Dishcloth Knitting Patterns - Simple, Easy Knitting

Ready for a couple of dishcloth knitting patterns? I love knitting dishcloths, they're fun to knit and a great way to spice up your kitchen or bathroom with fresh new colors.

Knitted dishcloths make nice simple gift ideas and these are great beginner knitting projects too.  Are you looking for some knitting ideas for gift giving?  

Add some nice soaps and you have a lovely knit gift for your friends or family. 

I'll always remember talking with a gal in a book shop one day and she wanted to learn how to knit. And she only wanted to learn some basic knitting skills in order to knit gifts for her family and friends. 

Knitted dishcloths are great for things like:

• practicing your knitting skills
• testing out a new stitch pattern
• testing your own knitting designs
• knitted gifts
• portable knitting project

And I just know that once you start knitting them you'll be hooked and you'll never buy dishcloths again. They're fun and addictive.  

Just make sure to use your knit dishcloth once you make it!  They're so pretty you may not want to use them.  Remember you can knit more dishcloths any time you want. 

Yarns For Dishcloth Knitting Patterns

Dishcloths need to be made with cotton or even some cotton blends work well like cotton/bamboo, or cotton/linen and cotton/hemp. 

If you choose 100% cotton yarn there are a few different brands to choose from and the colors are just amazing. Try different ones and see which ones you like.

I like to use Lily Sugar n Cream yarns for knitted dishcloths.  This cotton yarn softens up so nicely.

Grab some of your favorite colored cotton yarns and lets get started with these dishcloth knitting patterns. They are fun and easy.

Dishcloth Knitting Patterns #1 - Waffle Stitch Dishcloth

Skills Required:  Cast on, knit, purl, bind off

Gauge: Not important

Materials: Cotton yarn and needles size US 7 (4.5 mm) or US 8 (5.0 mm) 

Abbreviations:  K = knit, P = purl

Notes:  I used the waffle stitch pattern for this dishcloth. I included an extra stitch at the beginning and end of each row for a clean edge. 

Also slip first stitch of every row as if to purl with the yarn in back. Needle size is your preference and what's comfortable for you. 

Cast on 36 sts

Row 1:  K1, K1, *P2, K1, rep from * to last stitch, K1

Row 2:  K1, P1, *K2, P1 rep from * to last stitch, K1

Row 3:  Knit

Row 4:  Repeat row 2

Repeat these 4 rows until you reach approximately 8 inches or desired size.

Bind off loosely and weave in ends. 

Dishcloth Patterns #2 - Diagonal Garter Dishcloth

Skills required:  Cast on, knit, yarn over, K2tog (knit 2 together)

Materials:  Cotton yarn and needles size US7 (4.5 mm) or US8 (5.0 mm)

Abbreviations:  k = knit, YO = yarn over, K2tog = knit 2 together

Notes:  The needle size again depends on your preference and whatever the yarn label suggests. It's not overly important so whatever is comfortable in your hands. 

The 'yarn over' means to bring your yarn to the front as if to purl. If you'd like to try something different you can try the KFB (knit front and back) instead of the yarn over. I've done both and it's a nice variation for the pattern.

Cast on 4 stitches

Row 1:  Knit 4

Row 2:  Knit 2, YO, knit across the row

Repeat row 2 until you have 40 stitches on your needle

Next row:  K1, k2tog, yarn over, k2tog, knit to end of row

Rep last row until 4 sts remain on your needle

Bind off and weave in yarn tails

Where To Find Free Dishcloth Knitting Patterns

KnitPicks  They have a huge selection of free dishcloth patterns. When you click on the link you'll go to their homepage. Click on their patterns and then you'll find their huge stash of dishcloth patterns.  

Simply Notable  This is a lovely blog! And for a nice change you can knit up some round dishcloths. These are fun to knit and there's a knitting tutorial to show you how to make them.

Yarnspirations  I found some lovely dishcloth patterns here that I think you'll enjoy.

Happy Knitting

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Wondering how much yarn you need?

This knitting calculator is great