Make the washing up less of a chore with these attractive knitted dishcloths. Choose from moss stitch or a diamond pattern, or make both! The clever construction will keep you on your toes, but these are still relatively quick knits. Why not whip up a stack of them as a thoughtful and practical housewarming present?
Cotton yarn is perfect for these dishcloths because it’s so sturdy and durable. We've used Stylecraft Classique Cotton DK, a 100% cotton yarn that comes in a range of bright shades – perfect for adding a pop of colour to your kitchen.
Sarah Dennis's dishcloth pattern first appeared in Simply Knitting issue 132, and we're delighted to be able to give it to you for free! When you've finished knitting this, don't forget to check out the rest of our free knitting patterns and our home knitting patterns.
To make these dishcloths you will need
- Stylecraft, Classique Cotton DK (100% cotton, 100g/184m), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Greek Blue (3095), Yarn B White (3660)
- For yarn stockists visit Stylecraft
- A pair of 3¾mm knitting needles
- Stitch holders
Tension
Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 22 sts and 30 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 3¾mm needles
Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 22 sts and 39 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over moss st using 3¾mm needles
Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 22 sts and 35 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over diamond pattern using 3¾mm needles
Notes
The single stitches cast on by the edges are used to sew up the side seams.
This pattern uses our standard knitting abbreviations.
Knitted dishcloth pattern: moss stitch
Cast on 55 sts using 3¾mm needles and Yarn A.
Row 1 K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Row 1 forms moss st pattern. Continue in moss st and work a further 9 rows.
Row 11 Patt 7, sl these 7 sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn A.
Join in Yarn B, K41, leave rem 7 sts on a stitch holder. [41 sts]
Row 12 Purl.
Row 13 Knit.
Rows 12 & 13 form stocking stitch (st st). Continue in st st and work a further 7 rows.
Row 21 K7, sl these sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn B.
Rejoin Yarn A. K27, leave rem 7 sts on a st holder. [27 sts]
Row 22 K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end of row.
Repeat row 22 until work measures 18cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Sl these 27 sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn A.
With RS facing, rejoin Yarn A to 7 sts left on st holder at end of row 21.
Next row Cast on 1 st, K to end. [8 sts]
Starting with a purl row, work in st st on these 8 sts until work measures 18cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Sl these 8 sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn B.
With WS facing, rejoin Yarn B to 7 sts left on st holder at beg of row 21.
Next row Cast on 1 st, P to end. [8 sts]
Starting with a knit row, work in st st on these 8 sts until work measures 18cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Next row K6, k2tog, knit across 27 sts from st holder, work across 8 sts on st holder as follows: k2tog, K6. [41 sts]
Starting with a purl row, work 9 rows st st. Sl these 41 sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn B.
With RS facing, rejoin Yarn A to 7 sts left on st holder at end of row 11.
Next row Cast on 1 st, *P1, K1; rep from * to end. [8 sts]
Next row *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Next row *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows form moss st border.
Continue in moss st until work measures 21cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Sl these 8 sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn A.
With WS facing, rejoin Yarn A to 7 sts left on stitch holder at beg of row 11.
Next row Cast on 1 st, *P1, K1; rep from * to end. [8 sts]
Next row *K1, P1; rep from * to end.
Next row *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Last 2 rows form moss st border.
Continue in moss st until work measures 21cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Next row (K1, P1) 3 times, k2tog, knit across 41 sts from st holder, knit across 8 sts on st holder as follows: k2tog, (P1, K1) 3 times. [55 sts]
Next row K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end.
Repeat last row 9 times more.
Cast off in moss st (with WS facing).
Knitted dishcloth pattern: diamond panel
Cast on 55 sts using 3¾mm needles and Yarn B.
Row 1 K3, *P1, K7; rep from * to last 4 sts, P1, K3.
Row 2 P2, *K1, P1, K1, P5; rep from * to last 5 sts, K1, P1, K1, P2.
Row 3 K1, *P1, K3; rep from * to last 2 sts, P1, K1.
Row 4 *K1, P5, K1, P1; rep from * to last 7 sts, K1, P5, K1.
Row 5 *K7, P1; rep from * to last 7 sts, K7.
Row 6 As row 4.
Row 7 As row 3.
Row 8 As row 2.
Row 9 K3, *P1, K7; rep from * to last 4 sts, P1, K3.
Row 10 P2, K1, P1, K1, P45, K1, P1, K1, P2.
Row 11 K1, P1, K3, P1, K1, sl these 7 sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn B.
Join in Yarn A, K41, leave rem 7 sts on a stitch holder. [41 sts]
Row 12 Purl.
Row 13 Knit.
Rows 12 & 13 form st st. Continue in st st and work a further 7 rows.
Row 21 K7, sl these sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn A.
Rejoin Yarn B. K27, leave rem 7 sts on a st holder. [27 sts]
Row 22 P5, *K1, P7; rep from * to last 6 sts, K1, P5.
Row 23 K4, *P1, K1, P1, K5; rep from * to last 7 sts, P1, K1, P1, K4.
Row 24 *P3, K1; rep from * to last 3 sts, P3.
Row 25 *P1, K1, P1, K5; rep from * to last 3 sts, P1, K1, P1.
Row 26 P1, *K1, P7; rep from * to last 2 sts, K1, P1.
Row 27 As row 25.
Row 28 As row 24.
Row 29 As row 23.
Rows 22–29 form diamond panel patt. Continue in patt until work measures 18cm from cast-on edge, ending with a patt row 22. Sl these 27 sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn B.
With RS facing, rejoin Yarn A to 7 sts left on st holder at end of row 21.
Next row Cast on 1 st, K to end. [8 sts]
Starting with a purl row, work in st st on these 8 sts until work measures 18cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row. Sl these 8 sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn A.
With WS facing, rejoin Yarn A to 7 sts left on st holder at beg of row 21.
Next row Cast on 1 st, purl to end. [8 sts]
Starting with a knit row, work in st st on these 8 sts until work measures 18cm from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
Next row K6, k2tog, knit across 27 sts from st holder, work across 8 sts on st holder as follows: k2tog, K6. [41 sts]
Starting with a purl row, work 9 rows st st. Sl these 41 sts onto a st holder. Break Yarn A.
With RS facing, rejoin Yarn B to 7 sts left on st holder at end of row 11.
Next row Cast on 1 st, K2, P1, K3, P1, K1. [8 sts]
Row 12 K1, P5, K1, P1.
Row 13 P1, K7.
Row 14 As row 12.
Row 15 K2, P1, K3, P1, K1.
Row 16 P2, K1, P1, K1, P3.
Row 17 K4, P1, K3.
Row 18 As row 16.
Row 19 K2, P1, K3, P1, K1.
Rows 12–19 form diamond border.
Continue in patt until work measures 21cm from cast-on edge, ending with row 14 of patt. Sl these 8 sts onto a stitch holder. Break Yarn B.
With WS facing, rejoin Yarn B to 7 sts left on stitch holder at beg of row 11.
Next row Cast on 1 st, P1, K1, P5, K1. [8 sts]
Row 13 K7, P1.
Row 14 P1, K1, P5, K1.
Row 15 K1, P1, K3, P1, K2.
Row 16 P3, K1, P1, K1, P2.
Row 17 K3, P1, K4.
Row 18 As row 16.
Row 19 As row 15.
Row 20 P1, K1, P5, K1.
Rows 13–20 form diamond border. Continue in patt until work measures 21cm from cast-on edge, ending with row 14 of patt.
Next row K1, P1, K3, P1, k2tog, K across 41 sts from st holder, knit across 8 sts on st holder as follows: k2tog, P1, K3, P1, K1. [55 sts]
Next row P2, K1, P1, K1, P45, K1, P1, K1, P2.
Work rows 1–8 once more.
Cast off working row 9.
Hanging loop for dishcloths (optional)
Cast on 27 sts with 3¾mm needles.
Row 1 K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end of row.
Repeat row 1 twice more.
Cast off in moss st.
Making up the dishcloths
Join side seams. Sew hanging loop to corner of cloth.
Download your free knitted dishcloth pattern
Take this dishcloth knitting pattern with you wherever you are with our free PDF download.
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