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.

Next Pattern:

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?