I know I know, it’s not Friday today but Tuesday! We can wish though can’t we, and anyhow, I was going to post this last Friday but somehow time ran away with me and that’s why you are reading this post today instead.
Now, you may know that I have a real thing for a bit of vintage, and something that reminds me of my childhood are tartan kitchen towels and dishcloths. These were everywhere when I was a child and in constant use in my mum’s and grandmother’s kitchens.
I found these photos on Google Images
There is something about a tartan pattern that just screams rustic, country and homely to me, and I do still have some of these tea towels in my linen cupboard. It is pretty difficult to find good quality tartan dishcloths these days though, and anyhow, I have become a bit of a snob and only like using the ones that are knitted or crochet.
Enter super soft Vinnis Colours Nikkim! A 100% cotton yarn from South Africa and now available in approx. 80 shades from Black Sheep Wool , super soft and an absolute treat to work with.
That was the yarn sorted! All I had to do now was coming up with a way to emulate and copy those traditional old towels from my past as best as my crochet skills allowed.
What do you think? I tried to copy the way the old traditional colours worked: Mostly the background was white, and then there would be one strong shade and a softer sub-shade to make the checkered pattern. I first worked the horizontal stripes using UK treble crochet and when the dishcloth square was completed I worked surface slip stitches in vertical lines.
I have to admit that I am really chuffed with the way they have turned out and really hope you like them as much as I do. Maybe you like to have a go and make some for yourself. The pattern with detailed instructions on how to work the surface crochet stitches can be downloaded by clicking HERE.
Have fun and enjoy!
X.