I am knitting a basic diagonal dish cloth with the border, but instead of making it square, I would like to make it oblong. I tried a couple of ways that I thought would accomplish this, but I'm jut not getting it. The beginning of the pattern is: K2, YO, knit to end of the row. Then when I get to the size I want, I start to decrease: K1, K2tog, YO, K2tog, knit to tht end of the row. So what do I do in between those increase and decrease rows to make it an oblong shape rather than sqaure?

I did something like that not too long ago and I think what I did was this; on one edge do the k2, yo, k2tog, knit to end. On the return row, k2, yo, but then knit nearly to the end and 2 stitches before the yo of the last row, k2tog (or ssk so you get the correct lean to the stitch). When you're ready to decrease for the final corner, just follow directions as if you made the original square shape.
I actually used the ssk on the first side and k2tog coming back so the decreases would lean into the fabric instead of toward the yo's, but that's just more personal preference of liking that kind of look. Hope this helps.

You're doing the k2 yo k... on every row, right? This produces an increasing triangle. The K1 K2tog yo k2tog creates a decreasing triangle, and the two triangles together produce a square. Between the two triangles, alternate between the two: do the k2 yo k on rs rows, and k1 k2tog yo k2tog on the wrong side rows.

Thank you both for the directions on how to achieve an oblong shape! I've been trying to figure this out for a while now and I'm glad I "caved" and asked! Thank you again and I look forward to finishing this dish cloth, and making more for other uses.

I suggest using Diana D's suggestion rather than Peggy's if you want your edging to appear the same throughout your dish cloth. With Diana's suggestion once you reach the width you want for your rectangle, by continuing to increase on one side while decreasing on the other side you keep your stitch out even but continue the bias pattern you established earlier.

If I am reading Peggy's suggestion correctly, she would have you alternate increase rows with decrease rows to keep the stitch count even but I believe this will give you a saw-toothed look because you will be increasing then decreasing, then increasing and the decreasing.

Rather than starting off with a triangle, why not consider casting on as many stitches as you want the washcloth wide. An eyelet edge could be created on the next row and then the edges could be done similarly to provide eyelets along the sides. When preparing to cast off, repeat the eyelet row and then bind off. This would allow you to have a washcloth as wide and as long as you wish with straight edges.

But Bill, that's a different pattern. (Grin)

KT, yes, it does a bit (sawtooth). Good point.

Bill, thanks so much for this idea! I might try this on the next oblong dish cloth, especially if I use a self striping cotton yarn. When creating the eyelets, would that be K2tog, YO, K2tog?

KT, you're right, this is a different pattern

Thank you all for your input, every bit helps!