Back Splash Dishcloth

Back Splash Dishcloth by Joan Laws

What is Being Made

The Back Splash Dishcloth is a practical and decorative knitted dishcloth measuring 8 inches by 8 inches. This project combines functionality with visual interest through a two-color stranded knitting pattern, making it suitable for kitchen use while displaying an attractive geometric design.

Craft and Technique

This is a knitting project designed at an intermediate difficulty level. The dishcloth employs stranded colorwork knitting, a technique where two yarn colors are carried across the work to create a patterned fabric. The Back Splash chart guides the color placement across 18 rows, with each row specifying when to work with Color A (Sage Green) and Color B (Soft Ecru). Stranded colorwork requires careful tension management to keep floats (the yarn carried inside the fabric) even and prevent puckering, making this technique ideal for intermediate knitters looking to develop their skills.

Stitches Used

The Back Splash Dishcloth is worked primarily in stockinette stitch (St st), which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric. The pattern begins with a 2-row garter stitch border (knit every row) to frame the edges. The main body features the Back Splash chart pattern, which is a multiple of 18 stitches, meaning the 36 cast-on stitches accommodate exactly two full pattern repeats across the width. The colorwork is integrated directly into the stockinette base, with color changes occurring on both right-side and wrong-side rows as specified in the detailed row-by-row instructions.

Materials

• Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream 100% cotton yarn, worsted weight, 120 yards per 70.9 grams. Color A is #00084 in Sage Green, and Color B is #01004 in Soft Ecru. Cotton yarn is ideal for dishcloths as it is absorbent, durable, and machine-washable.
• Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) needles, or the size needed to achieve proper gauge.
• Gauge: 18 stitches over 4 inches in the stitch pattern. Achieving correct gauge is essential for the finished dishcloth to measure the intended 8" x 8" dimensions.

Pattern Structure

The pattern is organized as a charted design spanning 18 rows, presented in both visual chart format and written row-by-row instructions. Each row specifies the sequence of stitches to work in Color A and Color B, allowing knitters to follow either the chart or the written directions. The pattern repeat structure ensures that the colorwork design repeats evenly across the fabric, creating a cohesive and balanced finished piece.