Monica Knits

This 26" x 9" knitted cotton towel or scarf (if you make it about 6" longer) started out as a demonstration for the cable cast on. Originally designed as a towel for a bathroom with antique rose wall tiles and dove grey walls, the piece looks so nice that I have decided to use it as a doily instead. If I made it longer, it would also make a striking scarf because it drapes well and the lace borders are flattering. Read more .... for instructions for this towel or scarf.

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Design Features With a main body of garter stitch, this hand towel drapes well and works up quickly. It features horizontal braids bracketing a row of lace stitches and shell and eyelet borders. The rope-like edge of the cable cast on provides flexibility and complements the four-ply yarn's appearance.

Inspiration I had knitted a couple of projects that started with the cable cast on method, but hadn't provided illustrated instructions on the method. This cast on is a great beginning for a garter stitch fabric so the towel design evolved organically from the cast on. I selected a variegated cotton yarn with pleasing pink, blue and lavender highlights on a natural color (off-white) base and knitted a 17-1/2" x 9" rectangle. I decided that the towel needed a lace edge, so I knitted a horizontal braid and lace and attached a lace border adapted from Barbara Walker's shell and eyelet border. The edge trim pieces were then knitted separately and joined with a grafting stitch, then embellished with a crocheted braid for a more dramatic transition.

Gauge with 4.5 mm needles
Garter Stitch:   3.5 sts/in, 8 rows/in
Stocking Stitch: 4 sts/in, 4 rows/in

Instructions
Body:

1. With one 4.5 mm circular needle or two 4.5 mm straight needles cast on 60 sts using a cable cast on. If you are making a scarf, cast on additional sts, to achieve the desired length.
2. Work in garter stitch (knit all rows) for 33 rows.
3. Bind off using a purl stitch bind off.
4. Block to 17-1/2" x 9".

Block Block Body Border

Lace Border: (make 2)

1. Cast on 33 sts using a long-tail cast on.
2. Work two repeats of the shell and eyelet border¹. (pattern source below)
3. Complete 6 additional rows of stocking stitch. Place sts on stitch holder or lace wire. Leave a yarn tail 6 to 8 times (54 - 72") the width of trim for grafting and crochet embellishment.
4. Block the lace trim to the same width as the towel edge, 9".

Knitted Braid: (twice)

1. Pick up 33 sts along short edge of body.
2. Knit a horizontal braid loosely to create the appearance of hairpin lace.
3. Place sts on 3mm needle or lace wire.

Graft Crochet Braid Block

Assembly:

1. Lay the body and one trim piece flat, aligning stitches.
2. Graft (Join) the trim to the body.
3. Repeat for second border
4. Crochet a horizontal braid directly over the grafting stitches, to frame the hairpin lace-like stitches. (each end)
5. Weave in yarn ends and block.

Quality Control Tips
Blocking at 3 points was key in this project: body, trim, completed towel.

Supplies

1. Two (2) skeins Lily, Sugar 'n Cream yarn, 100% cotton, 2 oz (56.7 g), worsted weight, 4 ply, Potpourri Ombre color (00178).
2. One (1) 4.5 mm crochet hook.
3. Two stitch markers.
4. Eight (8) small diameter stitch markers.
5. One (1) 4.5 mm 32" circular needle, or two 4.5 mm straight needles.
6. Two (2) 3.0 mm straight needles or lace wires for grafting.
7. Tally counter
8. Knitting Gauge
9. Darning needle.
10. Tape measure or ruler.
11. Blocking mat, T-pins, and lace wires.

1. Border Trim Pattern Source
Walker, Barbara, "Shell and Eyelet Border," in A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, Schoolhouse Press, 1998, pp. 342-344.

Related Posts
Cable Cast On
Purl Stitch Bind Off
Shell and Eyelet Trim
Knitted Horizontal Braid
Grafting (Joining) Two Stocking Stitch Pieces Together
Horizontal Braid - Crochet Method
Product Review - Blocking Mat
Product Review - Lace Blocking Wires - Not Only for Lace
Strawberries & Cream Tabard (sugar 'n cream yarn in natural color)
Sugar 'n Cream Yarn.