purlJam

# Little Lace Square Dishcloth

A charming beginner-friendly washcloth featuring smooth stockinette borders that gently frame a simple eyelet lace center. Quick to knit, practical to use, and a perfect project for practicing your first lace stitches.

**Finished Size:** Approximately 4" × 4" (10 × 10 cm)

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (#4) 100% cotton — approximately 35–45 yards (32–41 m)
  - *Suggested:* Lily Sugar'n Cream, Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, or similar
- **Needles:** US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
- **Notions:** Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors

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## Gauge

**18 sts × 24 rows = 4" (10 cm)** in stockinette stitch, after blocking.

*A precise gauge is not critical for a dishcloth, but taking a moment to check will ensure your finished size is close to 10 × 10 cm.*

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## Abbreviations (US terms)

- **k** — knit
- **p** — purl
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **yo** — yarn over
- **k2tog** — knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
- **RS** — right side
- **WS** — wrong side
- **BO** — bind off
- **CO** — cast on

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## Pattern Notes

- The dishcloth is worked flat, back and forth, in one piece from the bottom up.
- Stockinette stitch edges will curl slightly; this is normal and softens with washing/blocking.
- The lace section uses a classic **yo / k2tog** eyelet pattern. Every yarn over is paired with a k2tog on the same row, so your stitch count stays constant at **19 sts** on every row.
- If you are new to lace, count your stitches at the end of each lace row to catch mistakes early.

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## Instructions

**Cast on 19 sts** using a long-tail cast-on (or your preferred method).

### Bottom Border — Stockinette
- **Row 1 (RS):** Knit all sts. *(19 sts)*
- **Row 2 (WS):** Purl all sts. *(19 sts)*
- **Rows 3–6:** Repeat Rows 1–2 two more times.

*(6 rows of stockinette complete)*

### Lace Center
Work the 2-row lace repeat below **6 times total (12 rows)**:

- **Lace Row 1 (RS):** k3, *k1, yo, k2tog; repeat from * 3 more times, k4. *(19 sts — math check: 3 + (4 × 3) + 4 = 19 ✓)*
- **Lace Row 2 (WS):** Purl all sts. *(19 sts)*

**Stitch-count check after every RS row: 19 sts.** Each *yo* adds one stitch and each *k2tog* removes one, so the count is always maintained.

*(12 rows of lace complete — approximately 2" / 5 cm)*

### Top Border — Stockinette
- **Row 1 (RS):** Knit all sts. *(19 sts)*
- **Row 2 (WS):** Purl all sts. *(19 sts)*
- **Rows 3–6:** Repeat Rows 1–2 two more times.

*(6 rows of stockinette complete)*

### Bind Off
Bind off all 19 stitches knitwise. Cut yarn, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail.

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## Finishing

1. **Weave in ends** securely on the wrong side using a tapestry needle.
2. **Block** (optional but recommended): soak the dishcloth in lukewarm water for 10 minutes, gently squeeze out excess water (do not wring), lay flat, and pat into a 4" × 4" square. Allow to dry completely. Blocking opens up the eyelets and evens out the stockinette edges.

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## Row & Dimension Summary

| Section | Rows | Approx. Height |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom stockinette border | 6 | ~1" (2.5 cm) |
| Lace center (6 repeats) | 12 | ~2" (5 cm) |
| Top stockinette border | 6 | ~1" (2.5 cm) |
| **Total** | **24** | **~4" (10 cm)** ✓ |

**Width check:** 19 sts ÷ 18 sts per 4" × 4 = **4.2" (~10.7 cm)** ✓

Happy knitting — and enjoy your pretty, practical little lace square!