Dinner Goes Green:
I've been using cloth napkins exclusively at home for a long time now; it's an easy way to be a little kinder to the planet. Better yet would be knitting a bunch of napkins, like this Andalusian Stitch Napkin, out of organic cotton yarn. Because cotton production typically uses a lot of pesticides, going organic when you can is a great help to the environment.
My version is knit in two colors to make the simple pattern a little more interesting, but you can also work in solid colors if you prefer. Or add more colors and go for stripes.
Materials:
- 112 yards total of medium weight cotton yarn per napkin (I used two colors, 56 yards each, of Lion Brand Organic Cotton)
- one pair size 6 US (4 mm) knitting needles
- tape measure, scissors and yarn needle
Gauge:
Gauge is not critical, but I got 18 stitches and 26 rows per 4 inches (4.5 stitches and 6.5 rows per inch) in Andalusian Stitch.
Size:
Finished napkin is 12 inches square.
Instructions:
- Using first color, cast on 54 stitches.
- Work 4 rows in Seed Stitch.
- Keep the first 4 and last 4 stitches of each row in Seed Stitch, and begin working Andalusian Stitch (see below) on the center 46 stitches.
- Continue in this manner until piece measures about 11.5 inches. I ended on row 1 to make the end of the napkin look like the beginning.
- Work 4 rows in Seed Stitch.
- Bind off, cut yarn and weave in ends.
Andalusian Stitch:
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: *Knit 1, purl 1. Repeat from * across row.
Row 4: Purl.
Repeat these 4 rows for pattern.
