Knit Kitchen Hand Towel

Ravelry Project Page - Knit Kitchen Towel
My reworked version of a classic knit kitchen hand towel pattern. I smoothed out the transition from the body to the top and rewrote the top to be wider and adjustable for desired length.

Kitchen Towel

Materials: 100 grams cotton yarn; 9 needles. 5/8” button

Body
Cast on 64 stitches.
Knit 3 rows
Row 1: K7 (P2, K4) across to last 3 stitches, K3.
Row 2: K3, P4 (K2, P4) across to last 3 stitches, K3
Row 3 to 6: Repeat rows 1 and 2 alternately.
Row 7: K3, P4 (K2, P4) across to last 3 stitches, K3.
Row 8: K7 (P2, K4) across to last 3 stitches, K3.
Repeat Rows 1 to 8 seven more times.
Repeat Rows 1 to 6 once more.

Top
Row 1: K3, P1, P2tog, P1 (K2, P1, P2tog, P1) across to last 3 stitches, K3. (54 sts.)
Row 2: K6 ( P2, K3) across to last 3 stitch, K3.
Row 3: K6 (P2tog, K3) across to last 3 stitches, K3. (45 sts.)
Row 4: K3, P3 (K1, P3) across to last 3 stitches, K3.
Row 5: K3, K2tog, K1 (P1, K2tog, K1) across to last 3 stitches, K3. (35 sts)
Row 6: K3, P2 (K1, P2) across to last 3 stitches, K3.
Row 7: K3, K2tog (P1, K2tog) across to last 3 stitches, K3 (25 sts)
Row 8: K across.
Row 9: K1, K2tog across. (13 sts.)

Rows 10-36: K across.
Add or subtract rows here to fit where the towel will hang.

Row 37: K2tog, K4, YO for buttonhole, K2tog, K2, K2tog. (11 sts.)
Row 38: K across.
Row 39: K2tog, K7, K2tog. (9sts.)
Row 40: K across.
Row 41: K2tog, K5, K2tog. (7sts.)
Bind off. Weave in ends.
Sew button to middle of row 9.

Working with Vintage Patterns

Working with Vintage Patterns

1) The vintage patterns I post here are worked mostly thread and the thread weights used are the same standards today. However, anything that is not worked in thread will be using a yarn that is no longer manufactured. At Vintage Knits they have compiled an extensive listing of discontinued yarns, arranged by weight of yarn, by brand name, and if known, with fiber content and yardage. This information is a big help in finding a subsitute yarn to work with.

2) The patterns found at lady_n_thread are American but if you get your hands on a pattern that is British/Australian then you will need to use a stitch conversion chart.

3) Very early vintage patterns may have a different interpretation of stitches and the abbreviations of terms may also vary from today's. This site has collected the stitch instructions from a number of publications published in the early 1900's — Pre 1930 Crochet Stitch Instructions.