Textured Stripes Washcloth in Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie Multi and Scrubby Smoothie - LM5933 - Downloadable PDF

Textured Stripes Washcloth in Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie Multi and Scrubby Smoothie – LM5933

Designed by Sara Louise Greer, the Textured Stripes Washcloth (LM5933) is a beginner-friendly knitting pattern that produces a charming, functional 7" x 7" [18 cm x 18 cm] square washcloth or dishcloth. This free downloadable PDF pattern is published by Red Heart and is an ideal project for knitters who are just learning to combine simple stitch patterns and color changes to create eye-catching, textured results.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a square washcloth measuring 7 inches by 7 inches (18 cm x 18 cm). Washcloths and dishcloths of this type are perennially popular handknit items — they make thoughtful handmade gifts, practical kitchen accessories, and satisfying quick projects that can be completed in a single sitting. The compact size makes this pattern especially approachable for beginners who want a finished object without a long time commitment.

Design Overview and Colorwork

The design features a series of horizontal stripes created by alternating between three colors — Color A (2154 Zesty), Color B (9235 Lemony), and Color C — across the body of the washcloth. The interplay of stripe widths and stitch textures gives the cloth its distinctive "textured stripes" appearance. The color changes are straightforward and follow a clear sequence, making it easy for beginners to follow along without complex colorwork techniques such as intarsia or stranded knitting.

Techniques Used

• Casting on: The washcloth begins by casting on 38 stitches, establishing the full width of the fabric from the very first row.
• Color changing: Yarn colors are swapped at regular intervals throughout the pattern, creating the horizontal stripe effect. Each color section is worked for a set number of rows before switching, ranging from 2 to 8 rows per stripe.
• Binding off knitwise: The washcloth is finished with a knitwise bind-off, which creates a neat, tidy edge consistent with the overall texture of the piece.
• Weaving in ends: Because multiple colors are used, finishing involves weaving in the yarn ends to secure all color changes cleanly on the wrong side of the fabric.

Stitches Used

• Seed Stitch: The primary texture stitch used throughout much of the washcloth. Seed stitch is worked over a multiple of 2 stitches and alternates knit and purl stitches across each row, with the stitches offset on the following row so that knits sit above purls and purls sit above knits. This creates a bumpy, pebbly surface that lies flat without curling — a highly practical quality for a washcloth. The pattern defines Seed Stitch as: Row 1 (Right Side): K1, [p1, k1] to last st, k1. Row 2: K1, [k1, p1] to last st, k1. Repeat Rows 1–2.
• Stockinette Stitch (St st): Used for select stripe sections, Stockinette stitch is formed by knitting on right-side rows and purling on wrong-side rows. It creates a smooth, flat fabric surface that contrasts beautifully with the textured seed stitch sections, adding visual variety to the stripe sequence.

Stripe Sequence

The pattern follows a carefully planned stripe sequence that alternates between Seed Stitch and Stockinette Stitch sections in different colors:

• Color A (Zesty): 2 rows Seed Stitch to begin
• Color C: 2 rows Stockinette Stitch
• Color A (Zesty): 8 rows Seed Stitch
• Color B (Lemony): 4 rows Stockinette Stitch
• Color A (Zesty): 6 rows Seed Stitch
• Color B (Lemony): 4 rows Seed Stitch
• Color A (