A Peek Inside - Handwoven Tea Towels

Miss Abigail and I went to the Heart of New Mexico Fiber Gathering over the weekend and found these beautiful handwoven tea towels. We couldn't pass them up. Abigail is loving orange right now and my favorite color is green. I think they make a very pretty set for the hope chest!

Pattern - Alternate Double V-Stitch Dishcloth

Here is the pattern for the Double V-Stitch Dishcloth pictured in the "Peachy/Green" kitchen set. The directions for the edging only seem complicated. I wrote directions for each side because the top and bottom are different from the sides. The key to an edging is to simply crochet evenly around all sides. If my directions seem complicated just put the stitches in evenly and call it good.

Alternate Double V-Stitch Dishcloth
 medium weight cotton yarn 
size “G” crochet hook 

Foundation: Ch 39 

Row 1: 2 dc into the 5th ch from hook. **Ch 1, 2 dc into next ch, miss 3 ch, (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) into next ch. Miss 3 ch. 2 dc into next ch.** Repeat instructions between ** across, ending last repeat when 2 ch remain. Miss 1 ch, 1 dc into last ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 2: (Turning chain counts as first dc.) Miss first stitch.** Work (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) into next 2-ch space. Work (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) into next ch-1 space.** Repeat between ** across, ending with a dc in top of turning ch.
Rows 3-14: (or until fabric is approximately square) Repeat row 2. Finish off and weave in ends. 

Edging Round 1: Cast on in corner just finished with a contrasting color of yarn. Ch 2. Sc in space at bottom of ch-2. Ch 2. Sc in end of the last row worked. (Ch 2, sc) in end of each row across side, ending with a sc in the top of the beginning row. (Ch 2, sc) around dc post in beginning row twice. Corner turned. Ch 2. Miss the first stitch at bottom of double V-stitch. Sc in the next stitch at the bottom of the double V-stitch.*(Ch 2, sc ) in next two ch-3 spaces. Miss the next stitch. (Ch 2, sc) in next stitch at the bottom of the double V-stitch. Repeat from * three more times across the bottom, ending with a sc in the last stitch. (Ch 2, sc) around post in beginning row. (Ch 2, sc) in end of first row. (Ch 2, sc) in ends of each row across side. (Ch 2, sc) twice around post at beginning of the last row. Corner turned. **(Ch 2, sc) in top of double V-stitch. . (Ch 2, sc) in space at top of single V-stitch.** Repeat between ** across top. (Ch 2, sc in ch-2 space at beginning of round.

Edging Round 2: Ch 2, dc in same stitch. (sc, ch 2, dc) in each ch 2 space around. End with a sl st in the sc at beginning of round. Finish off.

Pattern - Diagonal Dishcloth

Here is the pattern for the striped diagonal dishcloths that were shared in the post about the "Peachy/Green" kitchen set. The dishcloth in this picture was crocheted without changing colors. If you wanted stripes, you would just change colors at the end of a row. I am loving this pattern!  It is very quick and easy. I can make a set in no time at all.

Diagonal Dishcloth
medium weight cotton yarn
size “H” crochet hook

Row 1: Ch 4, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in fourth chain from the hook. (First 3 skipped chains count as the first dc). Row 2: Ch 3, turn. (ch-3 counts as the first dc in this and subsequent rows.) Dc in next dc, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 space, dc in next two dc. Row 3: Ch 3, turn. Dc in next dc and in each dc across to next ch-2 space. (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in corner space. Dc in each dc across. Row 4-12: (or until desired size is reached) Repeat row 3. Finish off and weave in ends.

Edging: Cast on in top corner. 3 sc in corner space. (Sc, ch 2 dc) around post at the end of each row across the side. (Sc, ch 2, dc) around post at corner. (Skip next dc, sc, ch 2, dc in next dc) evenly around next 2 sides. (Sc, ch 2, dc) around posts across last side. Slip stitch in sc at beginning of round.

Link - A Young Girl's Hope Chest

I found a lovely blog post about a young girl's hope chest this morning. Kristy Smith Howard shared her story at a lovely blog called Kindred Grace. If you are interested in hope chests, you'll be ever so glad you read it.

Peachy/Green Kitchen Set

I made these dishcloths some time ago using yarn from my stash and my favorite granny square pattern. I liked the mix of colors so much that I decided to do a kitchen set for Miss Abigail's hope chest using these colors. The stack has grown over the last month. Here are the pictures.

Tutorial: Fabric Border Dishtowels

Pattern: Diagonal Dishcloths

Pattern: Alternate Double V-Stitch Dishcloths

Tutorial: Scallop Edged Hand Towel

Pattern: Vintage Design Ruffled Dish Mop

The pattern for the ruffled dishmop, using crochet thread is found here. I used a thin cotton yarn for this set and only put 4 rows on, plus the last single crochet border. The regular worsted weight cotton yarn is just too thick for this pattern. However, a sport weight cotton yarn, like Paton's "Grace" yarn or another "light"  worsted weight (#2 or #3) seems okay with fewer rows worked.

I have patterns written for the edging and the other two dishcloths. Watch for separate posts for these. Soon, I hope. (edit: see the links in the photo captions -km)