Emergency knitting

 Yesterday, my dishcloth--the last of the lot--gave up the ghost! With no more in store, I had to dig out a favorite pattern and get going. I really like this pattern a lot. With size 7 needles it makes the perfect size cloth to fit my hand. I also like that it is round. Sometimes, with square ones--especially if they're a little too big, the corners fling around splashing water all over. Also, this one is pretty! And so quick and easy to knit up: Start to finish while watching one and a half of Richard McVeigh's organ recitals last evening. So I had no excuse for not doing dishes today.

The pattern is called "Almost Lost Dishcloth". I forgot where I got it from originally, it's been on my laptop for years. I do know it was a free pattern.

This one is knit in Pima cotton. I went upstairs last evening to look through the 6 large bins of yarn stash looking for the bag with cottons, but I couldn't find it. I think it must be in one of the 'attic' spaces, and I didn't feel like digging through there last night. I will go up and find it this weekend so I can knit up a few more.

Almost Lost Washcloth
by Julie Tarsha

Cast on 14 stitches using long tail cast on method.

row 1: knit
row 2: k4, yo, knit 8
row 3: Leaving last 2 stitches on needle, turn and knit to end of row. (15 stitches on needle)
row 4: k4, yo, knit 7
row 5: Leaving last 4 stitches on needle, turn and knit to end of row. (16 stitches on needle)
row 6: k4, yo, knit 6
row 7: Leaving last 6 stitches on needle, turn and knit to end of row. (17 stitches on needle)
row 8: k4, yo, knit 5
row 9: Leaving last 8 stitches on needle, turn and knit to end of row. (18 stitches on needle)
row 10: bind off first 4 stitches, knit to end of row. (14 stitches on needle)

repeat rows 1 – 10 thirteen more times for a total of fourteen points.

Bind off all stitches. Using mattress stitch, seam beginning and ending rows to close the circlular cloth. Picking up innermost bumps of each garter ridge with your tapestry needle, cinch together open circle in middle of cloth and fasten off. Weave in ends.

Good news on the Howe sewing machine front ... Today it made it's first real stitches in over 90 years (I'd venture to guess). They're not perfect, but considering I've done minimal tweeking so far, they're not bad. I believe just a little bit of tension adjustment above and/or below will do the trick. I consider this a minor miracle seeing how it operates with a vibrating shuttle (vs rotary). I was sure getting it to make stitches was going to be quite an effort. But I am learning that the needle is very--very--important. If it's not inserted correctly (groove needs to be on the right), and at proper depth, you'll never get a vibrating shuttle to make stitches. This weekend I will separate the cabinet from the irons so I can do a proper job on the irons.

Here is picture of first stiches, top on the left, and bottom on the right: