Happy Earth Day! For the 6th year in a row, I’m celebrating this special day with my favorite tradition – the release of two special towel patterns, free for three days only! Every year I get so excited to add these patterns to my stack of eco-friendly designs and to be able to offer them to all of you for free for a limited time! Scroll down to find the new Silver Lake and Eagle Rock Towel patterns for free through Monday, April 24th, 2023 at 11:59pm EST, after which they will return to normal pricing and join my Purposeful Patterns initiative whereby $1 from the sale of each pattern will be donated to Ocean Conservancy.
While I believe every day should be Earth Day, I think having a dedicated day where we can all reflect on our impact and outline changes we can make in our every day lives to serve this planet is very important. As many of us know, the textile and fashion industries are a major factor in the destruction of our Earth as as part of that community, I think about my own impact a lot.
Completely overhauling one’s life and scrutinizing every little choice can be very overwhelming and often not helpful. It’s all about the small changes you can implement and continue to stack up that will make the biggest changes. We do have a lot of power as individuals to make a dent in the problem – use less plastic, use less water, make more informed purchasing choices, eating less meat, etc.
When it comes to the yarn industry, just like the fashion industry, there are a lot of discussions on sustainable and eco-friendly fibers. Acrylic often gets a bad rap for releasing microplastics into waterways, but there are other benefits to it such as accessibility, affordability, and the fact that it causes less allergies. Many “eco-friendly” yarns are actually problematic as well. Did you know, for instance, that it takes up to 2700 liters of water to produce one cotton shirt, or that wool production is linked to several harmful impacts on the planet? It’s a complicated and layered conversation, and it seems that most choices come at an expense.
One thing that frustrates me is when I see people getting attacked for their yarn choices as if it’s the end of the world. Of course every decision matters, but you could easily have someone who uses acrylic yarn who also recycles, makes their own clothes, shops organic, donates to charities that advocate for the planet, etc – and you could have someone who only uses natural fibers but who over-consumes, drives a heavily polluting car, leaves trash on the beach, etc, etc. These topics are not as black and white as they seem, and I try to remind myself of this while I try to make better choices where I can and when I can.
Aside from these towels, I love a reusable hand-knit or crocheted bag! I truly take these things with me everywhere I go, and they feel even more special knowing that I made them myself. Here are some of my faves:
This year the inspiration for my Earth Day towels was really just modern interior design. I have been seeing checkerboard patterns everywhere – maybe they’re the new chevron? Haha. But seriously, from rugs to bath towels to ceramics, the checker is definitely having it’s moment.
Read about the inspo behind the previous four years’ towels here:
2018: Alsace and Marseille Tea Towels
2019: Barrow and Waverly Hand Towels
2020: Brimfield and Berkshire Dishcloths
2021: Bistro and Mercantile Kitchen Cloths
2022: Cottage and Cabin Cloths
As per tradition, these patterns will be available for free here on the blog for three days from 4/22/23 through 4/24/23. Starting on 4/25/22, they will only be available for purchase as printer-friendly, ad-free PDFs. The PDFs are part of my “Purposeful Patterns” initiative, whereby $1 from the sale of each pattern will be donated to a worthy cause.
This year I chose to support Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit organization with a mission to work with us to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. According to their site,
“The ocean is at the center of who we are. Even if you’ve never seen the ocean, you’re touched by it every single day. It produces half the air you and I breathe every day, the food we eat and the water we drink.
Our ocean faces many threats like the onslaught of ocean trash, overfishing and ocean acidification. The road to change lies at the intersection of effective strategy, robust science and many, many supporters like you.”
Giving back through my Purposeful Patterns initiative is another small way I aim to make a positive impact, and I love taking the time to learn about incredible organizations like Ocean Conservancy.
Please enjoy the following patterns !
The Silver Lake Towel
This of-the-moment checker pattern is the perfect addition to the sophisticated, modern kitchen. With low contrast colors it offers a subtle yet refined vibe that would be perfect as a gift for any host or hostess.
Purchase the printer-friendly, ad-free PDF here.
Skill Level: Easy (level 2)
Materials:
1 skein Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Silver for color A
2 skeins Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Charcoal for color B
(worsted, weight 4; 186yds/170m per skein)
Size US 6 (4mm) knitting needles
Tapestry needle
Gauge: 22 sts x 39 rows = 4”/10cm in slip stitch checkerboard pattern
Dimensions:
Width: 14”/35.5cm
Length: 18”/46cm
Abbreviations:
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms
CO – Cast on
K – Knit
P – Purl
Rep – Repeat
RS – Right side
Sl – Slip
St(s) – Stitch(es)
WS – Wrong side
Wyib – With yarn in back
Wyif – With yarn in front
Notes: Towel is worked flat. Carry the alternate color up the side of the work. All stitches are slipped purlwise. Maintain an even, relaxed tension to prevent floats from pulling and puckering work.
CO 76 with color A.
Rows 1-3: K.
Change to color B.
Row 4 (RS): K 3, *sl 2 wyib, K 2, rep from * to last 5 sts, sl 2 wyib, K 3.
Row 5 (WS): K 3, sl 2 wyif, *P 2, sl 2 wyif, rep from * to last 3 sts, K 3.
Change to color A.
Row 6: K.
Change to a second skein of color B.
Row 7: K 3, P 2, *sl 2 wyif, P 2, rep from * to last 3 sts, K 3.
Row 8: K 5, *sl 2 wyib, K 2, rep from * to last 3 sts, K 3.
Change to color A.
Row 9: K 3, P to last 3 sts, K 3.
Change to color B.
Rep rows 4-9, changing colors as indicated, until work measures 18”/46cm, ending with a row 5.
Next 4 rows: K with color A.
Bind off. Do not cut yarn, and do not pull through last stitch of work.
Hook Loop
Finger chain for approx. 4”/10cm. To do this, hold the working yarn in your left hand and use the thumb and middle finger of your right hand to reach through the loop of the last stitch, grab the working yarn, pull a loop through the last stitch and pull it taught. Then reach through that loop, grab the working yarn, pull through another loop and pull it taught. Continue in this manner until the chains measure 4”/10cm.
Cut the yarn and draw the tail through the final loop/chain. Thread tail onto tapestry needle, and secure to base of chains to form a loop at the corner of the towel.
Secure and weave in all ends.
Block work to relax the stitches, prevent curling, and help everything lay flat.
The Eagle Rock Towel
This low contrast checker pattern produces a subtle yet refined look for the modern kitchen. Quick to work up, it makes for the perfect hostess or housewarming gift.
Purchase the printer-friendly, ad-free PDF here.
Skill Level: Beginner (level 1)
Materials:
1 skein each Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Taupe for color A and Hay Bale for color B
(worsted, weight 4; 186yds/170m per skein)
Size G/6 (4mm) crochet hook
Tapestry needle
Gauge: 17 sts x 9 rows = 4”/10cm in double crochet
Dimensions:
Width: 13”/33cm
Length: 17”/43cm
Abbreviations:
*All Two of Wands patterns are written in standard US terms
Ch – Chain
Dc – Double crochet
Rep – Repeat
Sc – Single crochet
St(s) – Stitch(es)
Notes: Towel is worked flat from the bottom up in back and forth rows – turn at the end of each row. The ch 1 at the beginning of each dc row does not count as a stitch. To change colors, work the last yarn over of the previous stitch with the new color. On even rows, hold the previous color to the front of the work when changing color; on odd rows, hold the previous color to the back of the work when changing color – this will untwist the yarns every other row to prevent tangling. Tapestry crochet is used to carry the alternate color – to do so, lay the alternate color over the top of the previous row and crochet over it.
CO 57 with color A.
Row 1: Starting in 2nd ch from hook and working in the back bumps of the foundation ch, sc across row. (56 sts)
Change to color B.
Row 2: Ch 1, *dc 2 with color B, dc 2 with color A, rep from * across row.
Rep row 2 until work measures 17”/43cm.
Continue with color A.
Next row: Ch 1, sc across row.
Do not fasten off.
Hook Loop
Ch tightly for approx. 4”/10cm. Cut the yarn and draw the tail through the final loop/chain. Thread tail onto tapestry needle, and secure to base of chains to form a loop at the corner of the towel.
Secure and weave in all ends.
Don’t forget to share your projects made using Two of Wands patterns on Instagram with the hashtag #crewofwands so your post will get featured on my site and you’ll be in the running for monthly pattern giveaways!
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The patterns and photographs of items on this site are the property of Two of Wands and are for personal, non-commercial use only. These patterns files are protected by US copyright, and you may not distribute or sell them electronically or physically. Small batch sales of finished pieces made from these patterns are permitted, but seller must use their own photographs and credit must be given to Two of Wands as the designer.
