Honey Tea Towel, Free Knitting Pattern
I love a quick knitting project - especially these easy ones that don't use much yarn - they make great in-between projects, when I don't feel like starting a big, 40-hours or so knit. I'm also quite fond of fade color schemes - that's how the Honey Tea Towel idea popped into my mind!
Lots of simple, but oh-so-textured seed stitch combined with three colors of yarn with smoothed transtion make this project super pleasant to work! It also calls for less than a skein of each of the colors, so it may turn out to be a great stash busting project!
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GET THE HONEY TEA TOWEL:
Honey Tea Towel Free Knitting Pattern
If you haven’t knit from a knitting pattern yet - I highly recommend you check out my post on reading knitting patterns here - it will help you follow the instructions smoothly!
You can access a resource library here. It contains lots of helpful info on: how to read patterns and charts, how to substitute yarn, swatch, block and take care of your knits as well as techniques resources.
© Whileberry 2023. Please keep in mind that this pattern is for personal use only, and both the pattern and photos can’t be copied or reproduced on another website.
sizes
One size - width 35 cm (14”), length 42 cm (16.5”)
supplies
yarn
For this tea towel I used Lion Brand 24/7 cotton in colorways Ecru, Camel and Amber.
If you'd like to knit the towel in a different yarn - you can choose any similar worsted weight (category 4 - medium) cotton yarn. A few options that should work fine for a tea towel:
Yardage (approx.): color 1: 55 m (60 yds), color 2: 70 m (76 yds), color 3: 55 m (60 yds)
needles
5 mm (US 8) straight or circular needles, or to fit gauge
other notions
Tapestry needle and scissors
gauge
20 stitches x 25 rows in 10x10 cm (4x4”) in seed stitch, blocked
Seed stitch - worked over an odd number of sts.
All rows: *k1, p1* until 1 st left, k1.
pattern notes
When slipping the stitches for the i-cord border, pay attention not to make an accidental yarnover when moving the yarn front/back.
As the tea towel is not a wearable item, gauge is not critical in this project - however if you can’t match the gauge listed, the tea towel will differ in dimensions and it may affect the yardage needed.
hanging loop
If you'd like to add a hanging loop to your tea towel, you can modify the pattern in finishing section as follows: bind off sts until there are only 2 left on the needles (1 on left needle and 1 on right needle), k1, slip both sts to the left needle. The loop i-cord will be worked over these last 2 sts. Work Row 1 until the cord measures approx. 10 cm (4”) or desired length.
Row 1 (RS): k2, slip the sts back to the left needle.
Bind off both sts and sew the end of the cord to the back of the tea towel corner to create the hanging loop.
Note that adding the loop will increase the yardage by approx. 5 m (5 yds).
Row totals are noted in italic. Tutorials for specific techniques are linked and showing as yellow.
abbreviations
k - knit
p - purl
RS / WS - right side / wrong side
sl2wyib - slip 2 sts purlwise with yarn in back
sl2wyif - slip 2 sts purlwise with yarn in front
st(s) - stitch(es)
** - work instruction between asterisks given number of times or until given moment
instructions
Section 1
Using color 1, cast on 69 sts with Long Tail Cast On, or another cast on method of your choice.
Work Rows 1-2 in color 1 fourteen times (28 rows worked in total in this section).
Row 1 (WS): sl2wyif, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k1, p2.
Row 2 (RS): sl2wyib, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k3.
Color Transition 1
In this section you’ll be working alternating colors every two rows. Don't break your yarn when changing colors in the transition section, rather
carry the color not in use up the side of your towel and it will disappear into your i-cord edge.
Using color 2, work Rows 1-2 once.
Row 1 (WS): sl2wyif, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k1, p2.
Row 2 (RS): sl2wyib, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k3.
Change to color 1 and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to color 2 and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to color 1 and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to color 2 and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to color 1 and work Rows 1-2 once.
12 rows worked in total in this section.
Section 2
Break color 1 yarn. Change to color 2 and work Rows 1-2 fourteen times (28 rows worked in total in this section).
Row 1 (WS): sl2wyif, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k1, p2.
Row 2 (RS): sl2wyib, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k3.
Color Transition 2
In this section you’ll be working alternating colors every two rows again. Manage the yarn colors the same way as in Color Transition 1.
Using color 3, work Rows 1-2 once.
Row 1 (WS): sl2wyif, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k1, p2.
Row 2 (RS): sl2wyib, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k3.
Change to color 2 and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to color 3 and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to color 2 and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to color 3 and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to color 2 and work Rows 1-2 once.
12 rows worked in total in this section.
Section 3
Break color 2 yarn. Change to color 3 and work Rows 1-2 fourteen times (28 rows worked in total in this section).
Row 1 (WS): sl2wyif, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k1, p2.
Row 2 (RS): sl2wyib, *k1, p1* until 3 sts left, k3.
Finishing
Bind off all sts in pattern, or with standard bind off, cut yarn and weave in ends. Block to dimensions.
I hope you enjoyed knitting your project! If you share your project on Instagram, please tag me with @whileberry.creative and #knitwithwhileberry so I can see your lovely knit!
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