Dimpled Washcloth

Washcloths are fun - you can do so much with patterns without overwhelming yourself in a large scale project or something with shaping. I've made cloths that are lacy, cabled, use knit/purl combinations, and use slipped stitches. My favorite cloths are pretty large - about 10in (25cm) square - with one side fairly smooth and the other a bit bumpy. Since I use them mainly for bathing, it's nice to have a scrubby side and a rinsy side (yes, I'm making up words). The Dimpled Cloth suits all of these needs - and it results in a deceptively complex cloth with very little effort.

Now that she's received her package I can reveal that I designed this cloth for Betsy, as part of the Dog Days of Summer dishcloth swap. She's doing the Hemlock Ring Blanket KAL in the most beautiful mulberry yarn - go check out her progress on her blog!

Finished dimensions: approx. 10in (25cm) square
Gauge: not important; aim for gauge on the ball band

Materials:
1 skein Lily Sugar N Creme (100% Cotton) Colorway: Citrus Fruits Prints [2oz/56 g to 95yd/86m]
US 8 (5.0mm) needles
Darning needle

Note: Always slip as if to purl, with yarn held LOOSELY on the "wrong side" of the work. Sl3 wyif = slip three stitches, holding working yarn in front. Sl3 wyib = slip three stitches, holding working yarn in back.

Instructions:
Cast on 43 stitches.
Work in garter stitch (knit all stitches, all rows) for 8 rows.

Pattern rows 1 & 3 (wrong side): K4; P1; (Sl3 wyif; P3) five times; Sl3 wyif; P1; K4
Pattern row 2: K5; (Sl3 wyib; K3) five times; Sl3 wyib; K5
Pattern row 4 & 6: Knit all stitches
Pattern row 5: K4; P35; K4
Pattern row 7: K5; P1; (insert right needle from below under 3 loose strands from rows 1, 2, & 3, and knit in next stitch, bringing new stitch out under the strands; p5) six times; knit next stitch under 3 loose strands once more; P1; K5
Pattern row 8: Knit all stitches.
Pattern rows 9 & 11: K4; P1; (P3; Sl3 wyif) five times; P4; K4
Pattern row 10: K8; (Sl3 wyib; K3) five times; K5
Pattern rows 12 & 14: Knit all stitches
Pattern row 13: K4; P35; K4
Pattern row 15: K4; P5; (knit next stitch under 3 loose strands of rows 10, 11, 12; p5) five times; K4
Pattern row 16: Knit all stitches.

Work these 16 rows four times, then work rows 1-8 once more.
Work in garter stitch (knit all stitches, all rows) for 8 rows.
Bind off in knit.
Weave in ends.

This pattern pulls in both horizontally and vertically. I like the rippled look, with the very deep "cells" on the "wrong side," so did not block it at all. It will smooth out a bit with washing and use - but in the meantime I like the organic look of it.