Knit Dishcloths

Ever since I can remember, my mom, grandmother, and other friends and relatives have been knitting dishcloths, and I always saw myself carrying on with it. This fall, I started knitting more often and decided to make a few to give away as gifts for Christmas. I didn't end up having a lot made but I had enough to give my mom and grand mothers. I plan on continuing on and building a stash to not only have for myself, but for more gifts.

I got the pattern for these two from a lady I work with. I thought it was different than any handmade dishcloth I had seen and was excited to try it. It turned out to be pretty easy but is definitely the most tedious and time consuming of all the ones I've made. You knit in four-row sections and I found it best to finish a whole row in each sitting so I wouldn't lose my place. It was pretty easy to count the sections (need 13 in all). Here is the pattern:

Hand-Knit Dishcloth

#5 Needle
cast on 40 sts.
Knit 2 rows

Row #1: K2, (P1K1)-to last 3, K3
Row #2: K2, (P1K1)-to last 3, K3        ***Rows1-4 = 1 pattern
Row #3: Knit
Row #4: Knit

Repeat 4 rounds until 13 patterns, cast off

These three are all from the same pattern. They are the traditional dishcloths that my family members always made. I find they are fairly quick to whip up (I usually get one done in two evenings) and they are a very good place to start if you're new to knitting.

Here is the pattern:

Knitted Dishcloth (from back of Bernat yarn label)

1 pair 6mm knitting needles (US 10)

Cast on 4 sts. 

Row 1: Knit across

Row 2: K2, YO (yarn over), Knit to end of row

Repeat Row 2 until there are 43 sts on needle

1st Decrease Row: K1, K2together, YO, K2tog., K to end of row

Continue working decrease row until 4 sts. remain.

Cast off & sew in ends. 

This pattern is the for sure the easiest to follow and probably the best one to start on if you're new to knitting!

This one is also pretty simple but the edges are closed in and slightly different from the ones above. I don't find this one as quick as the others either. Here is this pattern:

Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Knit Dishcloth

Solids (50g) : 1 ball OR Ombres, Twists, Stripes (42.5g): 2balls
**I knit this pattern using the stripes yarn and I got away with using just one ball... barely. It just depends on your tension (how tightly you knit).

Size 5.5mm (US9) knitting needles

Cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: Knit
 Row 2: K1, Inc.1 (knit front and back of same stitch), K to end
Repeat last Row to 53sts.
1st Dec. Row: K2, K2tog., K to end of row
                                                              Repeat last row to 3 st, Cast off & sew in ends.

For all of these patterns I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (4 Ply Worsted Weight), but I'm sure you could use other yarns, just make sure they're going to be absorbent. They all require approximately one skein (50g), and I'm trying to figure out what to knit with all the little ends that are left over, not enough to make anything out of. Any ideas?

There are a lot more great patterns here: www.bernat.com 

If you know of any other websites with great free patterns, please share!

These are only a few of the patterns I have, and I am always welcome to sharing and learning new ones!  If you have any patterns you like to share you can comment or leave a link to it below. I look forward to hearing what you think of them and to see all the dishcloth possibilities! Happy Knitting!