Why knit the Checkerboard Dishcloth pattern?

The Checkerboard Dishcloth pattern is perfect for knitters who are looking for a simple design with a little more visual interest and complexity than garter or stockinette stitch. It’s one of the simplest stitch patterns that exist, and that clarity is especially helpful for beginning knitters who are learning not only how to knit and purl, but how to read their own knitting and catch their own errors as they delve into reading charted patterns.

Because of this, Checkerboard is a fantastic teaching tool for those who are helping others (or themselves!) improve their knitting. Experienced knitters know that the ability to read your knitting is extremely valuable. The earlier a new knitter can build confidence in that ability, the better!

More experienced knitters might choose to knit Checkerboard for a quick, simple project, or they may be interested in exploring the tutorial that the pattern came from. Originally, Checkerboard came out of my article How to Incorporate a Stitch Pattern into Your Own Knitted Creation that can be found here.

What are the pattern characteristics?

What materials Are needed?

What knitting skills do I need?

Beginning knitters will have no problem mastering this fun pattern. If you can cast on, knit, purl, and bind off, you have all the skills you need.

Where can I Get the FREE Checkerboard Dishcloth Pattern?

You can get your easy-to-print PDF right here. Just click this button or the image below!

If you prefer to get this on Ravelry, click here.

If you would like to download the entire How to Incorporate a Stitch Pattern into Your Own Knitted Creation guide, including the tutorial, the pattern, and a guided worksheet for incorporating stitch patterns into your own designs, simply click the button below:

Final Notes from kiersten J

Do you ever forget what you didn’t know?

This pattern came about as a by-product of the tutorial I was excited about writing. I needed an example of a stitch pattern I could put in charts to demonstrate how a person could go about taking one of those gorgeous photos we see in those “8 Million Stitch Patterns Inspired by Jane Austen Novels” types of books and put it into a real, live pattern. I can browse those books all day, but at some point I’d like to actually make what someone imagined as Margaret Dashwood’s seashell pattern into a cardigan or something.

By the end of writing the tutorial, I realized I had a complete, although very simple dishcloth pattern. I made some comment to Greg about how it was sort of an oopsie pattern, and not really worth anything. After talking with him a little more, I realized what that comment really revealed was a kind of amnesia I think we all suffer from at times: we forget what we didn’t know when we were beginners.

There was a time I actively searched for simple dishcloth patterns. I was a beginning knitter, and I was looking for a way to help with expenses for my kids’ athletics. I knew people who were charmed by hand knit dishcloths and would be happy to pay for some. I also knew they’d make great gifts.

Knitting those simple dishcloths was terrific practice and made me a better knitter. I know I used some of those patterns to teach others to knit. I still make simple dishcloths now and again as gifts, and who doesn’t appreciate a handmade gift, regardless of simplicity?

I’m grateful for the reminder of the value of all the steps we all take in our knitting journeys. With that gratitude in mind, I’m really happy to share this “oopsie pattern” with you.

Happy knitting!

Kiersten J