Cotton Pond Towel

There’s a local pond near me called Merino Pond. When I was trying to come up with names for this towel, I knew I wanted to use a local landmark & immediately thought of the pond. But since this towel uses cotton, not merino wool, I thought I’d put a spin on the pond, & Cotton Pond Towel was born. This crochets up fast, & is a great little handmade something to add to a gift basket.

By Anastacia Zittel / anastaciaknits on Ravelry / http://anastaciaknits.net / http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anastacia-knits-designs

Materials: 2 balls of Lily Sugar ‘n Cream Cotton yarn (5 ounces total or 240 yards), or other desired “kitchen cotton”, with plenty of yarn leftover, G crochet hook

Gauge: 13 dc=4”

Measurements: 12” wide by 18” long (not counting hanging loop)

Abbreviations (pattern uses US terms):
ch: chain
sk: skip
sp: space
rep: repeat
sc: single crochet
dc: double crochet
dc dec: double crochet decrease, worked as follows: (yarn over, insert hook in dc, yarn over, draw loop through, yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook) in each of the 2 dc indicated, yarn over, draw through all loops on hook.
V st: (dc, ch 1, dc) in specified dc

Pattern:
Row 1: Ch 39. Dc in 4th ch from hook, & in ea ch across: 37 dc made.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc, now & throughout), turn. Dc in next dc, * ch 1, sk next dc, dc in next ch, rep from * across row until last 3 dc, sk next dc, dc in next 2 dc: 20 dc made.
Row 3: Ch 3, turn. Dc in ea dc & ch across: 37 dc made.
Row 4: Rep row 2.
Row 5: Rep row 3.
Row 6: Ch 4 (counts as dc & ch 1 sp), turn. * Sk 2 dc, V st in next dc, rep from * across row until last 3 dc, ch 1, sk 2 dc, dc in last dc: 11 V st & 2 dc made.
Row 7: Ch 3, turn. Dc in ea dc & ch across row: 37 dc made.
Rows 8-23: Rep rows 2-7 twice, then rows 2-5 once more.

Optional hanging towel:
Row 24: Ch 3, turn. * Dc dec over next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc. Rep from * 3 times more. Dc in next 3 dc, *dc dec over next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc. Rep from *, dc in last dc: 29 dc made.
Row 25: Ch 3, turn. * Dc dec over next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc. Rep from * across row: dc made: 22 dc made.
Row 26: Ch 3, turn. * Dc dec over next 2 dc, dc in next 2 dc. Rep from * across row, dc in last dc: 17 dc made.
Row 27: Ch 3, turn. 3 Dc dec over next 6 dc, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc dec over next 6 dc, dc in last dc: 8 dc made.
Rows 28-35: Ch 3, turn. Dc in ea dc: 8 dc made.
Row 36: Ch 3, turn. 2 dc in same dc as turning, 3 dc in ea dc across: 24 dc made.
Row 37: Ch 3, turn. 2 dc in same dc as turning, dc in ea dc across until last dc, 3 dc in last dc: 28 dc made.

End off. Weave in ends. To hang, Tuck frilly end (made from working rows 36 & 37) around desired hanging location, & into space made in row 27. Enjoy!

Many thanks to my testers, CollieGrl64, aussiesprincess & crochetlady0506!

Feel free to make as many of these as you like for local craft fairs/auctions/raffles/bazaars, but please do not sell finished items online. The pattern itself is not for sale. If making for charity, please let me know the name of the charity & include my contact info with the item (http://anastaciaknits.net). If you have any questions or comments or just want to join like-minded souls, please join my Ravelry group at http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anastacia-knits-designs. Thanks!