Prickly Pear Cactus Washcloth Knitting Pattern
This post contains some affiliate links, which gives me a small commission for directing you to products, at no additional cost to you.
I think I was subconsciously inspired to create this washcloth because of a card a friend gave me a few months ago which as been sitting on a table in my living room ever since. This particular friend loves cacti (and was the inspiration for the Cactus Baby Blanket pattern), so obviously the stationary she chooses is somewhat likely to feature cacti. I hadn’t really taken notice of the kind of cactus that was on the front.
But as I brainstormed ideas for new washcloth patterns, and variations on the original Cactus Washcloth, I thought it was time to attempt what I thought of as a “paddle cactus”. After googling that term, I discovered that the proper name is actually a prickly pear cactus. And it took until after I had finished knitting the Prickly Pear Washcloth to realize that the cactus featured on my friend’s card is a prickly pear cactus!
As I played with the stitch patterns in Excel, the version I started making was actually a little bit different from the final version. As I was knitting my original take it became clear that one of the “paddles” I had put in was too small to translate into yarn. Luckily because I’ve really mastered the laddering down technique, I didn’t have to rip back multiple rows, just pull out a few stitches and then switch them from purls to knits.
Scroll down for the FREE pattern or get the printable PDF for $2.
Because I made this washcloth out of Lion Brand Re-Up it is slightly smaller than my other new cactus washcloths as Re-Up is a slightly thinner worsted weight yarn. This doesn’t really matter for a dishcloth of course, but is worth noting that different yarns will result in slightly different finished measurements and can also affect the yardage.
——————————————
Don’t miss the other cactus washcloths:
——————————————
Pattern
Gauge: 2″ x 2″ (5 cm x 5 cm) = 10 stitches x 14 rows knit in stockinette (blocked)
Finished measurements: 8″ x 8″ (20 cm x 20 cm) – blocked
Materials:
- 4.5 mm needles (US 7)
- ~ 30 g / 52 yds worsted weight cotton (I used Lion Brand Re-Up but you could also use Knit Picks Dishie or Bernat Handicrafter Cotton or similar worsted weight cotton)
- Blocking mat
- Blocking pins
- Tapestry needle
Scroll down for the FREE pattern or get the printable PDF for $2.
Abbreviations used:
– k: knit
– p: purl
– * *: repeat instructions between * and *
– sts: stitches
Pattern:
Cast on 41 sts (I like the long-tail cast on, though the cable cast on would also look good).
R1: *K1 p1* to last stitch, k1.
R2-3: Repeat R1.
R4: K1 p1 k1, k35, k1 p1 k1.
R5: K1 p1 k1, p35, k1 p1 k1.
R6-9: Repeat Rows 4 & 5.
Start the pot for your prickly pear cactus:
R10: K1 p1 k1, k14, p7, k14, k1 p1 k1.
R11: K1 p1 k1, p14, k7, p14, k1 p1 k1.
R12-13: Repeat Rows 10 & 11.
R14: K1 p1 k1, k13, p9, k13, k1 p1 k1.
R15: K1 p1 k1, p13, k9, p13, k1 p1 k1.
R16: K1 p1 k1, k11, p13, k11, k1 p1 k1.
R17: K1 p1 k1, p11, k13, p11, k1 p1 k1.
Scroll down for the rest of the FREE pattern or get the printable PDF for $2.
Start your prickly pear cactus:
R18: K1 p1 k1, k16, p1 k1 p1, k16, k1 p1 k1.
R19: K1 p1 k1, p16, p1 k1 p1, p16, k1 p1 k1.
R20: K1 p1 k1, k16, p1 k1 p1, k16, k1 p1 k1.
R21: K1 p1 k1, p15, k1 p1 k1 p1 k1, p15, k1 p1 k1.
R22: K1 p1 k1, k14, *p1 k1* for 7 sts, k14, k1 p1 k1.
R23: K1 p1 k1, p14, *p1 k1* for 7 sts, p14, k1 p1 k1.
R24: K1 p1 k1, k13, *k1 p1* for 9 sts, k13, k1 p1 k1.
R25: K1 p1 k, p13, *k1 p1* for 9 sts, p13, k1 p1 k1.
R26-27: Repeat Rows 24-25.
R28: K1 p1 k1, k14, *p1 k1* for 7 sts, k14, k1 p1 k1.
R29: K1 p1 k1, p15, *k1 p1* for 7 sts, p13, k1 p1 k1.
Scroll down for the rest of the FREE pattern or get the printable PDF for $2.
Start the new arms of your cactus:
R30: K1 p1 k1, k11, *k1 p1* for 5 sts, *p1 k1* for 5 sts, k14, k1 p1 k1.
R31: K1 p1 k1, p11, *k1 p1* for 5 sts, p5, *k1 p1* for 5 sts, p9, k1 p1 k1.
R32: K1 p1 k1, k9, *k1 p1* for 5 sts, k6, *p1 k1* for 6 sts, k9, k1 p1 k1.
R33: K1 p1 k1, p8, *p1 k1* for 7 sts, p6, *k1 p1* for 6 sts, p8, k1 p1 k1.
R34: K1 p1 k1, k8, *p1 k1* for 5 sts, k7, *p1 k1* for 7 sts, k8, k1 p1 k1.
R35: K1 p1 k1, p7, *k1 p1* for 7 sts, p8, *p1 k1* for 6 sts, p7, k1 p1 k1.
R36: K1 p1 k1, k8, p1, k1, p1, k9, *p1 k1* for 8 sts, k7, k1 p1 k1.
Scroll down for the rest of the FREE pattern or get the printable PDF for $2.
The last bits of cactus:
R37: K1 p1 k1, p5, k1 p1 k1, p2, *p1 k1* for 4 sts, p21, k1 p1 k1.
R38: K1 p1 k1, k22, p1, k3, *p1 k1* for 5 sts, k4, k1 p1 k1.
R39: K1 p1 k1, p4, *p1 k1* for 5 sts, p2, *k1 p1* for 4 sts, k20, k1 p1 k1.
R40: K1 p1 k1, k20, *p1 k1* for 6 sts, k2, *p1 k1* for 4 sts, k3, k1 p1 k1.
R41: K1 p1 k1, p4, p1, k1, p3, *k1 p1* for 6 sts, p20, k1 p1 k1.
R42: K1 p1 k1, k20, *p1 k1* for 6 sts, k9, k1 p1 k1.
R43: K1 p1 k1, p10, *p1 k1* for 4 sts, p21, k1 p1 k1.
R44: K1 p1 k1, k21, *k1 p1* for 4 sts, k10, k1 p1 k1.
Finish off your washcloth:
R45: K1 p1 k1, p35, k1 p1 k1.
R46: K1 p1 k1, k35, k1 p1 k1.
R47-50: Repeat R45 & R46.
R51-53: *k1 p1* to last stitch, k1.
Bind off in pattern.
Use a tapestry needle to weave in your ends. It is recommended that you block your washcloth, I favour steam-blocking for speed if you’re looking to gift your finished washcloth, or get a pic for Instagram (always my goal haha), but since you’ll be washing your Prickly Pear Cactus washcloth as you use it, wet blocking or no blocking would also be acceptable.
I’d love to see your wips and finished projects! Add a project on Ravelry, and/or tag me on Instagram and use the hashtags #KnittleAndPearl and #KnittleCactus.
