PRIME RIB DISHCLOTH or SCARF in TWO COLORS
By Sara Baldwin ©2009
This dishcloth/washcloth is based on Brioche rib stitch, or what Elizabeth Zimmerman named “Prime Rib”. It is a little
tricky to learn, but once the pattern becomes familiar you can fall into a great rhythm.
This stitch is naturally very loose, so I’ve tightened it up a bit for the dishcloth by going to smaller needles.
This dishcloth pattern lends itself very well to scarves as well. Just knit it in two colors of wool yarn (the yarns don’t
even need to be exactly equal in weight!) and larger needles, for drape. The pattern can be worked on any even
number of stitches. You can get really awesome color effects by using two balls of color-changing yarns such as
Noro or Melody for the opposite sides of the scarf.
ABBREVIATIONS:
St: stitch K: knit P: purl S: Slip K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
wyif: with yarn in front wyib: with yarn in back P2tog: Purl 2 stitches together
yf: bring the yarn between the needles to the front
yb: bring the yarn between the needles to the back
YO: wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around the right needle, from front to back
SIZE: About 8 inches wide.
MATERIALS for the dishcloth:
One #4 circular knitting needle. Straights won’t work!!!!
Two colors of worsted weight cotton: A for the main color, B for the contrast color.
MATERIALS for the scarf:
One #8 circular knitting needle. No straights!!!
Two colors of wool or alpaca yarn, approximately worsted weight.
With color A cast on 30 stitches (or any even number). Don’t turn your work, but slide it to the other end of your
circular needle and begin again with color B.
All slipped stitches are slipped as if to PURL. For all rows work the first two selvage stitches (in parentheses), repeat
between the * signs until two stitches remain, then work the last two selvage stitches (also in parentheses).
Prep row (work this only once): With color B (S1, P1) *YO, S1wyib, yf, P1* (S1, P1wyib) TURN
Row 1 with A: (S1, P1) *YO, S1wyib, yf, P2tog* (S1wyib, yf, P1) SLIDE
Row 2 with B: (K1, S1wyif, yb) *K2tog, YO, S1wyib* (K1, S1) TURN
Row 3 with A: (K1, S1wyif, yb) *K2tog, YO, S1wyib* (K1, S1) SLIDE
Row 4 with B: (S1, P1) *YO S1wyib, yf, P2tog* (S1wyib, yf, P1) TURN
Repeat rows 1-4 for pattern.
WHERE AM I?
It happens to us all! We jump up to answer the phone, and lose our place. It’s a bit tricky to find it again with this
pattern, so look for three clues:
1) Are most of the stitches on the needle color A or B?
2) Are the working yarns together or on opposite sides of your work?
3) What color is the first stitch on the needle?
Most stitches are color Working yarns are First st on needle is Next row is
B together B 1 with A
A opposite B 2 with B*
B together A 3 with A
A opposite A 4 with B*
*If the next row predictor on the chart above has you working with the “wrong” yarn, it means that you need to flip and
slide—turn your work over, slide it to the other end of the needle, and pick up the yarn at the opposite side.
Keep repeating Rows 1 to 4 until your dishcloth is square, or your scarf is long enough, and you have just completed
Row 2. Next row with color A: Knit 2, bind off 1 stitich, and then *K2tog, bind off 1, K1, bind off 1* until you get to the
last two stitches, K2tog.
By Sara Baldwin ©2009
This dishcloth/washcloth is based on Brioche rib stitch, or what Elizabeth Zimmerman named “Prime Rib”. It is a little
tricky to learn, but once the pattern becomes familiar you can fall into a great rhythm.
This stitch is naturally very loose, so I’ve tightened it up a bit for the dishcloth by going to smaller needles.
This dishcloth pattern lends itself very well to scarves as well. Just knit it in two colors of wool yarn (the yarns don’t
even need to be exactly equal in weight!) and larger needles, for drape. The pattern can be worked on any even
number of stitches. You can get really awesome color effects by using two balls of color-changing yarns such as
Noro or Melody for the opposite sides of the scarf.
ABBREVIATIONS:
St: stitch K: knit P: purl S: Slip K2tog: Knit 2 stitches together
wyif: with yarn in front wyib: with yarn in back P2tog: Purl 2 stitches together
yf: bring the yarn between the needles to the front
yb: bring the yarn between the needles to the back
YO: wrap the working yarn counterclockwise around the right needle, from front to back
SIZE: About 8 inches wide.
MATERIALS for the dishcloth:
One #4 circular knitting needle. Straights won’t work!!!!
Two colors of worsted weight cotton: A for the main color, B for the contrast color.
MATERIALS for the scarf:
One #8 circular knitting needle. No straights!!!
Two colors of wool or alpaca yarn, approximately worsted weight.
With color A cast on 30 stitches (or any even number). Don’t turn your work, but slide it to the other end of your
circular needle and begin again with color B.
All slipped stitches are slipped as if to PURL. For all rows work the first two selvage stitches (in parentheses), repeat
between the * signs until two stitches remain, then work the last two selvage stitches (also in parentheses).
Prep row (work this only once): With color B (S1, P1) *YO, S1wyib, yf, P1* (S1, P1wyib) TURN
Row 1 with A: (S1, P1) *YO, S1wyib, yf, P2tog* (S1wyib, yf, P1) SLIDE
Row 2 with B: (K1, S1wyif, yb) *K2tog, YO, S1wyib* (K1, S1) TURN
Row 3 with A: (K1, S1wyif, yb) *K2tog, YO, S1wyib* (K1, S1) SLIDE
Row 4 with B: (S1, P1) *YO S1wyib, yf, P2tog* (S1wyib, yf, P1) TURN
Repeat rows 1-4 for pattern.
WHERE AM I?
It happens to us all! We jump up to answer the phone, and lose our place. It’s a bit tricky to find it again with this
pattern, so look for three clues:
1) Are most of the stitches on the needle color A or B?
2) Are the working yarns together or on opposite sides of your work?
3) What color is the first stitch on the needle?
Most stitches are color Working yarns are First st on needle is Next row is
B together B 1 with A
A opposite B 2 with B*
B together A 3 with A
A opposite A 4 with B*
*If the next row predictor on the chart above has you working with the “wrong” yarn, it means that you need to flip and
slide—turn your work over, slide it to the other end of the needle, and pick up the yarn at the opposite side.
Keep repeating Rows 1 to 4 until your dishcloth is square, or your scarf is long enough, and you have just completed
Row 2. Next row with color A: Knit 2, bind off 1 stitich, and then *K2tog, bind off 1, K1, bind off 1* until you get to the
last two stitches, K2tog.
