Dishrug pattern for Ravelry
SpiraLash Cloth A Meditative Pattern
Also known as the "Dishrug" because it is a spinoff of designing the SpiraLash Rag Rug.
The Dishrug begins as a nautilus, then coils around the center. Start with 2 stitches, make a loop to set up the central coil, then knit short row wedges into each selvedge stitch, increasing to 8 stitches per row by the end of the first round. A special raised lash stitch creates a slightly ridged, highlighted join, adding textural interest and scrubbing power to this cloth. The raised lash stitch is worked at the end of the row and joins the wedge in progress to the rest of the cloth.
To make the raised lash stitch:
Yarn forward, slip the last stitch on the needle purlwise, insert right hand needle through the next selvedge stitch on the spiral (from the back to the front with both legs of the selvedge stitch on top of the needle). Pick up a stitch by purling the yarn through the selvedge stitch, then turn work. Slip the picked up stitch knitwise, slip the next stitch purlwise, then pass the first slipped stitch over the second slipped stitch. Transfer the stitch on your right hand needle back to the left hand needle, giving the loose yarn a gentle tug when you finish. This raised lash stitch will get easy with practice.
other abbreviations:
ss: slip one stitch purlwise, yarn back. This forms the selvedge stitch that rims the spiral.
s1kw: slip one stitch knitwise
wr: wrap next stitch and turn work
m: make (increase) all increase stitches are made with a backwards loop
k: knit
Use size 5 or 6 needles and kitchen cotton yarn. Makes an 8.5 inch diameter cloth.
Set up loop:
Cast on 2 stitches.
k2
ss, k1
Repeat these 2 rows five more times.
k1, m1, k1
(At the end of the next row, lash into the taut bar in the cast on edge, carefully coiling the knitted strip so that the cast on edge sits next to the right hand needle with selvedge stitches on outside of coil-all other raised lashes will be made into the next selvedge stitch on the spiral)
ss, k1, raised lash
There are now 3 stitches on the needles and 8 selvedge stitches on the loop (including the selvedge stitch on the needle).
Round one of spiral:
Knit these 8 wedges, taking care to make the increase stitches and to have the proper amount of selvedge stitches on the spiral after each wedge (always count the selvedge stitch on the needle). Mistakes made now will propagate through the rest of the project.
First wedge
k3
ss, k2
s1kw, k2
ss, k1, wr
m1, k2
ss, k2, raised lash (note that the lash is made into the first selvedge stitch of loop)
10 selvedge stitches on the spiral, 4 stitches on the needle
Second wedge
k4
ss, k3
s1kw, k3
ss, k2, wr
k3
ss, k1, wr
m1, k2
ss, k1, wr
k2
ss, k3, raised lash
14 selvedge stitches on spiral, 5 stitches on needle
Third wedge
k5
ss, k4
s1kw, k4
ss, k3, wr
k4
ss, k2, wr
k3
ss, k1, wr
k2
ss, k3, raised lash
18 selvedge stitches on spiral, 5 stitches on needle
Fourth wedge
k2, m1, k3
ss, k5
s1kw, k5
ss, k4, wr
k5
ss, k3, wr
k4
ss, k2, wr
k3
ss, k1, wr
k2
ss, k4, raised lash
23 selvedge stitches on spiral, 6 stitches on needle
Fifth wedge
k6
ss, k5
s1kw, k5
ss, k4, wr
k5
ss, k3, wr
m1, k4
ss, k2, wr
k3
ss, k1, wr
k2
ss, k5, raised lash
28 selvedge stitches on spiral, 7 stitches on needle
Sixth wedge
k7
ss, k6
s1kw, k6
ss, k5, wr
k6
ss, k4, wr
k5
ss, k2, wr
k3
ss, k5, raised lash
32 selvedge stitches on spiral, 7 stitches on needle
Seventh wedge
k7
ss, k6
s1kw, k6
ss, k4, wr
k5
ss, k2, wr
k3
ss, k5, raised lash
35 selvedge stitches on spiral, 7 stitches on needle
Eighth wedge
k2, m1, k5
ss, k5, wr
k6
ss, k4, wr
k5
ss, k3, wr
k4
ss, k6, raised lash
38 selvedge stitches on spiral, 8 stitches on needle
End of first round
Second round of spiral
Knit this wedge once:
k8
(place marker in the selvedge stitch below the needle to mark the end of the first round)
ss, k7
s1kw, k7
ss, k4, wr
k5
ss, k3, wr
k4
ss, k6, raised lash
The following wedges will be used next.
Wedge A
k8
ss, k6, wr
k7
ss, k4, wr
k5
ss, k6, raised lash
Wedge B
k8
ss, k7
s1kw, k7
ss, k5, wr
k6
ss, k6, raised lash
Wedge C
k8
ss, k5, wr
k6
ss, k6, raised lash
Garter Ridge
k8
ss, k6, raised lash
*Knit wedge A then knit wedge B* two times
(49 selvedge stitches on spiral)
Knit wedge A twice
(53 selvedge stitches on spiral)
Knit wedge C then knit wedge A
(56 selvedge stitches on spiral)
*Knit wedge C four times then knit garter ridge* four times
(72 selvedge stitches on spiral)
*Knit wedge C three times then knit garter ridge* two times
(78 selvedge stitches on spiral)
Knit wedge C
(79 selvedge stitches on spiral)
End of second round. There are 79 selvedge stitches on the spiral, including the one on the needle. Place marker in last selvedge stitch (easier to do after you knit the first row of the next round).
Third round of Spiral
In the third round, the number of stitches progressively decrease to provide a smooth circular finish to the Dishrug.
Wedge
knit every stitch
ss, knit until 2 stitches remain on left hand needle, wr
knit every stitch
ss, knit until 1 stitch remains on the left hand needle, raised lash
Garter ridge
knit every stitch
ss, knit until 1 stitch remains on the left hand needle, raised lash
Decrease to 7 stitches
knit a wedge, but knit 2 together at the beginning of the first row
knit a garter ridge
*knit two wedges then knit a garter ridge* seven times
knit a wedge
(95 selvedge stitches on spiral, 7 stitches on needle)
Decrease to 6 stitches
knit a garter ridge, but knit 2 together at the beginning of the first row
*knit two wedges, then knit a garter ridge, then knit a wedge, then knit a garter ridge* three times
knit a wedge, then knit a garter ridge
(105 selvedge stitches on spiral, 6 stitches on needle)
Decrease to 5 stitches
knit a wedge, but knit 2 together at the beginning of the first row
*knit a garter ridge, then knit a wedge* three times
knit a garter ridge
*knit a garter ridge, then knit a wedge* three times
(112 selvedge stitches on spiral, 5 stitches on needle)
Decrease to 4 stitches
knit a garter ridge, but knit 2 together at the beginning of the first row
knit a wedge, then knit two garter ridges
*knit a wedge, then knit a garter ridge* two times
(115 selvedge stitches on spiral, 4 stitches on needle)
Decrease to 3 stitches
knit a garter ridge, but knit 2 together at the beginning of the first row
knit five garter ridges
Decrease to 2 stitches
knit a garter ridge, but knit 2 together at the beginning of the first row
knit thirteen garter ridges
(this will go past the marker for the end of the last round, but makes for a more circular cloth)
Decrease to 1 stitch
knit 2 together
Repeat the next two rows 5 times:
*ss, never mind the last stitch is missing, raised lash
k1*
Pull yarn through remaining stitch on needle to secure yarn end. Weave in loose ends.
© August 2010, Rebecca Hudson (“meditative” on ravelry)
Please don’t use this pattern to sell finished items.