Squishy Feather Dishcloth / Hot Pad (two ways)

Many years ago, my Aunt Sherry made me this potholder as a wedding (or anniversary?) gift.  It was designed to be folded in half around a hot handle or pan and it works great for that.  It's thick and soft and totally reversible.  It's my go-to pad for when I need something under a hot dish at the table.  It has been washed hundred+ times and it's still fat and squishy and looks good.  (note - the yarn used in this pad in this seems heavier and more firmly wound than the cotton yarn I have used in past years - this may have made a difference in the wear and tear factor - time will tell)

I wanted to make one for my daughter's apartment warming party, so I cornered my aunt one day and asked her for the pattern.  She told me it was a standard Feather & Fan pattern and she couldn't remember it, nor did she have it written down.  She thinks maybe she was just swatching ideas for an afghan and ended up with that potholder, but she never made it again... (sigh)

So I hunted and hunted and hunted for the pattern, but I have not found anything like it online or in a book.  I found dozens of different versions of F&F and Old Shale, nothing seems "standard", and for sure I didn't find anything really reversible like this one is... So I got out my magnifier and my needles and worked the stitch pattern out on my own.

The two following patterns are the results of my playing with this... I have a three fan version and a four fan version and an example of a two color version.  

THIS PATTERN IS SUPER SIMPLE TO MEMORIZE so it is ideal for public, group and portable knitting situations... Spoiler = I also am working on making a version of into a floofy scarf pattern, so watch for that next!! :)

PATTERNS BELOW

(PDF download link available under each pattern)

K = knit

P = Purl

K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together

YO = Yarn over

[repeat] = repeat the previous shaping stitches that are in brackets

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SQUISHY FEATHER HOT PAD (w three fans)

Yarn is worsted 100% Cotton - Lily Sugar'n Cream, Peaches'n Cream, Knit Picks Dishie, Lion Kitchen Cotton - anything like these

Needle size - US 8 (5.0mm) .. The reason for this is because you want a loose knit.. but use what you have, 6,7 or 8 all give good results.

Makes appx 9.5 inch cloth (depending on gauge)

Cast on 42 stitches, loosely

Row 1: K2, [YO, K4, K2tog, K2tog, K4, YO], K1, [repeat], K1, [repeat], K2 

(do yourself a favor and occasionally count your stitches after doing Row 1 to make sure you still have 42)

Row 2: K2, P38, K2

Row 3: K all

Repeat this three row pattern until you have a cloth that is reasonably square.

Bind off and weave in the ends....  Ta-Da!!  So soft! 

If you decide to give this cloth as a gift PLEASE take the time to gently block it and make it look pretty

Download and print - Squishy Feather Hotpad PDF

Ravelry page - Squishy Feathers Hot Pad (w three fans)
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SQUISHY FEATHER DISHCLOTH (w four fans)

Yarn is worsted 100% Cotton - Lily Sugar'n Cream, Peaches'n Cream, Knit Picks Dishie, Lion Kitchen Cotton - anything like these

Needle size - US 6 (4.0mm) .. You want a loose but firm knit.  Larger needles will give a bigger than average cloth... but use what you have, 6,7 or 8 all give good results.

Makes appx 10 inch cloth (depending on gauge)

Cast on 47 stitches, loosely

Row 1: K2, [YO, K3, K2tog, K2tog, K3, YO], K1, [repeat], K1, [repeat], K1, [repeat], K2 

(do yourself a favor and occasionally count your stitches after doing Row 1 to make sure you still have 47)

Row 2: K2, P43, K2

Row 3: K all

Repeat this three row pattern until you have a cloth that is reasonably square.

Bind off and weave in the ends....  Ta-Da!!  Beautiful!

If you decide to give this cloth as a gift PLEASE take the time to gently block it and make it look pretty

Download and print - Squishy Feathers Dishcloth PDF

Ravelry page - Squishy Feathers Dishcloth (w four fans)
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The size difference between the two cloths is not really so much, maybe an inch, not as much as you might imagine them to be.  As you can see, they are pretty similar, but the three fan version is much squishier and thicker.

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Experiment #3 --- Two colors

My son wanted me to make a cloth for him that matched his dishes and this is what I came up with.  I started out by doing 3 rows of black and three rows of the white/black speckle, but ended up with too many ends to weave in and I hate that, so that project was scrapped even though the shadow effect was very pretty... 

My second attempt was 6 rows black and 6 rows white speckle with the yarn carried neatly up the side.  The front of the cloth is stunning, but the back leaves a lot to be desired.  I won't be making any two color variations again. (BTW - these photos are not black and white even though they look that way.  That yarn is really that color and it is quite pretty made up - my bad for wearing grey pants)