Crochet Dishcloths
By Rachel Choi – 13 Comments| Dishcloths can be fun, fast and environmentally friendly to make! But some of you out there may be hesitant to make them. I remember when I made my first crochet dishcloth, I was so scared to use it, because I thought that I would mess it up! Why would I work so hard to crochet something if I was going to wipe dishes and clean the counters with it? To my surprised the dishcloth worked great and I didn’t really mess it up, since I was able to toss it in the washing machine when I was done. Plus I could always make another if I wanted! |  |
Now I find that I clean more than I used to, because I want to hold my crocheted dishcloth in my hand! I love using dishcloths for cleaning surfaces (counters, tables, etc). I find that they are great for picking up crumbs or scrubbing messes. Dishcloths aren’t just for dishes anymore. Depending on the pattern you use, they can be used for general clean around the house or even bathing.
One thing I don’t like about crocheted dishcloths is that they take a long time to dry. Most dishcloths are crocheted with 100% cotton yarn. If you haven’t noticed, it is pretty thick and absorbent. On a side note, you can make dishcloths with other yarns and materials.
If you are one of those people that doesn’t think crocheting a dishcloth is right for you, I think you should give it a try, at least one time! It’s okay if you end up not liking it, but what if you’re missing out on a good thing?
Here are some of my easy and simple dishcloth patterns for you to try:
Crochet Pattern: Dishcloth with Ridges
Crochet Pattern: All Purpose Mesh Dishcloth
Crochet Pattern: Surface Cleaning Cloth
Crochet Pattern: Facial Cleaning Pads
You can always ask me for help if you get stuck.
Are you a fan of crocheting dishcloths? Why or why not?
I love them too! Making them is so relaxing and they clean so well! All of mine have been made out of cotton yarn, which I really like working with. I am very tempted to try Japanese antibacterial acrylic yarn and might treat myself to some after Christmas. Have you used this before, Rachel? Has anyone else?
Hey Kate, I haven’t used it before, but now that you mention it, I’m interested too!
I love making dishcloths. I use cotton yarn. They are near instant gratification…you can finish them in one setting. Also a good way to use up scraps ’cause like you said, you’re just going to do dishes with them. I finish one and when I put in on the table, people just have to pick it up, feel it and say…”Did you make this, I like this.” Thanks loads for all your patterns. Sally
I love to teach myself new stitch patterns by making dishcloths & face cloths. I have several stitch dictionaries and try the stitches out. They are the perfect size to experiment with.
I have not made a dishcloth because I remember how sour smelling the old cotton ones would get. I love the patterns, but have been using synthetic for a long time.
Last Christmas I put together ‘special presents’ for the males around me (my b/f, 2 sons and son-in-law). They got shoe-boxes that contained a bottle of washing-up/dishwash liquid, a pan scourer, a spong/scourer, a dish wash brush, a tea-towel (drying cloth) and a hand-made dishcloth in a gingerbread man design. These were beautifully wrapped in festive paper with instructions that they were only for use by the men and NOT the women. Obviously the women appreciated them far more than the men did – hehehe
I’d love to see a pattern for a crocheted Swifter cover, those stinking Swifter cloth refills are so pricey! I have seen patterns for knit covers, but never crocheted covers! Come on Rachel! Show us what you’ve got 🙂
I love this idea and used it to turn a UnFinished Object into a Usefull Finished Object! I just started to use it too and love it! It stays so soapy and catches crumbs like nobodys business. Thanks for all your tips and tricks, keep it up!
Rachel…Do you have a dishcloth pattern that is round? I copied your round face cloth that is double crochet, but wonder if you have another that is pretty and different and would make a nice gift. Thanks so much! Chris
Hey Chris, I don’t have a round dishcloth just yet, although I am planning to make more dishcloths soon. I’ll make a note to crochet a round one 🙂
Marvellous!!!
I am from Germany, and people here are more into knitting, so the ideas of what to crochet generally reduces to toy-animals, some clothes, doilies, curtains, afgahns and potholders…
As a teenager I got a crocheted potholder as a present from an aunt; it looked interesting because it had a nice “airy” pattern, but I thouhgt that it was quite unpractical (because how are you supposed to hold a hot pot with something full of holes???!!!).
Now I know, that she gave me a dishcloth without knowing that for herself! She probably had gotten some pattern from an anglophone friend and thought this was a pretty potholder *rofl*
– and therefore of course told me my present was a potholder…
I will buy some pure cotton yarn this evening and start crocheting “potholders with holes” (or ridges), because the concept is really great!
I had bought loofah for dishwashing (due to the environmental factor) but had to find out that it washes/rubs nicely but does not take up liquid… and little pieces of spinach love to stick to loofah as if glued to it… So a crocheted dishcloth (with or without holes) is a wonderful alternative! And I can even chose style and colour (which is not possible with loofah)!
I suppose that after the first one I will crochet more, so to have different dishclothes for different purposes (e.g. a ridged one for the dishes and pots, a meshed one or a granny-square one for stuff that needs foam, a simple stitch one for taking up spilled liquid, etc.).
And after that, I will crochet even more and give them away – but definitely not as potholders! *lol*
Thank you soooo much for sharing!!!
Kerstin
does anyone have any tips for keeping the dish cloths from getting that mildewy smell to them?
Yes. Dishcloths get the mildewy smell because they a not properly rung out after use. Every time you are done with dishes/clean up, whatever, you MUST ring out the cloth as much as possible without any dripping or water coming from it. If you make sure to do this and let your dish cloth dry completely between times of doing dishes, you will never have a mildewy washcloth.
Now, I do live in wyoming and have never tried this in a city with more than 0% humidity, so there is room for error