I enjoy knitting dishcloths.

They’re colorful, fast, and can be as challenging as you like. Their nearly universal usefulness makes them treasures.  An added bonus:  I like them better than the store-bought kind.

When they fade or become a little worn, they still make great cleaning cloths.  My frugal ancestors would have loved them!  And for all I know did …

Mitered Dishcloth

I like to vary the style, but still like garter stitch best.

I’m intrigued with the mitered ones.  Knitting with 2 yarn strands makes a thicker cloth, better for scrubbing.  Because I knit fairly loosely, I can also use larger needles and still get a tight weave.

I like starting with a longer row, and decreasing to the point.  Here’s a pattern I designed:

Materials:

  • Approx. 1-1/2 ounces of cotton knitting worsted yarn (e.g. Lily’s Sugar ‘n Cream)
  • Size 8 knitting needles or size for gauge or gauge you want

Gauge:

  • 14 stitches = 4 inches with 2 strands of yarn
  • 27 rows = 4 inches with 2 strands of yarn

Directions:

  • Cast on 40 stitches.
  • Row 1:  Knit 20 stitches, yarn over 1 stitch, knit 20 stitches. (41 stitches)

    Optional Tip: Place a marker before the decrease stitches, moving it each row, to keep track of the decreases. Or, place a marker before the center stitch (the yarn over stitch on Row 1) to mark the center of the row.

  • Row 2 and all even rows:  Knit all stitches.
  • Row 3: Knit 18 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 18 stitches (39 stitches)
  • Row 5:  Knit 17 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 17 stitches (37 stitches)
  • Row 7: Knit 16 stitches, knit 2 together, knit 1, knit 2 together, knit 16 stitches (35 stitches)
  • Continue decreasing 2 stitches on every odd row until you have 3 stitches left, Row 37.
  • Row 38:  Bind off 3 stitches as if to purl.

    Optional Tip: If you prefer, bind off as if to knit.  Hey, it’s just a dishcloth!  :-D Feel free to personalize it for your use.

  • Break yarn & end.  Weave in ends.

Download a free pdf of this pattern here.

Keep knitting to your heart’s delight — or someone else’s,

Ina

The Knitting Yarn

P.S. When you’re looking for an easy dishcloth and dishtowel set, check out my Garter Ripple Set.

Be Sociable, Share!