Monday, September 12, 2011

Kris's study of Machine-knit dishcloths







Although I love getting hand-made items, I have in the past received hand-knit
or hand-crocheted dishcloths that are just too thick. I was on a quest for the
perfect weight in dishcloths. Not too thick, but not too thin either.
I had in my stash, 100% unmercerized cotton in several different weights.
Thought I'd try different combinations of these yarns, different tensions,
different cast-on #'s. and see what I liked best. Please note that some of these dishcloths, while still on the machine look waaay too long but actually once the weights are off, remove from the machine, wash & dry them - they are the correct size. The length shrinks more than the width does.
Using my Brother KH-965i knitting machine, here are the results of my scientific (?) study of making
dish cloths.
First I found 3 very good patterns:

http://www.daisyknits.com/freemkpats.htm
http://rozspot.blogspot.com/2010/11/knit-cotton-washcloths-cast-on-rag.html
http://www.eileenmontgomery.com/freebies/patterns/dishcloth.html


All of these patterns are great. Because I was trying different thicknesses of yarn,
I tried all of them as written, then I combined parts of them to make the pattern I
preferred. I wanted my dishcloths to end up about the same size and thickness no
matter what yarn I used(11" square before washing). I kept track of all the different yarn combinations in hopes it may help others that have oddball cones of cotton that they want to use.

Here are the results so far of what I have made and what I like best.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using 1 strand of 8/3
Tension 8
RC000. E-wrap cast on over 68 sts.
• Knit 1 row to the left, weave tail in. Hang the cast-on comb and weights.
• Set to KCII and program the pattern to #461 or #256 Double length.
• Knit 1 row to the right. Push both the tuck buttons in and push the rubber wheels on the bottom of the carriage to tucking position. I also employed the weaving brushes.
• Knit in tuck until RC030.
• RC030. Release the tuck buttons, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• RC034. Release the slip buttons and Push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit in tuck until RC172 .
• Release the tuck button, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• Release the slip buttons and push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit 29 rows in tuck.
• Set Change knob to N-L and release the tuck buttons. Knit 1 row in stocking st.
RC206. Bind off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using 1 strand of 3.5/1 PLUS 1 strand of 16/2
Tension 8
RC000. E-wrap cast on over 66 sts.
• Knit 1 row to the left, weave tail in. Hang the cast-on comb and weights.
• Set to KCII and program the pattern to #461 or #256 Double length.
• Knit 1 row to the right. Push both the tuck buttons in and push the rubber wheels on the bottom of the carriage to tucking position. I also employed the weaving brushes.
• Knit in tuck until RC030.
• RC030. Release the tuck buttons, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• RC034. Release the slip buttons and Push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit in tuck until RC168 .
• Release the tuck button, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• Release the slip buttons and push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit 29 rows in tuck.
• Set Change knob to N-L and release the tuck buttons. Knit 1 row in stocking st.
RC202. Bind off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using 1 strand of 8/2 PLUS 1 strand of 16/2
Tension 8
RC000. E-wrap cast on over 68 sts.
• Knit 1 row to the left, weave tail in. Hang the cast-on comb and weights.
• Set to KCII and program the pattern to #461 or #256 Double length.
• Knit 1 row to the right. Push both the tuck buttons in and push the rubber wheels on the bottom of the carriage to tucking position. I also employed the weaving brushes.
• Knit in tuck until RC030.
• RC030. Release the tuck buttons, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• RC034. Release the slip buttons and Push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit in tuck until RC172 .
• Release the tuck button, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• Release the slip buttons and push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit 29 rows in tuck.
• Set Change knob to N-L and release the tuck buttons. Knit 1 row in stocking st.
RC206. Bind off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using 1 strand of 12/4
Tension 6++
RC000. E-wrap cast on over 68 sts.
• Knit 1 row to the left, weave tail in. Hang the cast-on comb and weights.
• Set to KCII and program the pattern to #461 or #256 Double length.
• Knit 1 row to the right. Push both the tuck buttons in and push the rubber wheels on the bottom of the carriage to tucking position. I also employed the weaving brushes.
• Knit in tuck until RC030.
• RC030. Release the tuck buttons, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• RC034. Release the slip buttons and Push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit in tuck until RC164 .
• Release the tuck button, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• Release the slip buttons and push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit 29 rows in tuck.
• Set Change knob to N-L and release the tuck buttons. Knit 1 row in stocking st.
RC198. Bind off.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using 2 strands of 16/2
Tension 7
RC000. E-wrap cast on over 68 sts.
• Knit 1 row to the left, weave tail in. Hang the cast-on comb and weights.
• Set to KCII and program the pattern to #461 or #256 Double length.
• Knit 1 row to the right. Push both the tuck buttons in and push the rubber wheels on the bottom of the carriage to tucking position. I also employed the weaving brushes.
• Knit in tuck until RC030.
• RC030. Release the tuck buttons, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• RC034. Release the slip buttons and Push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit in tuck until RC168.
• Release the tuck button, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• Release the slip buttons and push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit 29 rows in tuck.
• Set Change knob to N-L and release the tuck buttons. Knit 1 row in stocking st.
RC202. Bind off.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Using 1 strand of 16/2 PLUS 1 strand of 3.5/1 cotton slub
Tension 8
RC000. E-wrap cast on over 64 sts.
• Knit 1 row to the left, weave tail in. Hang the cast-on comb and weights.
• Set to KCII and program the pattern to #461 or #256 Double length.
• Knit 1 row to the right. Push both the tuck buttons in and push the rubber wheels on the bottom of the carriage to tucking position. I also employed the weaving brushes.
• Knit in tuck until RC030.
• RC030. Release the tuck buttons, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• RC034. Release the slip buttons and Push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit in tuck until RC168 .
• Release the tuck button, push in both slip buttons and knit 4 rows.
• Release the slip buttons and push in both tuck buttons.
• Knit 29 rows in tuck.
• Set Change knob to N-L and release the tuck buttons. Knit 1 row in stocking st.
RC202. Bind off.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Each Dishcloth took about 12 minutes on average to knit on the machine. I then washed and dried them to make them shrink to a nice size. If you give them to friends or family you may want to then block them nice and square.
That's all for my "scientific study" for now! If I try other weights of yarn and
find them to my liking I will post those results as well.
Happy knitting!
Kris

UPDATE: 8/30/17
I hadn't knit any of these in quite a while.  I am about to take a trip to go visit some relatives and wanted to knit a bunch up to take along as gifts.  I had a small amount of time to get as many knit up as I could before leaving.
For all of these I used 1 strand of 8/2 (Valley Yarns purchased on yarn.com), and 1 strand of 16/2 (purchased from the Yarn Barn).  Most I used the plating yarn feeder to do a plated tuck, a few others I twisted the 2 strands together before knitting.  I used pattern #256 for all of them, double length.  Tension 8, cast on 68 sts, knit 205 rows then bind off.  Note, I didn't do the rows of slip stitch and actually I found that these came out more square in the end than the ones above with the slip rows.  These also look VERY long when you knit them but remarkably after being washed and dried in the machine the shrink up to approx. 11" sq.

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13 comments:

  1. johnprice@cox.netSeptember 12, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    What a great scientific study!! Thank you for posting. Which was the first photo of the white dish cloth? That pattern looks beautiful. Actually they all do but I love that one the most. Janet - Luvfostermom

    ReplyDelete
  2. johnprice@cox.netSeptember 12, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    What a great scientific study!! Which was the first photo of the white dish cloth? That pattern looks beautiful. Actually they all do but I love that one the most.
    Janet
    Luvfostermom

    ReplyDelete
  3. kriskrafterSeptember 12, 2011 at 10:25 PM

    That is pattern #461 on my KH-365i. I know, I love that one the best too!
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  4. AlyshaSeptember 13, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    If that is the same #461 in the Stitch World Book, then is it the same as Singer Card #1 done in weaving instead of tuck?

    ReplyDelete
  5. kriskrafterSeptember 13, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Alysha,
    I am sorry, I am just not familiar with the Singer or their card #'s. Perhaps another MK'r will pipe in here.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    HI
    what does the different yarn # mean (8/3 or3.5/1..)?
    Also I only have a Bond USM and a Brother 350. so they dont do cards or programs.
    Any suggestions to translate the patterns?
    Thank you

    Lynn D

    ReplyDelete
  7. kriskrafterSeptember 13, 2011 at 12:49 PM

    Lynn,
    The dishcloths that I did for this blog were all done with much finer cone yarn than you'd be using on your bond or 350. The kind of cotton that you would use is going to produce a thicker dishcloth. Many many people make dishcloths on their Bond/350 machines and are quite happy with them. You can use the cones of Peaches and Cream cotton etc. and regular Stockinette Stitch or a hand-manipulated stitch possibly.
    I am sure there must be many good patterns out there for Bond users.
    The cone cotton I was referring to that I used 16/2, 8/3, etc. refers to the size of the cotton #8/then the number of plys. 8/3 would be 3 plys. Best regards, Kris

    ReplyDelete
  8. AlyshaSeptember 14, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    It is the same card. When I am finished with the current order, on my Bond. I'll set up my standard and try it out.

    ReplyDelete
  9. kriskrafterSeptember 14, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    Great! would love to see the finished dishcloth when you're done!
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  10. landofozSeptember 19, 2011 at 3:50 AM

    kris, thanks for all the trouble you went too, to achieve the correct weight etc.
    i want to make squares for my wraps of love . can you tell me the approx size , i also loved the white one it looks like a honeycomb pattern.
    Thanks so much for your help .People like you are valueable!

    ReplyDelete
  11. kriskrafterSeptember 19, 2011 at 7:17 AM

    The white one you like is the pattern #461 on my kh-965i.
    Most of the dishcloths came out around 11 - 11.5" in length and width AFTER they are washed and dried. Keep in mind they have real good shrinkage because they are cotton - so the wash and dry cycle will give them their final size. When they first come of the machine they look too big. Not sure what size squares you'd end up with after washing/drying if using a different fiber.

    ReplyDelete
  12. FayeJanuary 17, 2013 at 2:17 PM

    Kris, I have been making similar washcloths on my 956i for years for my family, and baby gifts. I use several patterns for the Garter Carriage. The cloths are thinner and wring out drier when I am using them around the house. I have been using discontinued yarns, sometimes combining strands to get the right weight. I soon gave up on getting them the same size, as long as they are a good size for their use. Mostly I use the "ultimate dishcloth" pattern from an old Machine Knitters Source, and a "heart baby blanket" pattern from an old News and Views.

    ReplyDelete
  13. tara2221January 13, 2015 at 10:21 PM

    Are these tougher than hand knit....anyone want to sell me a few to try !!

    ReplyDelete