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October 27, 2010 · by Beverly

My Favorite Knit Dishcloth

crafts, knitting

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The humble homemade knit dishcloth is a favorite in many households, including mine.  They last a long time, wash up well, they’re sturdy for cleaning up.  Plus, it’s one of those fast little knitting projects that gives you the quick satisfaction of seeing your finished project.  I can often knit one up in an evening, provided I sit my butt down on the couch soon enough after dinner.

dishcloth

So for all the knitters out there, I thought I would share my favorite dishcloth pattern.  This is the basic “knit on the diagonal” pattern that’s been around for years.  I like it because it doesn’t take a whole lot of thinking or keeping track of a complex pattern stitch.  It’s a fun and relaxing way to Make Your Own dishcloths.

MY FAVORITE KNIT DISHCLOTH

Print This Pattern

You Will Need:

  • 1 Ball Cotton Yarn (Sugar & Cream brand)

  • Size 10 Knitting needles

Cast on 4 stitches

Knit 2 rows even

Next Row:  Knit 2, Yarn Over, Knit across to end

Repeat this row until you have 47 stitches

Next Row:  Knit 1, Knit 2 together, Yarn Over, Knit 2 together, Knit across to end

Repeat this row until you have 4 stitches left

Knit 2 rows even

Bind Off

My Favorite Knit Dishcloth

My one frustration is that after making the dishcloth, there’s not quite enough yarn left in the ball to make another one, and so I have a nice little collection of remainder balls that I need to get busy and find a way to use up.

If you like easy knitting crafts like this dishcloth, you might like to check out my free pattern for newborn knit hats.  They knit up fast and they’re fun to make too!

 

 

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Previous Post: « Homemade Laundry Soap: What You Need to Know – Plus 2 Recipes
Next Post: Let’s Toast Pumpkin Seeds »

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Comments

  1. Candice bradley says

    March 18, 2021 at 11:38 pm

    I use same pattern to 42 stitches. End off. I make a row of single crochet around edge, then crochet 1, then do a picot stitch. I can use up a lot of scraps that way. I try to use the bigger balls as a much better buy

    Reply
  2. Emilie says

    February 26, 2021 at 3:59 pm

    I have used the leftover yarn for coasters. Same pattern but only went up to 25 stitches. I have also crocheted facial scrubbier with the leftover yarn.

    Reply
  3. Kathleen Larkin thanks for sharing your patterns says

    January 15, 2021 at 12:43 pm

    Thanks for sharing pattern

    Reply
  4. Rhea says

    October 9, 2020 at 3:15 am

    Make two dishrags from one ball of yarn: Variegated and striped balls have about 1/3 less than solid colors.
    Divide yarn at half way point by
    Finding both ends and following yarn to the half way point. Cut yarn there.
    Take both ends of each half, and follow to center point of each piece. Mark the center. I use a loose knot.
    Start dishrag according to directions. Instead of going to 42 stitches, I untie knot when I get to it and begin decrease side of dishrag.
    Dishrags will be different sizes, but you’ll use up the yarn. I’m ok with that. I prefer a smaller dishrag,Hubby prefers a larger one. He goes for a solid, I go for a stripe of variegated one.

    Reply
    • Rhea says

      October 9, 2020 at 4:09 pm

      Of course, counting the stitches after you get to the mid point of each type would prevent the unwinding steps next time 🙂

      Reply
  5. Brenda says

    August 10, 2018 at 10:55 am

    I love this pattern ! It is great on the go ! I often join the ends of the various colors to make another ” heinz 57″ dishcloth !

    Reply
    • Beverly says

      August 11, 2018 at 8:24 am

      Yes, a knit dishcloth is a project I often taken along with me too. The perfect small sized project for on the go. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Bonny says

    June 28, 2018 at 9:25 am

    Thanks for posting; this was exactly what I was looking for.

    Reply
  7. Anne Billingsley says

    March 1, 2018 at 12:12 pm

    so glad to find this pattern,i have made many ,now to do more

    thanks

    Reply
  8. Cindy says

    January 24, 2018 at 5:43 pm

    In response to your frustration with not having enough to complete another one: I take 2 colors of leftover and do the slipknot with the colors together and cast on with both together. Then I split them and knit across and back and switch colors. It works really well and creates a set of 3 dishcloths!

    Reply
    • Beverly says

      January 28, 2018 at 8:00 pm

      I might have to give that a try Cindy – thanks for the idea!

      Reply
  9. Karen says

    November 6, 2016 at 9:18 am

    I like a smaller dishcloth so I stop at 37 instead of 47 stitches, leaving enough yarn to make a second cloth.

    Reply
    • Beverly says

      November 6, 2016 at 7:03 pm

      Good idea Karen! This pattern is easy to adapt like you said – just stop at a lower number of stitches.

      Reply
  10. Kathy says

    January 23, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    I knit many cotton dishcloths and use the scraps in my “Joseph Cloths” as in Joseph’s coat of many colors!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      January 23, 2016 at 1:55 pm

      Just noticed someone else commented about the scraps. I also use the same pattern up to 24 sts and make ‘mug rugs’. I also live 3 blocks from the Hudsonville yarn shop! Is it still open?

      Reply
      • Beverly says

        January 24, 2016 at 3:49 pm

        That’s a good way to use up those scraps Kathy, and yes, Country Needleworks is still open!

        Reply
  11. Dorothy May Bell says

    September 4, 2014 at 10:02 pm

    Thank you

    Reply
  12. Nancy says

    March 30, 2014 at 12:48 am

    Ran out and got some Sugar ‘n’ Cream today to try the scrubber and to do many more dishcloths 🙂 Again, Thanks!

    Reply
  13. Nancy says

    March 30, 2014 at 12:40 am

    Thank you ! 😉

    Reply
  14. Nancy says

    March 28, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    This is the dishcloth my Mom used for years. She left two unfinished when she passed away two years ago. I finally finished them last month and have made several more using this pattern. Love it! Her grandchildren will still be getting them 🙂 I wish your link for the scrubber wasn’t a broken link… (http://tankhouse.knitability.com/freepatterns/DishClothDuo.pdf) Do you still have the scrubber pattern? Would love to do that as well for extras 🙂 Thank you!

    Reply
  15. Dayna says

    March 23, 2014 at 12:27 pm

    I use the scraps to make the same kind of dishcloth. when the scrap runs out, I tie a new color to it. It doesn’t matter if they are “pretty”. They function the same way.

    Reply
    • Beverly says

      March 23, 2014 at 2:20 pm

      So true Dayna! When it comes to dishcloths, I think I value function over prettiness too.

      Reply
  16. Sandy Laster says

    September 29, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    just a thought about your leftover yarn…..I make coasters. I am a crocheter and also love the dishcloth and use the “seed” stitch.

    Reply
  17. Brie says

    September 22, 2012 at 6:57 am

    I love this pattern. Simple, classic, and beautiful. Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  18. Bev says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    Oh I am so glad I could provide that pattern for you. Now you can carry on with knitting dishcloths and have the happy memory of your Mom too. Blessings to you!

    Reply
  19. Bev says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    Oh I am so glad I could provide that pattern for you. Now you can carry on with knitting dishcloths and have the happy memory of your Mom too. Blessings to you!

    Reply
  20. Anonymous says

    June 23, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    Thank you soooo much for this pattern. The finished one you show looks like the one my Mother always made. She passed away last summer with one on the needles. I couldn't find any directions. Now I can finish it and do more for all the kids and grandkids. We all have them, thanks to Mom, though they are a bit worn now. Thanks to you we can all get new ones and remember Mom/Nana at the same time.. 😉

    Reply
  21. Anonymous says

    June 23, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    Thank you soooo much for this pattern. The finished one you show looks like the one my Mother always made. She passed away last summer with one on the needles. I couldn't find any directions. Now I can finish it and do more for all the kids and grandkids. We all have them, thanks to Mom, though they are a bit worn now. Thanks to you we can all get new ones and remember Mom/Nana at the same time.. 😉

    Reply
  22. Noel Wright says

    November 16, 2011 at 10:35 am

    I like knitting this pattern with size 6 needles for a tighter weaved cloth which stretches when wet. I can usually make 3 dish cloths with one ball!

    Reply
  23. Noel Wright says

    November 16, 2011 at 10:35 am

    I like knitting this pattern with size 6 needles for a tighter weaved cloth which stretches when wet. I can usually make 3 dish cloths with one ball!

    Reply
  24. Anonymous says

    November 12, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    Regarding that “little bit of yarn left over” from making a washcloth. I crochet mine into a flat circular trivet . These are great places to set hot cookie sheets, pots and frying pans while your cooking. Easy to store and they match my dishcloths!

    Reply
  25. Anonymous says

    July 1, 2011 at 3:10 am

    oopsie…in my last comment I meant to say “coloured ribbon” not coloured yarn, although I think that might work too…lol.

    Reply
  26. Anonymous says

    July 1, 2011 at 3:08 am

    Hi Bev. This is also my favourite. You can use the leftover skein to make coasters. Do the same pattern but only with a total of 26 sts. I thread thru the edging holes with coloured yarn and make a bow at the joining section to pretty them up. I've made 100's of them as gifts and everyone loves them. 🙂 Happy Knitting from luvs2cook 🙂

    Reply
  27. The Prairie Homemaker says

    June 25, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    Bev,
    you could make striped ones, using some of the left over yarn.
    Knit a length, tie it to another color and then repeat.
    I may give you some interesting designs!
    hugs
    m

    Reply
  28. Anonymous says

    January 25, 2011 at 8:16 pm

    When I make this I only knit to 41 stitches and then start the decrease. I can get another dish cloth from the ball. If I use the 47 stitches I make a smaller dishcloth and love the small ones.

    Reply
  29. Marcia says

    January 21, 2011 at 11:10 pm

    Last month I started learning basic knitting, following some great online videos and a good book. I've been knitting dish cloths to practice a variety of stitches and patterns, with the added benefit that I'm building a cache of gifts for friends. So far, your favorite dish cloth pattern is also mine. It's quick and easy, fun (this was my first corner-to-corner pattern), pretty (with the lace-like border), and, as someone else mentioned, it has just the right texture and stretch for a really good dish cloth. Thank you! — Marcia

    Reply
  30. Bev says

    January 20, 2011 at 1:40 pm

    Laura – I can't wait to try this scrubber pattern. Thank You!! It's looks like the perfect way to use up leftovers.

    Reply
  31. Laura says

    January 20, 2011 at 4:45 am

    Thanks for the pattern!

    I found this pattern for a scrubber to use up the leftovers and it gets pretty close. http://tankhouse.knitability.com/freepatterns/DishClothDuo.pdf. With the cloth that I just finished I went to 50 stitches, then made a scrubber and there's just a little yarn left. I could maybe get another scrubber out of it. When I made the cloth per your instructions I got a scrubber and a “coaster” which was your pattern with one stitch for the edge and I went up to 25 stitches on size 3 needles. I thought a hodge-podge collection of knit coasters would be kind of fun and I'd have a sample of all the cloths I made, since I keep giving them away!

    Reply
  32. Bev says

    December 28, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    I like the idea of a block of color in the middle! I think I will give that a try to use up some of my leftovers.

    Reply
  33. Sally says

    December 28, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    I've been making these a long time. I'm kind of a tight knitter and usually can get two out of a ball of Sugar 'n Cream, if you use plain colors, which have a bit more yardage than the stripey colorways. I have also just added in a block of color in the middle to use up odds and ends – or make a “crazy dishcloth” – a la the crazy quilt – a new color every other row or so.
    Sally

    Reply
  34. Anonymous says

    December 28, 2010 at 11:37 am

    I made one in a slightly different pattern out of the same color of Sugar and Cream and it too is my favorite! Thanks for posting.

    Reply
  35. Amelia says

    December 26, 2010 at 1:44 am

    Thanks for such a simple but fun to make washcloth!!!!! I'm a beginner knitter and I've been getting pretty bored with what i've been working on, this one is fun because you make it from corner to corner. Neat!

    Reply
  36. Anonymous says

    December 17, 2010 at 10:24 am

    Oh my GOSH! I had an old copy of this pattern that someone gave me and I lost it over the years. My poor dish cloths are ratty. Now I can sprint to the store today, buy some fabulous cotton yarn and make more! Thank you so much for posting this! It is absolutely the best!!!!!

    Reply
  37. Anonymous says

    December 6, 2010 at 8:25 am

    Thanks soo much for this pattern!!! I have a dishcloth like this and am no longer able to get more from the lady who made it for me, so, believe it or not, I learned this weekend on YouTube how to knit, and this is my Very First project I have done!!!!! (and truely, until this weekend I had never picked up a set of knitting needles before)

    Reply
  38. Bev says

    December 1, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    So glad you found the pattern helpful! I think it will be easy for beginners to make this dishcloth too. A good basic pattern like this is so nice to have around.

    Reply
  39. Anonymous says

    December 1, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    I have been looking for a free simple pattern to use to help my sister in law which would also work for my nieces who are 14 and 6. I thought I might write one up, but surely there was something basic already out there. Thanks for posting, this will be perfect for the holiday get together!

    Reply
  40. Anonymous says

    November 26, 2010 at 7:00 am

    My pattern for that dishcloth is not quite like yours. I cast on three stitches. I knit two yarn over knit one do this every row until you have 42 stitches if your yarn is varigated, if one color you can go to 43 sts. When you have your desired aboout on you knit one knit two together yarn over knit two together. Continue until you have 5 stitches then knit two together twice knit one, then bind off the three stitches.

    Reply
  41. Anonymous says

    November 24, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    I have made all different kinds of dishcloths, both knitted and crocheted. Some look nicer but this pattern WORKS THE BEST as a dishcloth.

    Reply
  42. Anonymous says

    November 20, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    I started crocheting when I was four. Twentysome years later, I tried to get my MIL to teach me how to knit. Then my aunt. I could NOT figure it out. Then I bought a book and the lightbulb finally went on over my head. I'm still a little confused on abbreviations-my brain keeps trying to translate them to crochet-, so I love your pattern! It's the first knit pattern I made and it came out beautifully! Thanks!

    Reply
  43. Bev says

    October 28, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    Yeah, if you're not a knitter the directions can seem pretty weird and complicated. What's funny is I thought I was being super helpful by spelling everything out (instead of the traditional K2, YO, kind of abbreviations). It seems like there's no in between . . . either you love to knit, or it's just baffling. 🙂

    Reply
  44. Kristen says

    October 27, 2010 at 2:48 pm

    I have always wanted to learn how to knit and crochet, but no matter how many times someone shows me how to do it, it is gone from my head within 5 minutes. I just can't get the hang of it.

    Reply
  45. [email protected] says

    October 27, 2010 at 10:43 am

    It seems like knitting directions are such a foreign language! I guess if you knit you know what all that means. I tried crochet and I had to rewrite all of the directions the book gave me just so I could understand all of it! LOL

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Knitting Newborn Hats for Hospitals - The Make Your Own Zone says:
    August 18, 2016 at 12:36 pm

    […] love to find quick little knitting projects that I can do in an evening.  I previously shared my Favorite Knit Dishcloth Pattern which has received lots of positive comments, so I thought I would share another of my favorite […]

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