and its new marls.
Provence knits up at a gauge of 5½ sts per inch and it’s machine washable. It’s great for accessories, summer tops, and children’s items.
The Stitches:
Jessica uses short rows to shape each point in her star. This is a great beginner short row project. Each row is written out, and it's a small, quick knit.
Learn how to do short rows.
A crochet trim is added around the edge of the wash cloth. At each tip of the star, 3 single crochet stitches are worked in one stitch to compensate for turning the corner. At the V between each point a sc3tog is worked so there is not a bunched area of stitches at that corner.
Learn how to work a sc3tog.
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more photos
The Pattern:
Here is the free downloadable Provence Star Wash Cloth pattern.
If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these:
page 1, page 2
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