PRIME RIB “X” or SWIRL DISHCLOTHS
By Sara Baldwin ©2009
These dishcloths/washcloths are based on Brioche rib stitch, or what Elizabeth Zimmerman named “Prime Rib”.
This particular pattern starts in the middle of the dishcloth, and works outward to the edges. It can be very difficult
to get started, especially if you are not familiar with Brioche rib stitch or with working on double pointed needles.
Once you get past round 12 or so, though, you can fall into an easy rhythm for the rest.
This stitch is naturally very loose, so I’ve tightened the gauge up a bit by going to smaller needles. That way the
dishcloth will be less likely to develop snags and pulls.
ABBREVIATIONS:
St: stitch K: knit P: purl S: Slip K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
P2tog: Purl 2 stitches together
YO: wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around the right needle, from front to back
KOK: insert the right needle into the next two stitches as though you are going to do a K2tog, and draw up a loop,
but don’t remove the old stitch (the K). Next bring the yarn forward between the needles and wrap around the back
(the O), and knit the same 2 stitches again, this time removing the old stitch from the left needle (the K). This
makes three stitches from one, or a double increase.
SIZE: About 8 inches wide.
MATERIALS:
Five #4 double pointed knitting needles.
Two colors of worsted weight cotton: A for the main color, B for the contrast color.
With color A cast on 8 stitches (or any even number). Divide these so that there are two stitches on each of four
needles.
All slipped stitches are slipped as if to PURL with the yarn in the back.
Prep row (work this only once): With color B (YO, S1, K1) on each needle
Round 1 with A: (P2tog, YO, S1) on each needle
Round 2 with B: (YO, S1, K2tog) on each needle
Round 3 with A: same as Round 1
Round 4 with B: (P1, YO, KOK) on each needle
Round 5 with A: (P2tog, YO, S1, P1, YO, P1) on each needle (6 stitches on each needle)
Round 6 with B: *YO, S1, K2tog* repeat around
Round 7 with A: *P2tog, YO, S1* repeat around
Round 8 with B: (YO, S1, KOK) twice on each needle
Round 9 with A: (P2tog, YO, S1, P1, YO, S1) twice on each needle (12 stitches on each needle)
Round 10 with B: same as Round 6
Round 11 with A: same as Round 7
Round 12 with B: *YO, S1, K2tog* to the last 3 stitches of each needle, then YO, S1, KOK
Round 13 with A: *P2tog, YO, S1* to the last 3 stitches of each needle, then YO, S1, P1, YO, S1
Round 14 with B: same as Round 6
Round 15 with A: same as Round 7
Round 16 with B: YO, S1, KOK *YO, S1, K2tog* on each needle
Round 17 with A: P2tog, YO, S1, P1, *YO, S1, P2tog* on each needle
Round 18 with B: same as Round 6
Round 19 with A: same as Round 7
Repeat Rounds 12-15 for the Swirl dishcloth (all of the increases are at the end of each needle)
Repeat Rounds 12-19 for the “X” dishcloth (the increases alternate between the beginning and the end of
each needle)
When your dishcloth is large enough and you have just completed Rounds 15 or 19, bind off very loosely in
*K1, K2tog* .
By Sara Baldwin ©2009
These dishcloths/washcloths are based on Brioche rib stitch, or what Elizabeth Zimmerman named “Prime Rib”.
This particular pattern starts in the middle of the dishcloth, and works outward to the edges. It can be very difficult
to get started, especially if you are not familiar with Brioche rib stitch or with working on double pointed needles.
Once you get past round 12 or so, though, you can fall into an easy rhythm for the rest.
This stitch is naturally very loose, so I’ve tightened the gauge up a bit by going to smaller needles. That way the
dishcloth will be less likely to develop snags and pulls.
ABBREVIATIONS:
St: stitch K: knit P: purl S: Slip K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
P2tog: Purl 2 stitches together
YO: wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around the right needle, from front to back
KOK: insert the right needle into the next two stitches as though you are going to do a K2tog, and draw up a loop,
but don’t remove the old stitch (the K). Next bring the yarn forward between the needles and wrap around the back
(the O), and knit the same 2 stitches again, this time removing the old stitch from the left needle (the K). This
makes three stitches from one, or a double increase.
SIZE: About 8 inches wide.
MATERIALS:
Five #4 double pointed knitting needles.
Two colors of worsted weight cotton: A for the main color, B for the contrast color.
With color A cast on 8 stitches (or any even number). Divide these so that there are two stitches on each of four
needles.
All slipped stitches are slipped as if to PURL with the yarn in the back.
Prep row (work this only once): With color B (YO, S1, K1) on each needle
Round 1 with A: (P2tog, YO, S1) on each needle
Round 2 with B: (YO, S1, K2tog) on each needle
Round 3 with A: same as Round 1
Round 4 with B: (P1, YO, KOK) on each needle
Round 5 with A: (P2tog, YO, S1, P1, YO, P1) on each needle (6 stitches on each needle)
Round 6 with B: *YO, S1, K2tog* repeat around
Round 7 with A: *P2tog, YO, S1* repeat around
Round 8 with B: (YO, S1, KOK) twice on each needle
Round 9 with A: (P2tog, YO, S1, P1, YO, S1) twice on each needle (12 stitches on each needle)
Round 10 with B: same as Round 6
Round 11 with A: same as Round 7
Round 12 with B: *YO, S1, K2tog* to the last 3 stitches of each needle, then YO, S1, KOK
Round 13 with A: *P2tog, YO, S1* to the last 3 stitches of each needle, then YO, S1, P1, YO, S1
Round 14 with B: same as Round 6
Round 15 with A: same as Round 7
Round 16 with B: YO, S1, KOK *YO, S1, K2tog* on each needle
Round 17 with A: P2tog, YO, S1, P1, *YO, S1, P2tog* on each needle
Round 18 with B: same as Round 6
Round 19 with A: same as Round 7
Repeat Rounds 12-15 for the Swirl dishcloth (all of the increases are at the end of each needle)
Repeat Rounds 12-19 for the “X” dishcloth (the increases alternate between the beginning and the end of
each needle)
When your dishcloth is large enough and you have just completed Rounds 15 or 19, bind off very loosely in
*K1, K2tog* .
| "X" |
SWIRL