Summer Kitchen 2022: Chainlink Square

This simple garter stitch dishcloth introduces (or helps you practice) a specialized increase that create a centered, crochet-look YO column at each corner! Getting used to the increase and keeping tabs on a shifting start point makes this basic cloth more engaging to knit, while simple details and sturdy cotton make good kitchen tools.

I’m trying out Knitpicks Cotolin for this, since I didn’t like how the cotton I used last year held up when laundered (lots of lint, lots of pilling, not optimal), but you can use your preferred kitchen cotton or a combination of cotton or linen threads. The pattern is written for dk-weight yarn, but adjusting the finished size is going to be pretty easy. Use high-quality yarn for a cloth that lasts!

Materials:

• 60(85, 105) yds of dk cotton or cotton-linen yarn; samples shown in Knitpicks Cotlin in Cashew, Pomegranate, and Linen colorways
• 1 16” circular needle in US5/3.75mm, or size needed for gauge
• 1 set of 5 DPNs in size needed for gauge
• Tapestry needle (for weaving in yarn ends)
• Optional: removable stitch marker(s)

Gauge:
Gauge is 8 sts and 16 rows over 2“/5cm in blocked garter stitch.