Sailor's Rib Stitch Washcloth in Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie - LM5934 - Downloadable PDF

Sailor's Rib Stitch Washcloth in Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie (LM5934)

Designed by Sara Louise Greer, the Sailor's Rib Stitch Washcloth is a free, beginner-friendly knitting pattern that produces a practical, textured washcloth measuring 7" x 7" (18 cm x 18 cm). The finished cloth is perfectly sized for washing faces, wiping down counters, and drying hands — making it an ideal quick knit for everyday household use or a thoughtful handmade gift.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a single square washcloth with a richly textured surface produced by the Sailor's Rib stitch pattern. The compact dimensions and straightforward construction make it an excellent project for knitters who are just learning to work with stitch combinations beyond basic knit and purl. Because the finished cloth is small and works up quickly, it is also a wonderful stash-busting project or a way to practice new techniques without a large time commitment.

Techniques Used

• Casting on — the washcloth begins with a cast-on of 36 stitches, a manageable number for beginners.
• Working through the back loop (tbl) — a key technique in this pattern, knitting through the back loop twists the stitch, creating a subtle but visually distinct texture that defines the Sailor's Rib pattern.
• Ribbing and rib variations — the Sailor's Rib is a structured combination of knit and purl stitches arranged in a repeating sequence across four rows, giving the cloth a firm, dimensional surface that is both attractive and functional.
• Binding off knitwise — the cloth is finished with a clean knitwise bind-off for a neat, stable edge.
• Weaving in ends — minimal finishing is required; ends are simply woven in with a yarn needle.

Stitches Used

The pattern is built on a four-row repeat that combines knit stitches, purl stitches, and twisted knit stitches (knit through the back loop). The specific stitch breakdown is as follows:

• Row 1 (Right Side): K1 through back loop, *p1, k2, p1, k1 through back loop; repeat from * to end of row.
• Row 2: P1, *k1, p2, k1, p1; repeat from * to end of row.
• Row 3: K1 through back loop, *p4, k1 through back loop; repeat from * to end of row.
• Row 4: P1, *k4, p1; repeat from * to end of row.

Rows 1 through 4 are repeated twelve more times, followed by one final repeat of Rows 1 and 2, before binding off. This alternation between twisted knit columns and purl sections creates the characteristic ridged, rope-like texture associated with Sailor's Rib — a stitch pattern historically associated with maritime knitwear traditions and prized for its durability and visual interest.

Materials

• Yarn: RED HEART® Scrubby Smoothie® (Art. E867) — 1 ball in color 9373 Brite Pink is used in the sample. This yarn is available in solid colorways at 153 yards (140 m) per 3.5 oz (100 g) ball, and in print colorways at 131 yards (120 m) per 3 oz (85 g) ball. Scrubby Smoothie is a worsted weight yarn specifically designed for knitted dishcloths and washcloths, offering a lightly textured surface that is effective for gentle scrubbing tasks.
• Needles: Susan Bates® Knitting Needles, 4mm (US Size 6).
• Notions: A yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge

The recommended gauge is 22 stitches and 26 rows over 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette stitch. As with any project where