A Little Esox Dishcloth

As Earth Day approaches and while I'm still on a mission to replace all of my dishcloths and washcloths with handmade ones, I've come up with a couple of new patterns. Today's pattern has a little bit of texture and a little bit of color pooling too.

For this dishcloth, all you need is a 4.0 mm/G hook and about 2.5 oz of cotton yarn. (The yarn I used is a pretty, variegated yarn I picked in the mill ends bin at Joann's.)

Abbreviations Used:

Ch: chain

Hdc: half double crochet

Sc: single crochet

Ss: slip stitch

St: stitch/stitches

Instructions:

Row 1: Ch 36, sc in 2nd chain from hook and each across. Ch 1, turn. (35 st)

Row 2: Hdc in first st, ss is next. *Hdc in next, ss in next* repeat from * to * across until one st remains. Hdc in last st, ch 1 and turn. (35 st)

Repeat row 2 until piece measures 9" in length. 

Sc evenly around with 3 sc in each corner st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Final measurement is approx. 9" x 9"

Lazy Days Dishcloth

     I've decided to replace all of my worn out dishcloths and washcloths with handmade ones. I find that knit and crochet cloths are more durable, clean up messes very well and last FOREVER. I love how soft and cushy they feel too. So when cotton yarn is on sale, I buy a few cakes or skeins and try to come up with a new pattern. Today's dishcloth uses a very versatile stitch pattern and it's a super easy two row repeat.

     For this dishcloth, I used a 4.0 mm (G) hook and 2 oz of Sugar' n Cream cotton yarn in the colorway Batik.

Notes:

• Make the chain 1 at the beginning of the even rows a little longer to accommodate the first dc.
• Final dimensions are 9" x 9"

Instructions:

Row 1: Ch 36. Sc in 2nd chain from hook, dc in next. *sc in next, dc in next* repeat from * to * until one chain remains. Sc in last chain. Ch 1 and turn. (35 stitches)
Row 2: Dc in first stitch, sc in next.*Dc in next, sc in next* repeat from * to * until one stitch remains. Dc in last stitch, Ch 1 and turn. (35 stitches)

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until piece measures roughly 9 inches.

For the border, you can sc evenly all the way around or just leave it without. I don't mind the way it looks without the border.

Little V's Dishcloth

I love handmade dishcloths. I love how creative you can be with the stitch patterns. I also love trying out stitch patterns I have never tried before. I whipped up this dishcloth one evening after several attempts (and loads of frogging) to figure out what I wanted to make with some variegated cotton yarn. Then I saw this stitch pattern in one of my books. It's a fairly simple pattern and I definitely plan on using it in other future patterns.

Finished Size: 9 in x 9.5 in

Gauge is 16 st and 18 rows is 4 inch square

(gauge is not really necessary for this pattern)

Materials:
WW cotton yarn (I used I Love This Cotton)
Size 6 straight needles
yarn needle
scissors

Abbreviations Used:
BO - bind off
CO - cast on
K - knit
K1b - knit stitch one row below (see photos below)
P - purl
SL1P - slip one stitch purlwise
ST - stitch/stitches

CO 41 st in your preferred CO method.
Row 1: SL1P, k38, p1
Row 2-3: Repeat row 1
Row 4: SL1P, k2, *K1b, k*, repeat from * to * across to last 4 st, K1b, k2, p1.
Row 5: SL1P, k38, p1
Row 6: SL1P, k2, *k, k1b*, repeat from * to * across to last 4 st, k3, p1.
Row 7: SL1P, k38, p1

Repeat rows 4-7 until work measures approximately 8.5 inches in length.
SL1P, k38, p1.
Repeat this last row two more times. BO and weave in ends.

Notes to remember:
*Odd numbered rows are the right side.
*The first stitch of each row will always be slipped as if to purl.
*The last stitch of each row will always be purled.

*To make this dishcloth bigger or smaller, simply adjust your number of cast on stitches to a multiple of 2 + 1.

Knit Stitch One Row Below (K1B)

Wrong Side View of K1B