Consider the washcloth: the most utilitarian of all handmade items. Several years ago, at loss of what to bring as a gift to my elderly aunt, I grabbed a lacy washcloth I had knit the winter before. I wrapped it around a bar of soap and tied it with a colorful cotton ribbon. Appreciated, admired, and used often, this washcloth was the perfect gift. When my aunt’s daughter called recently and asked for the pattern, I began to think seriously about washcloths again. They are great learning project for beginners and a palette full of possibilities for the advanced.

An Artful Way to Knit