I've noticed that this is quite a trend lately. In the wake of eco and up cycled goods, lots of people are looking for the greener, friendlier options for their regular household items. Dish cloths, amazingly, are high on the list. They replace those grubby sponges and are equally good at scrubbing and wiping up messes. The best part? You can throw them in the washing machine when they get dirty. (Goodbye sponge!)
So here's the deal, you'll want to use worsted weight cotton yarn for this project. (Worsted weight just means the yarn is smooth and not nappy.) Wool and other yarns may require special washing care (and wool will shrink when you toss it in the dryer), so it's best to stick with cotton. We want this to be as EASY as possible—otherwise no one will bother using it.
SO, if you have a stash of cotton yarn, you can try your hand at making these handmade wash & dish cloths. Like most things on this blog, this is a beginner level project.
I've included a list of pattern resources below for all manner of crocheted (and knitted) washcloths and dishcloths.
Supplies:
- Crochet hook (H or J seem to be the most often suggested sizes)
- Worsted weight cotton yarn
- Tapestry needle (or a needle with a big enough eye to fit the thickness of the yarn)
- Scissors.
Abbreviations:
Simple Pattern:
(from about.com)
Ch 35.
Row 1: Sc in 3rd ch from hook. [Ch 1, skip next ch, sc in next ch.] Rep sequence in brackets across the entire row. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: Sc in 1st sc, skip 1st ch, [sc in next sc, ch 1, skip next ch.] Rep sequence in brackets across the entire row. Ch 1, turn. There will be 17 sc crochet stitches and 16 ch stitches in this row.
Design Notes: In rows 2 and up, you may find that you achieve straighter edges by crocheting the last stitch into the turning chain instead of crocheting it into the last sc st. It can be done either way, depending on the look preferred, as long as it is consistent across all of the rows.
Repeat row 2 until your dishcloth is square.
End off. Weave in ends.
Presentation
Once finished, you can download and print this free dishcloth wrapper (from This Southern Girl Can), to package your homemade gift (or you could just fold it into a square and tie it with string)
Video Tutorials
Don't know how to knit or crochet? No problem! YouTube has no shortage of tutorial videos that show you how to master these simple stitches.
Resources for other patterns:
Petals to Picots: Crunchy Stitch Crocheted Dish Cloth Pattern (like in the picture above)
Ravelry: free crocheted wash cloth pattern
Stitch 11: simple and practical dishcloth
