File:Knitting waffle stitch (cropped).jpg

BEFORE and AFTER washcloths.

It all started out innocently enough. And I don’t actually remember what sparked this madness, but I think, that since I was a relapsed knitter/crocheter starting from my college days and ending as a young mother (who'd have time to knit/crochet with 2½-year old and a 6-month old and was teaching high school fulltime?), I NOW had a rekindled interest in knitting and crocheting and wanted to try out new stitch patterns on a small scale.

Enter the washcloth/dishcloth.

My first effort was a basket weave pattern knitted in a cotton and linen blend, since it was the only yarn I had on hand that was at all suitable (it's the one on the left above). It came out a lot bigger than I expected and was kinda wonky. It was also HUGE, and loose and floppy, and not much to my liking. I wasn’t terribly disappointed, just eager to learn what yarns were more appropriate, what stitches yeilded an acceptable result, what cloth size and thickness I preferred, and to find new patterns to try. I then discovered the myriad sites on the web for dishcloth/washcloth patterns, AND the gorgeous ones on Ravelry, which led to the zealous accumulation of cotton YARNS!

And, voilá! My newest obsession was born.

The cloth on the right is one of my latest and the pattern is called Double Bump from MyJewelThief_Knits on Ravelry; it's also called Waffle Stitch. Neither of my cloths has been blocked yet, but the finished product is now so much nicer, I think.

Since beginning, I've learned to make a nice edge on the sides by slipping the first stitch purlwise of every row, and to use the crochet cast-on (my absolute FAVORITE cast-on!) because it matches my bind-off — and I'm a bit anal about that!

I’m still looking for new patterns to try out and will continue to knit/crochet them until I get really tired of making them. Just got some gorgeous new P&C yarn colors, so I’m not bored yet!

Fun!