Bias Garter Stitch Washcloth Knitting Pattern

A bias garter stitch washcloth is such a knitting classic it’s sometimes known as “grandma’s favorite.” This easy knitting pattern is great for beginners and will teach you how to work yarn over increases and knit 2 together decreases if you don’t know how already.

What is Bias Knitting?

Bias knitting or knitting on the bias, sometimes also called diagonal knitting, is a method for working stitches that makes the grain of the knit fabric go sideways instead of straight. It’s a fun little twist that isn’t really more difficult to knit than standard garter stitch.

In the case of a bias garter stitch washcloth or other bias knit squares, you start with just a few stitches, increase up the sides to the center of your block, then decrease back to the small number of stitches again.

Bias knitting can also involve consistently increasing at the beginning of each row and decreasing at the end to give it a diagonal tilt and a rectangular shape rather than a square.

Or you can increase on one side and decrease on the other to make an asymmetrical bias knit project, like my one skein shawl.

Supplies

For this bias knit washcloth I used two different colors of yarn, one for the increase section and one for the decrease section. They are Lion Brand Oh Baby Organic, a 100 percent cotton yarn in weight 2/sport/fine. (The colors I used are turquoise and rose.) This yarn has been discontinued, but Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sport would be a good substitute if you want to keep that yarn weight. I used about 72 yards total.

Patons Grace would be another good choice but it’s a little heavier weight.

You can use any color and weight of cotton yarn you like, just make sure your needles are the size you need for that kind of yarn (check the ball band if you’re not sure). For example if you wanted to use Lily Sugar’n Cream, which is weight 4/medium/worsted, you’d want a size 7 or 8 US (4.5 or 5 mm) set of knitting needles.

For my sport weight yarn I used a pair of size 2 US/2.75 mm knitting needles.

You’ll also need some scissors and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge

Gauge isn’t critical on this project and yours will vary if you use a different weight of yarn, but I got about 28 stitches and 50 rows per 4 inches/10 cm in garter stitch.

Size

Washcloths of any size are valid, so you can make yours as big or as small as you like. Mine is 7 inches/17.78 cm square.

Knitting a Bias Garter Stitch Washcloth

Begin by casting on 4 stitches.

Knit 1 row.

Knit 2, yarn over, knit across.

Repeat this row until your piece is about half the size you would like. I measured the straight side of my washcloth and stopped when it was about 6 inches/15.25 cm long.

I had 65 stitches (the traditional grandmother’s favorite washcloth knitting pattern uses worsted weight yarn and is worked to 42 stitches, for comparison).

Change colors if you want, and then knit 1, knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit across.

Repeat this row until 4 stitches remain.

Bind off. Cut yarn, leaving a tail for weaving, and weave in ends.

You may find that your square isn’t exactly square when it comes off the needles, so give it a stretch to even it out. Once you’ve washed it, it should even out a little more, too.

Bias Garter Stitch Variations

Once you know the basics of bias garter stitch knitting, you can use it for all sorts of projects. Just keep knitting and you’ll have a baby blanket (this pattern is in my baby knitting book) or a big-person blanket.

You can use these kinds of squares for anything else you’d use squares for. Make them into a bag or a patchwork afghan.

And of course you don’t have to use yarn overs for the increases, either. That’s the traditional grandmother’s favorite design, but you can use whatever method of increasing you like, which will also change the look.

Stitch them in solids or stripes and have fun with your new knowledge of bias knitting!