Knitted Crocodile Tiki Dishcloth
The Knitted Crocodile Tiki Dishcloth is a delightful and functional kitchen accessory that adds a touch of whimsy to your daily routine. Made from soft and absorbent yarn, this dishcloth features a charming crocodile design with a tiki twist, perfect for drying and cleaning dishes, pots, and pans. Its knitted texture provides excellent grip, while its compact size makes it easy to stash in your kitchen or take on the go. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting out, this knitted crocodile tiki dishcloth is a thoughtful gift or a fun treat for yourself.
Size: Approx. 10” wide x 8.5” high
Materials:
100 yds. worsted or DK weight cotton
Samples shown in Lily “Sugar’n Cream” (100% cotton, 120 yds/109 m per 2.5 oz/71 g ball, color: 01712 Hot Green) & Tahki “Cotton Classic” (100% mercerized cotton, 108 yds/100 m per 1.75 oz/50 g hank, color: #3744 Forest Green)
Pair of size 6 (4.25 mm) knitting needles, or size needed to achieve gauge
One size 6 double-pointed needle (dpn)
Cable needle
Row counter (optional)
Stitch markers (optional)
Tapestry needle
Gauge: 16 sts & 27 rows = 4” in seed stitch on size 6 (4.25 mm) needles
Terms/Abbreviations: beginning (beg), bind off (BO), cast on (CO), cable needle (cn), decrease (dec), dpn (double-pointed needle), increase (inc), knit (k), knit two together (k2tog), M1 (make one), pm (place marker), pass slipped stitch over (psso), purl (p), purl two together (p2tog), remaining (rem), repeat (rep), slip (sl), stitch (st), yarn over (yo)
Special stitches:
Cable two front (C2F): place next stitch onto cable needle and hold it to front of work, knit the next stitch from left needle, knit the stitch from cable needle.
Cable two back (C2B): place next stitch onto cable needle and hold it to back of work, knit the next stitch from left needle, knit the stitch from cable needle.
Make one increase (M1): Make a backwards loop over right thumb, then place this new stitch onto right needle (one stitch increased). Work into this stitch on next row.
Seed stitch (over an uneven number of stitches):
Row 1: *K1, p1, rep from * across to last st, k1.
Row 2 and all subsequent rows: Rep Row 1 (that is, knit the purl sts and purl the knit sts as they face you.)
Pattern notes:
Cloth is worked in one piece with seed stitch self-borders created at lower and upper edges.
Three stitches are maintained in seed stitch for side borders throughout (stitch markers may be used to note border stitches.)
Crocodile-tiki pattern is formed by combinations of eyelets, cables, wraps, decreases and increases as explained below.
A row counter is useful for keeping track of rows in pattern.
Cloth
CO 51 (cast on somewhat loosely to allow for widthwise stretch.)
Lower border:
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1, rep from * across to last st, k1.
Row 2 (WS): Rep Row 1.
Rows 3-6: Rep Rows 1-2 for seed st border.
Setup rows:
(Note: if using stitch markers, place them on Row 1 as instructed and slip them on all following rows.)
Row 1 (RS): K1, p1, k1 (seed st border established), place marker (if desired), k5, *p3, k5, rep from * to last 3 sts, place marker (if desired), k1, p1, k1 (seed st border established.)
Row 2 (WS): Seed st 3, slip marker, p5, *k3, p5, rep from * across to last 3 sts, slip marker, seed st 3.
Row 3: Seed st 3, k5, *p3, k5, rep from * to last 3 sts, seed st 3.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Begin crocodile-tiki pattern:
(Note: if using stitch markers, continue to slip them every row)
Row 1 (RS)(eyelet row): Seed st 3, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, p3, rep from *, ending last rep k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl 1, k1, psso, seed st 3.
Row 2 (WS): Seed st 3, p5, *k3, p5, rep from * to last 3 sts, seed st 3.
Row 3: Seed st 3, k5, *p3, k5, rep from * to last 3 sts, seed st 3.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Row 5 (cable row): Seed st 3, *C2F, p1, C2B, p3, rep from * ending last rep C2F, p1, C2B, seed st 3.
Rows 6-8: Rep Rows 2-4.
Row 9 (wrap row): Seed st 3, *k1, sl next 3 sts to dpn and hold to back of work, wrap yarn counterclockwise around this group of 3 sts three times, taking yarn to back after last wrap, k3 sts from dpn (i.e., the wrapped sts), k1, p3, rep from * ending last rep by omitting p3, seed st 3.
Row 10: Rep Row 2.
Row 11 (dec row): Seed st 3, *p2tog, k1, p2tog, p3, rep from * ending last rep p2tog, k1, p2tog, seed st 3 (39 sts)
Row 12: Seed st 3, *k1, p1, k1, k3, rep from * ending last rep k1, p1, k1, seed st 3.
Row 13: Seed st 3, *k1, p1, k1, p3, rep from * ending last rep k1, p1, k1, seed st 3.
Row 14: Seed st 3, *p3, k3, rep from * to last 6 sts, p3, seed st 3.
Row 15 (inc row): Seed st 3, *k1, M1, k1, M1, k1, p3, rep from * ending last rep k1, M1, k1, M1, k1, seed st 3 (51 sts)
Row 16: Rep Row 2.
Rep Rows 1-16 of crocodile-tiki pattern twice.
Upper border:
Row 1 (RS): *K1, p1, rep from * to last st, k1.
Rows 2-6: Rep Row 1.
Bind off in pattern. Cut yarn and weave in tails.
Variations:
For a square cloth, work one more repeat (Rows 1-16) of crocodile-tiki pattern before finishing with upper border (additional yarn required.)
Cloth may be worked to a longer length for use as a hand or dish towel (additional yarn required).