Stella Cloth
Pyrrha Designs 2014
The pattern is written to make a 25cm inner diameter / 35cm outer diameter cloth from worsted weight cotton yarn. The pattern can easily be used as a recipe for other yarn weights and cloth sizes, as once the set-up is done the cloth is made from just two easily-remembered rows. Just cast off once you're near the end of theball. It is knit in the round from the centre outwards, so have on hand a few different length circular needles as the stitches will become cramped on the shorter needle.
Pattern Abbreviations & Techniques
k- Knit stitch p- Purl stitch EoR - End of round m5 - Make 5 increase: (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1) into the one stitch, creating five stitches from one. m3 - Make 3 increase: (k1, yo, k1) into the one stitch, creating three stitches from one. k2tog - Right leaning decrease: knit two stitches together. kf&b - Knit into the front and back of the stitch. s1p - Slip 1 stitch purlwise s2kp - Centred double decrease: slip two stitches together (as if to knit two together), knit one stitch, the pass the slipped stitches over. The centre stitch will end up on top. p2tog - Purl two stitches together.
Yarn, Needles, Gauge and Size
worsteaweigntcotton yarn-/ 5m (ozyas) Needles - 4mm (Us#6) dpns and circular needles (40cm (16") and 60cm (24") long) - or size required t( reachgauge. Gauge - 20sts/10cm(4") If using a different weight yarn, use needles and gauge which create a nice solid fabric. Size - finished dimensions are about 25cm inner diameter / 35cm outer diameter.
Cast On
Make a slip-knot, and then with MC and 2 dpns, [k1, yo] 4 times, k1 into the loop creating 9 stitches. Arrange stitches on three dpns, with the first and last stitch next to each other on a needle. k2tog to join in the round, and then knit remaining stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first needle of the round. R1:kt&b8 times- 16sts R2 and every even round: purl all stitches R3:[k1, kf&b] 8 times - 24sts R5:[k2,kf&b] 8 times -32sts R7: [k3, m3] 8 times - 48sts R8: purl round. Tip: work over a flat surface to help support the dpns for the first few rounds. p2 - this is now the new EoR. You don't need to use a marker here, as you'd have to move it every second round and this would be annoying. Just read your knitting, that the rounds end when you reach the last knitted/purled stitch from the previous round.
Increase rounds
R9: s1p, [k1, m5, k1, s2kp] 8 times, using the slipped stitch in the last decrease.- 64sts R11: s1p, [k2, m5, k2, s2kp] 8 times - 80sts R13: s1p, [k3, m5, k3, s2kp] 8 times - 96sts R15: s1p, [k4, m5, k4, s2kp] 8 times - 112sts Continue in the established pattern, always working an m5 into the centre stitch from the previous increase, and working the centred double decreases so that they form radiating lines out from the centre. Every increase round adds 16sts to the total stitch count. Change to circular needles and then longer needleswhenneeded. Once the end of the yarn is getting near, end with a knit (increase) round - my cloth had 12 increase rounds. Cast off using the purlwise decreasing cast off - purl one stitch, [pass the stitch back to the left needle, p2tog] - repeat around until one stitch is left. Pick up the first stitch from the round, and p2tog to complete the cast off.
Finishing
Tighten the centre slip knot and firmly sew in the tails. Wet block if desired - or do some dishes and leave it on the bench to dry in the desired dimensions! Some cotton may take a few washes to become properly absorbent, and avoid washing with fabric softener as this affects the absorbency of fabrics. @ Kate Gondwana, 2014. If you're hand-knitting and you want to sell items made from my patterns - Go For It! Please just make sure you credit the pattern's name along with mine. Of course, my rights DO cover the patterns themselves, so you mustn't copy or distribute them - that makes me sad. Find me on Ravelry - I'm pyrrha - and please do share your project pages. Any questions or comments can be directed to pyrrha@fastmail.fm or find me in my Ravelry group, Pyrrha Designs.
