I knit. Um, a lot. I also watch Doctor Who, well, about the same amount (I’ve a very hard time sitting and doing NOTHING; I like having my hands busy). So when I was looking for dishcloths and found this, well, I knew I had to make it. (That’s a Dalek, by the way, the oldest and biggest baddies in the Whoniverse.) Which led me to this pattern, which, while pretty cool, led me to musing “I could do better than that…” And so I did.
I said I knit, not practice photography
Some people thought it was pretty cool — even unblocked and with my truly atrocious iPhone photography — and asked me to write up the pattern. And so I did that, too.
I present to you:
The Most Awesomest TARDIS Dishcloth EVAR pattern
Gauge: c’mon, it’s a dishcloth. Use a worsted/8-ply/y’know, medium-ish cotton yarn and a reasonably sized needle for that yarn and you’ll be fine. Like I’m going to swatch for a dishcloth!
CO 38 (I use a variation of a long tail cast on, but whatever works for you — not too tight is better, but, um, it’s a dishcloth. The Doctor won’t hate you for having a tight bottom.) (Oi, stop snickering!)
Row 1, 3, 5: (K1 P1) 19 times
Row 2, 4: (P1 K1) 19 times
Row 6: (P1 K1) twice, P30, (P1 K1) twice
Row 7: (K1 P1) twice, K30, (K1 P1) twice
Row 8: (P1 K1) twice, P4, K22, P4, (P1 K1) twice
Row 9: (K1 P1) twice, K4, P22, K4, (K1 P1) twice
Row 10: (P1 K1) twice, P30, (P1 K1) twice
Row 11: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P18, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Row 12, 14, 16: (P1 K1) twice P8, K2, (P4, K2) twice, P8, (P1 K1) twice
Rows 13, 15: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P4, K4, P2, K4, P4, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Row 17: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P18, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Row 18: (P1 K1) twice, P8, K14, P8, (P1 K1) twice
Rows 19, 21, 23: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P4, K4, P2, K4, P4, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Rows 20, 22: (P1 K1) twice, P8, K2, (P4, K2) twice, P8, (P1 K1) twice
Row 24: (P1 K1) twice, P8, K14, P8, (P1 K1) twice
Row 25: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P18, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Rows 26, 28, 30: (P1 K1) twice, P8, K2, (P4, K2) twice, P8, (P1 K1) twice
Rows 27, 29: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P4, K4, (P2, K1) twice, P4, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Row 31: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P18, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Row 32: (P1 K1) twice, P8, K14, P8, (P1 K1) twice
Row 33: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P4, *K2, wrap yarn around needle twice, K2*, P2, rep from * to *, P4, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Rows 34: (P1 K1) twice, P8, (K2, P2, unwrap and slip wrapped yarn [with working yarn in front], P2) twice, K2, P8, (P1 K1) twice
Row 35: (K1 P1) twice, K6, (P6, sl st wyib) twice, P6, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Row 36: (P1 K1) twice, P8, (K2, P2, sl st wyif, P2) twice, K2, P8, (P1 K1) twice
Row 37: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P4, *K2, sl st wyib, K2*, P2, rep from * to *, P4, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Row 38: (P1 K1) twice, P8, K16 (including 2 previously slipped stitches), P8, (P1 K1) twice
Row 39: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P6, P2tog, P4, P2tog, P6, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Row 40: (P1 K1) twice, P30, (P1 K1) twice
Row 41: (K1 P1) twice, K5, P20, K5, (K1 P1) twice
Row 42: (P1 K1) twice, P5, K20, P5, (P1 K1) twice
Row 43: (K1 P1) twice, K6, P18, K6, (K1 P1) twice
Row 44: (P1 K1) twice, P7, K16, P7, (P1 K1) twice
Row 45: (K1 P1) twice, K9, P12, K9, (K1 P1) twice
Rows 46, 48, 50: (P1 K1) twice, P30, (P1 K1) twice
Rows 47, 49: (K1 P1) twice, K14, P2, K14, (K1 P1) twice
Row 51: (K1 P1) twice, K30, (K1 P1) twice
Rows 52, 54, 56: (P1 K1) 19 times
Rows 53, 55: (K1 P1) 19 times
Bind off, weave in ends, and off you go through time and space!
For those of you who do better with charts:
Tomorrow (or… soon!) I return to kyriarchy blame with at least one of the following posts: A new Naked Pictures of Faceless People on rape culture; Part 2 of How to Pick an Anti-Kyriarchy Preschool; a rant on “D’y'ever have to massage, y’know, gross people?”; or whatever else catches my fancy and/or ire at a time I actually have the chance to write about it.
Arwyn
In my bathroom hangs a plaque with a picture of a yin yang and the word BALANCE. I can never get it to hang straight. This probably says something deep and meaningful about my life.
Since I can’t knit, I expect a TARDIS dishcloth in the mail soon.
Posted to my Rav group… you may be getting a few extra hits.
BTW, you should put it on Rav. Seriously.
How does one go about doing that? I sort of poked around at Ravelry last night, but couldn’t see an obvious way to add a new pattern.
I suppose I could look for a help file, but that feels so… easy.
You might be interested to know that someone’s made Dalek socks. Wish I knew where to find the pattern, I’ll let you know if I do.
I can get behind anyone who expresses their fandom via knitting. Fibery fans are the best kind, I think.
Wow, you inspire me to find out who Dr. Who is and to knit!
Wait a minute … you don’t know who Doctor Who is?!?!?! Arwyn! Educate her!
I’m sending this to a knitting friend who mightily squee’d at the idea
You’d mentioned on Twitter a Dalek dishcloth as well? Do you have the pattern for that?
See if you can get her to send me a picture when she’s done.
EXFOLIATE! EXFOLIATE! (The Dalek pattern)
I’m working on a K-9 pattern, too, but it’s proving significantly more difficult than the TARDIS. I’ll let you know if anything comes of it.
I have a friend who will be lurking here quite soon. Is this pattern free or do you expect compensation?
Since I have no desire to be sued by the BBC, this pattern is offered free of charge or expectation of compensation (although I would love links to photos of completed pieces!).
However, completely unrelated, I do have a wish list at Amazon, at which anyone who appreciates my work at this blog can order a book for me (which, incidentally, will be reviewed here — so if there’s anything you want my opinion about…).
I’ll have my friend send you a photo ^^ I’d order a book, but I’m flat-broke.
OMG I just had a geekgasm. If I could figure out the damn perling!
Slee: Purling isn’t that hard — you can do it! And knit and purl is pretty much all you need to know for this.
Oh my god. You can’t see me, but I have my “very, very impressed” face on. From now on, all my dishcloths will be TARDIS themed. I don’t even usually knit between April and September, but you have inspired me to change my ways!
2nd2ndalto — Thanks! Would you have any interest in a K-9 pattern? It took me three tries to get one I liked (hey, there were at least three K-9s!), but I haven’t written up the pattern yet.
No, I don’t think I’d knit a K-9. Can’t wait to get started on the TARDIS, though!
I would like the K-9 pattern very much! I’m starting the Tardis cloth today for my husband. We both love Dr. Who!