Vortex (Six) Dishcloth

A Meditative Pattern

Knit from the center out on double point needles, 6 tilting nested increasingly larger squares give a kaleidoscope effect when knit in variegated cotton dishcloth yarn. Or knit the dishcloth in two colorways to accentuate the squares as they whirl around and increase in size. I recommend knitting your first Vortex (Six) dishcloth with one multi-colored yarn. After you've worked through the pattern once, it will be easier to knit it in two (or more) colors.

Needles: Five size 6 dpns, one size 9 needle (for casting on) and one size 10 needle (for binding off). Yarn: Lilys Sugar 'n Cream Cotton (or any desired cotton dishcloth yarn) Amount: Main Color (MC) yarn about 23 grams, Contrast Color (CC) about 15 grams, (or use one
variegated yarn, about 38 grams)

Size: about 7.25 by 7.25 after blocking (shape is improved by blocking - run through a wash and dry cycle, remove while still damp and lay out to finish drying) Notes: slip all stitches purlwise unless otherwise indicated. Abbreviations: k-knit, sl-slip, kfb-knit forward and back, pu-pick up stitch between two garter ridges,
MC-main color, CC-contrast color, dpn-double pointed needle

Pattern Rows table:

Row 1: k3, sl1, turn Row 2: yb, sl1, K3, turn Row 3: k6, sl1, turn Row 4: yb, sl1, k6, turn Row 5: k9, sl1, turn Row 6: yb,sl1, k9, turn Row 7: k12, sl1, turn Row 8: yb,sl1, k12, turn Row 9: k15, sl1, turn Row 10: yb, sl1, k15, turn Row 11: k18, sl1, turn Row 12: yb, sl1, k18, turn

First Square:
With size 9 needle, using CC cast on 8 stitches. Using size 6 dpns , knit 15 rows. Row 16: k2, kfb, k2, kfb, k2. Pick up 10 stitches on the next side of the square, then repeat twice more. (With 8 ridges you will have to fudge a couple extra pick up stitches; its important to increase the size of the square so the dishcloth will lay flat when finished.) The first square is complete with 40 stitches total, 10 stitches per dpn.

Second Square:
Drop CC yarn, pick up MC yarn. Work short rows to make a set of triangles (forming a larger square around the 1st square) as follows: Work rows 1-6 of Pattern rows table. Then k10 Repeat these 7 rows on next 3 sides of the initial square to complete the four triangles of the second square. The 2nd square has 10 stitches on each dpn, and 3 garter ridges on each new triangle. To prepare for the 3rd square, carry the CC yarn along and pick up 3 stitches from the 3 garter ridges next to needle. 13 stitches on last needle.

Third Square:
Drop MC yarn and use CC yarn. Work rows 1-6 of Pattern rows table. Then k10, pu3 from the 3 garter ridges on triangle edge to left of active needle, turn sl1 knit wise, k1, k2tog, k9, turn k12 Repeat these 9 rows on next two sides of the 2nd square to make first 3 triangles of the 3rd square. For the 4th triangle, Work rows 1-6 of Pattern rows table. Then k9, k2tog, k2, turn sl1 knit wise, k11, turn k12 The 3rd square is complete, with 12 stitches per dpn and 4 garter ridges on each new triangle. To prepare for the 4th square, carrying MC yarn along, pick up 4 stitches from the 4 garter ridges next to needle. 16 stitches on last needle.

Fourth Square:
Drop CC yarn and use MC yarn. Work rows 1-6 from pattern rows table. Then k12, turn slip 1 knit wise, k11, turn k12, pu4 from the 4 garter ridges on triangle edge to left of active needle, turn slip 1 knit wise, k2, k2tog, k11, turn k15 Repeat these 11 rows on next 2 sides of the 3rd square to make first 3 triangles of the 4th square. For the 4th triangle,

Work rows 1-8 from pattern rows table. Then k11, k2tog, k3, turn sl1 knitwise, k14, turn k15 The 4th square is complete, with 15 stitches per dpn and 5 garter ridges on each new triangle. To prepare for the 5th square, carry CC yarn along and pick up 5 stitches from the 5 garter ridges next to needle. 20 stitches on the last needle.

Fifth Square:
Drop MC yarn, use CC yarn. Work rows 1-8 of pattern rows table. Then k15, turn slip 1 knit wise, k14, turn k15, pu4 from the first 4 of the 5 garter ridges on triangle edge to left of active needle, turn slip 1 knit wise, k2, k2tog, k14, turn k18, pu1 from last garter ridge. Repeat these 13 rows on next 2 sides of the 4th square to make first 3 triangles of the 5th square. For the 4th triangle, Work rows 1-8 from pattern rows table. Then k14, k2tog, sl1, turn yb, sl1, k15, turn k18, sl1, turn yb, sl1, k18, turn k19 The 5th square is complete, with 19 stitches per dpn and 6 garter ridges on each new triangle. To prepare for the 6th square, carry CC yarn along and pick up 6 stitches from the 6 garter ridges next to needle. 25 stitches on the last needle.

Sixth Square:
Drop MC yarn, use CC yarn. Work rows 1-12 of pattern rows table. Then k19, pu3 from the first 3 of the 6 garter ridges on triangle edge to left of active needle, turn sl1 knit wise, k1, k2tog, k18, turn k21, pu3 from the last 3 garter ridges, turn sl1 knit wise, k23, turn. Using size 10 needle, bind off 24 (the larger needle for binding off will allow the knitting to lay flat). One stitch remaining on needle. Knit first stitch of Row 1 on next triangle. Pass the remaining stitch from the bound off side over this stitch. Repeat these 17 rows (plus the final bind off over the 1st stitch of row 1 of each succeeding triangle) on the next two sides. Three sides of the dishcloth are now bound off. 4th and last triangle: Work rows 1-12 of pattern rows table (passing last stitch from previous bound off side over first worked stitch of row 1 as in previous triangles). Then k18, k2tog, k2, sl1, turn yb, sl1, k21, turn k24, turn Sl1 knit wise, k23,turn Bind off all stitches (again with size 10 needle). Weave in ends. Oct. 2007 text and photos Rebecca Hudson; firstofive.livejournal.com. Please dont use this pattern to sell yarn or finished items. Youre welcome to share with friends, but please give credit and link back to me. Thanks!