Free Rat Dishcloth or Afghan Square Knitting Pattern

By popular demand, and in (slightly late) celebration of the Chinese New Year, our latest creation is a free knitting pattern for a Rat square!

Though not always view favorably, rats are clever animals. They love companionship and have excellent memories. They are even known to take care of other rats in their group who are sick or injured.

The story of how the rat became the first of the animals of the Chinese zodiac shows how smart rats are. The Jade Emperor hosted a race which included a river crossing to decide which 12 animals would be make it into the calendar. One interpretation of the story says that the rat hatched a plan to ride on the back of the ox to get across the river. Then, at the last moment, the rat jumped off of the ox and crossed the finish line first becoming the first animal of the Chinese zodiac. You can read more of the story here.

This square would work great as a washcloth or dishcloth , or you could put it together with some of the other squares (maybe even some more animals from the Chinese calendar, like the pig, the rabbit, the dragon, the horse, the dog, the ox and the rooster to make an afghan or blanket (all my squares are the same size). Finished square approximately 22 cm x 22 cm (8.5 inches x 8.5 inches)

If you would prefer a PDF version of this pattern or you would like to help support Daisy and Storm to continue to make free patterns, you can purchase a PDF version of this pattern from ETSY by clicking here

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Size and Materials

Size depends on yarn and needle size used – with DK/Light Worsted Weight yarn and 4 mm (US 6, UK 8) knitting needles, finished squares are approximately 22 cm x 22 cm (8.5 inches x 8.5 inches)

Any sized needle and yarn can be used (please refer to yarn label for recommended needle size), however different needle and yarn sizes will produce different sized squares, so if you plan to make an afghan or a set of these it is best to use the same needle size and yarn for each square.

Chart Instructions

On Right Side: Knit white squares and purl black dots

On Wrong Side: Purl white squares and knit black dots

Cast on 45 stitches and start at bottom left hand corner of chart with a wrong side row.

Written Instructions

Cast on 45

Work 7 rows of (K1,P1) to last stitch, K1

Row 8: K1, P1, K1, P1, K37, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 9 and all odd numbed rows: K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P35, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 10: K1, P1, K1, P1, K37, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 12: K1, P1, K1, P1, K7, P3, K15, P6, K6, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 14: K1, P1, K1, P1, K6, P2, K12, P6, K4, P3, K4, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 16: K1, P1, K1, P1, K7, P14, K11, P2, K3, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 18: K1, P1, K1, P1, K31, P2, K4, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 20: K1, P1, K1, P1, K10, P17, K2, P3, K5, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 22: K1, P1, K1, P1, K15, P15, K7, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 24: K1, P1, K1, P1, K14, P13, K10, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 26: K1, P1, K1, P1, K13, P15, K9, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 28: K1, P1, K1, P1, K12, P16, K9, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 30: K1, P1, K1, P1, K5, P4, K2, P17, K9, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 32: K1, P1, K1, P1, K7, P20, K10, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 34: K1, P1, K1, P1, K8, P18, K11, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 36: K1, P1, K1, P1, K8, P16, K13, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 38: K1, P1, K1, P1, K8, P14, K15, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 40: K1, P1, K1, P1, K7, P12, K18, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 42: K1, P1, K1, P1, K6, P10, K21, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 44: K1, P1, K1, P1, K5, P9, K23, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 46: K1, P1, K1, P1, K4, P11, K22, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 48: K1, P1, K1, P1, K3, P8, K1, P3, K22, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 50: K1, P1, K1, P1, K3, P5, K5, P1, K23, P1, K1, P1, K1

Row 52: K1, P1, K1, P1, K3, P2, K32, P1, K1, P1, K1

Even Numbered Rows 54-56: K1, P1, K1, P1, K37, P1, K1, P1, K1

Work 7 rows of (K1, P1) to last stitch, K1

Cast off, weave in ends and block.