Easy Dishcloth Knitting Patterns

I guess it was after I did my post on washcloth knitting patterns that Pinterest decided I really wanted to see a lot of knit dishcloths and towels. Since that post was strictly washcloths I decided I should share some of the towels, too (though of course they could be knit to washcloth size, too, just make a square instead of a rectangle). With these patterns you’ll be ready to do all your cleaning chores, just as soon as you finish one more row!

Linen stitch is one of my favorite basic knitting stitches that makes a nice solid fabric, which is just what you’d want for a dish towel. This pattern from Arianna Frasca uses linen stitch striped in two colors to make a totally classic, completely gift-worthy knit towel.

The Cilantro Tea Towel from Whileberry is another great pattern that uses basic knits and purls for a fun textured look. It’s shown in a solid color but you could also work the moss stitch section in one color and the rest of the body in another.

Cluck Cluck Boots has another easy dish towel worked in a reversible textured stitch pattern. It looks like rows of seed stitch broken up with rows of garter stitch, so it should be a pretty quick and easy project no matter your skill level.

Purl Soho’s Farmhouse Dishtowels are worked in white with a dash of color at each end for a totally classic look, though of course they can be worked in other colors if white doesn’t seem like a good choice for your lifestyle. This one is a little bit higher in skill level because for part of the pattern you are sliding the work instead of turning it so you work the same row in different colors from the same side of the work. But one you understand how to do it, it’s not really difficult.

The Stay Put Kitchen Towel from Fancy Step Knits on Etsy is perfect for hanging over the oven or dishwasher handle. It’s worked in garter stitch so it’s super easy even if you’re a newer knitter, and the keyhole used to hold the towel in place is just a bind off and cast on.

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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