purlJam

# Go Birds Dish Towel

A cheerful two-colour worsted-weight dish towel knit flat in garter stitch, featuring the words "GO BIRDS" worked in a contrast colour from the attached stitch chart. Beginner-friendly: the lettering is added by duplicate stitch after the towel is knit, so you only ever work with one colour at a time on the needles.

**Finished Measurements:** approx. 36 cm wide × 46 cm long (14¼" × 18")

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted-weight 100% cotton (recommended for absorbency and durability)
  - **Colour A (Main / background):** approx. 140 m (150 yds) — suggested cream or white
  - **Colour B (Lettering):** approx. 25 m (30 yds) — suggested kelly green or midnight green
- **Needles:** 5 mm (UK 6 / US 8) straight or circular needles, or size needed to obtain tension
- **Notions:**
  - Tapestry / darning needle (for duplicate stitch and weaving in ends)
  - Scissors
  - Optional: removable stitch markers to help position the chart
  - Optional: small crochet hook for a hanging loop

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## Tension (Gauge)

**18 sts × 24 rows = 10 cm (4") in garter stitch on 5 mm needles, after washing and blocking.**

Taking time to check your tension is important — a different tension will change the finished size and may distort the lettering.

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## Abbreviations

- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS** — right side
- **WS** — wrong side
- **CO** — cast on
- **BO** — bind / cast off
- **MC** — Main Colour (Colour A)
- **CC** — Contrast Colour (Colour B)

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## Pattern Notes

- The towel is worked flat in one piece in garter stitch (knit every row).
- In garter stitch, every two rows produces one garter "ridge" on each side; there is no distinct RS/WS, but treat the side facing you on the cast-on tail row as the RS for chart placement.
- The "GO BIRDS" lettering is added **after** knitting using **duplicate stitch** in Colour B (CC). This keeps the knitting itself fully beginner-friendly with no stranded colourwork.
- For a tidier edge, you may slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with yarn in front — this is optional.

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## Attached Stitch Chart

A separate **"GO BIRDS" Chart Panel** is attached to this pattern. **Do not** try to read a chart from the text — use the attached chart as your visual grid.

**Where it sits in the pattern:** The chart corresponds to a **39-stitch wide × 19-row tall** lettering block, centred horizontally on the towel and positioned in the lower-middle of the finished piece (beginning after the bottom garter border — see the "Placing the Chart" step below).

**How to read the chart:**
- Each square = one knit stitch (one garter "bump" on the RS).
- **Blank / background squares** = Main Colour (MC) — already knit; leave as-is.
- **Filled / shaded squares** = Contrast Colour (CC) — these are the stitches you will cover with **duplicate stitch** in Colour B.
- Read the chart **from the bottom-right corner upward**, working **right to left** across each row, then moving up to the next row. Row 1 of the chart is the lowest row of lettering.
- The chart shows the towel as viewed from the **right side**.

**Colour / yarn management notes:**
- You only knit with MC. CC is added afterwards with a tapestry needle.
- Cut a length of CC about 80–100 cm at a time to avoid tangling; rejoin as needed.
- Work each duplicate stitch by bringing the needle up at the base of a knit V, tracing the V's path, and down again at the same base point. Keep tension relaxed so the fabric lies flat.

**Stitch-count integration:** Border stitches each side of the chart = (65 − 39) ÷ 2 = **13 sts** of MC on each side. ✓

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## Instructions

### 1. Cast On

With **MC** and 5 mm needles, **CO 65 sts**.

### 2. Bottom Border

Knit every row for **16 rows** (8 garter ridges).
*Check: 16 rows ÷ 24 rows per 10 cm × 10 = approx. 6.7 cm of border.*

### 3. Body — Lower Section (below lettering)

Continuing in garter stitch (knit every row), work a further **20 rows**.

*Running row total: 16 + 20 = 36 rows (approx. 15 cm from cast-on).*

### 4. Body — Lettering Section

Continuing in MC only, work **38 rows** in garter stitch. These 38 rows (= 19 garter ridges on the RS) form the background fabric that the chart will be duplicate-stitched onto.

**Tip:** Place a removable marker on the first and last stitch of the first row of this section, and again on the last row of this section. This brackets the 38-row block you will use to position the chart.

*Running row total: 36 + 38 = 74 rows.*

### 5. Body — Upper Section (above lettering)

Continue in MC, knit every row for a further **20 rows**.

*Running row total: 74 + 20 = 94 rows.*

### 6. Top Border

Knit every row for **16 rows** (8 garter ridges).

*Running row total: 94 + 16 = **110 rows total**.*
*Check: 110 rows ÷ 24 × 10 = approx. 45.8 cm long. ✓*

### 7. Cast Off

With MC, cast off all 65 sts knitwise. Cut yarn leaving a 15 cm tail.

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## Placing the Chart (Duplicate Stitch)

1. Lay the towel flat, RS facing up, cast-on edge at the bottom.
2. Identify the **38-row lettering block** you marked in Step 4. This gives you 19 garter ridges of background — exactly matching the 19 rows of the attached chart.
3. Count in from each side edge: **13 sts** of MC border on the left, **13 sts** of MC border on the right, leaving the **centre 39 sts** for the chart. (13 + 39 + 13 = 65 ✓.)
4. Thread a tapestry needle with a length of **CC**.
5. Following the **attached chart**, work duplicate stitch over each filled square, starting at the **bottom-right corner** of the lettering block (chart Row 1, right edge) and working right-to-left, then up.
6. Weave ends of CC neatly into the back of the lettering area as you finish each section so they will not show through.

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## Finishing

1. Weave in all remaining MC ends on the wrong side using the tapestry needle.
2. **Optional hanging loop:** With MC, use a small crochet hook to chain 20 sts at one corner of the top edge, then fasten off and sew the end down to form a loop. (Or sew on a small ribbon loop.)
3. **Wash and block:** Hand-wash gently in lukewarm water with mild detergent, rinse, gently press out excess water (do not wring), and lay flat to dry, patting into shape so that the edges are straight and the lettering lies flat. Cotton will soften and even out with washing.

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## At-a-Glance Stitch & Row Map

| Section | Rows | Cumulative | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cast on | — | 0 | 65 sts MC |
| Bottom border | 16 | 16 | garter |
| Lower body | 20 | 36 | garter |
| Lettering block | 38 | 74 | chart applied here |
| Upper body | 20 | 94 | garter |
| Top border | 16 | 110 | garter |
| Cast off | — | — | 65 sts |

**Final check:** 65 sts × (10/18) = 36.1 cm wide ✓ · 110 rows × (10/24) = 45.8 cm long ✓ · Chart 39 sts + 2 × 13 border sts = 65 sts ✓

Enjoy your towel — **Go Birds!** 🦅