08.16.07
Mesh Stitch
When inspiration escapes me, or I just feel like working on a mindless knitting project while watching a movie, I knit little squares out of leftover cotton yarn. Eventually these will become hand towels for the kitchen, or maybe a blanket if I produce enough. They’re simple and not destined for a particular project so the pressure is off and I can experiment with new stitches.
Last night I figured out a mesh stitch. This stitch is worked over a multiple of 4 stitches, which posed a bit of a problem, since the plain stockinette squares I’ve already made (see example at right) are 31 stitches wide. 31 stitches minus 4 stitches of border (2 on each side) is 27, so there had to be an extra three stitches divided over the ends (one on the right, two on the left). It’s not symmetrical, but hey, we’re just experimenting here! (Besides, these squares will look so much better once they’re blocked. Eek - look at that uneven blue square!)
The mesh stitch would actually be a great pattern to use for making dish clothes or wash clothes, since it is thicker, sturdier, and has more of a scrubbing surface than the plain moss stitch I’ve usually used. I think a few of these squares sewn together and with a crochet border would be a cute vintage-looking addition to a kitchen or bath.
This is what I did:
Cast on 31 stitches.
Rows 1 & 2: *k1,p1* repeat from * 15 times, k last st
Row 3: k1, p1, k1, *yo, s1, k2, pass slipped st over these 2 st* repeat from * 8 times, k2, p1, k1
Row 4: k1, p29, k1
Row 5: k1, p1, *sl, k2, pass slipped st over these 2 st, yo* repeat from * 9 times, k1, p1
Row 6: k1, p29, k1
Repeat rows 3-6 seven more times
Rows 35&36: *k1,p1* repeat from * 15 times, k last st
Bind off.