Simple Knitted Dishcloth – Free Pattern

When you are learning how to knit, a simple dishcloth is the ultimate dream project. It's small, quick to finish, and only requires you to learn three things: casting on, the knit stitch, and binding off. The result is a lovely, practical washcloth you will actually use!

Materials and Tools

• Yarn: 1 skein (1.8 oz50 g) of cotton yarn in DK weight — that is, a yarn whose recommended needle is US 64 mm. Cotton is absorbent, which is why it suits a dishcloth. Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK (100% cotton, 137 yards125 meters per 1.8 oz50 g) and DROPS Cotton Light (50% cotton, 50% polyester, 115 yards105 meters per 1.8 oz50 g) both hit this weight.
• Needles: Size US 64 mm straight or circular needles (preferably bamboo or wood, as the yarn slips off less easily).
• Other tools: Scissors and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Sources: DROPS Cotton Light at Garnstudio states 50% cotton / 50% polyester, 105 m per 50 g, a recommended needle of US 6 (4 mm) and 21 stitches over 4 in (10 cm). Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK at LoveCrafts, which owns the brand, states 100% cotton and 125 m (137 yds) per 50 g.

Gauge and Sizing

For a simple dishcloth, gauge is not critical, but it's a great opportunity to practice measuring it! A DK yarn on US 64 mm needles typically works out around 21–22 stitches per 4 in10 cm in stockinette. Garter stitch behaves slightly differently, so use this project to measure your own.

Sizing: At 50 stitches the cloth comes out roughly 9.1 in23 cm wide. Knit tighter or looser and it will be correspondingly narrower or wider — which does not matter here. That is why the pattern says "knit until it is as long as it is wide" instead of giving a height.

Step-by-Step Pattern

1. Cast on: Cast on 50 stitches on size US 64 mm needles. We recommend using the Long-Tail Cast-On method.
2. Knit the cloth:
   • Knit all stitches on the needle (knit stitch).
   • Turn your work.
   • Repeat: Knit all stitches back again.
   Continue this way, back and forth, until your dishcloth is as long as it is wide. Lay it flat and measure — when the height matches the width, you are done. This stitch pattern is called garter stitch because it forms ridges on both sides.
3. Bind off: Bind off all stitches loosely, so that the edge doesn't roll or pinch.

Finishing and Weaving Ends

When you have bound off, cut the yarn leaving a tail of about 5.9 in15 cm. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle. Weave the end invisibly through the stitches on the back side of the cloth (sew about 1.6 in4 cm in one direction, and then 1 in2.5 cm back to lock it). Repeat with the tail from the cast-on edge.

Trim the excess threads close to the fabric. Congratulations, you have completed your very first knitted dishcloth!