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25 Free & Easy Knit Dishcloth Patterns

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Looking for a fun and functional project to knit? Look no further than knitted dishcloths! Dishcloths and washcloths are a great way to use up leftover scrap yarn, and they make wonderful gifts for friends and family. In this blog post, we’ll share 25 of our favorite free knit dishcloth patterns.

a garter sttich swatch on the needles on a gray background

Easy Knit Dishcloth Patterns

Looking for a simple, practical project? What about a quick and easy dishcloth?

Knitted dishcloths and washcloths are the perfect instant gratification project – they’re easy to make and can be finished in an afternoon. Here are a few more reasons why we love knitting dishcloths:

  • They’re great for using up leftover cotton yarn.
  • They’re portable and perfect for travel knitting while waiting at the bus stop or riding in the car.
  • Dishcloths are small – not much bigger than a gauge swatch – so they’re the perfect size for practicing new stitches and knitting techniques.
  • And, of course, knit dishcloths make great gifts. A set of three or four different colored and patterned dishcloths makes a lovely hostess gift or housewarming present.

Supplies You’ll Need

You don’t need a lot of supplies to knit a dishcloth – just the basics!

Favorite Cotton Yarn for Dishcloths

Cotton is the most popular yarn choice for dishcloths and washcloths due to its washability and absorbance. For your convenience, I’ve included a recommended yarn for each pattern below. However, feel free to substitute another cotton or cotton blend of the same weight. 

Some of my favorite dishcloth yarns include Lily Sugar’ n Cream, Dishie, and Peaches and Creme.

Tips for Knitting Dishcloths

Here are a few tips for knitting dishcloths and washcloths.

Use durable, cotton yarn.

Cotton yarn is the best choice for dishcloths because it’s absorbent and holds up well in the wash. Avoid acrylic yarns, which are not very absorbent and tend to simply spread water around.

Check gauge if the finished size matters.

If the finished size is important to you, check your gauge before getting started. Another reason to check your gauge is if you’re following a pattern that promises a specified number of washcloths per skein of yarn (as this will only be accurate if your gauge is correct). 

Use dishcloths as an opportunity to test new stitches or techniques

When it comes to dishcloths, you don’t have much to lose. They don’t take a lot of yarn or a lot of time. So, if you have new stitches or techniques that you want to learn or practice, a dishcloth is the perfect place to try them out!

Use textured patterns and stitches for maximum scrubbing power.

Textured dishcloths are the most abrasive and effective for removing tough grime and stains from dishes and countertops. Nearly all the dishcloths included below offer beautiful textured patterns for the best scrubbing results.

25 Free & Easy Knitted Dishcloth Patterns

Enjoy these free dishcloth knitting patterns! Happy knitting!

FAQs About Knitted Dishcloths

In this section, you’ll see commonly asked questions about knitting dishcloths.

How many skeins of yarn does it take to knit a dishcloth?

Nearly all dishcloth and washcloth patterns take less than one regular skein of yarn. In fact, you may even be able to get a set of dishcloths out of your skein, depending on its yardage.

What kind of knitting needles are best for knit dishcloths?

Most dishcloths are made with medium-size knitting needles, often U.S. size 6 or 7. You can knit them with straight or circular needles, depending on your preference. I find that wooden needles paired with cotton yarn give me too much friction for comfortable knitting – so I prefer to use metal needles for dishcloths.

More Knitting Patterns

Once you finish your stack of dishcloths, check out some of our other favorite knitting patterns.

What’s Next?

Pin this post: Save this tutorial to your Pinterest boards so that you can come back to it later.

Leave a comment: We love to hear your feedback. Tell me in the comments below!

Share on Instagram or Facebook: When you make this project, share it on social media and tag me @sarahmaker_. We love to see what you make!

Have questions? Join the Facebook Group!

We hope this article was useful for you! If you have any additional questions, feel free to join my Facebook Group. We created this group for you to share pictures, ask questions, and help each other out.

Judy

Monday 15th of January 2024

This is a great round-up! Thank you for sharing it with us. I'm definitely going to try a few of them.

Joan Collins

Wednesday 1st of November 2023

Sara, This is wonderful as it gives me inspiration to try other patterns. I have been working on an old pattern called The Almost Lost Washcloth and need help with it. If you know anyone who has worked on this pattern, please put them in contact with me.

Thank you.