I may have started aggressively pursuing making my own products to reduce the amount of chemicals in my family’s life and spend less time and money in the checkout lane, but I realized recently that I have another reason:
Even if I suddenly found out that Tide was totally chemical free and cost less than my homemade stuff…I still wouldn’t use it. I don’t like it anymore. Same with store-bought breads, goat cheese, shampoos, soaps, tortillas, deodorant, baby wipes, etc. I’d actually be willing to PAY MORE to have the ingredients to make my own stuff then to go back to store brands. Weird!!!
Well, I’m here to testify that I now feel the same way about homemade cotton dishcloths. They just work better. And after I used them a few times, I just couldn’t bring myself to go back. So, here’s an easy dishcloth pattern adapted from this easy afghan pattern.
DISHCLOTH:
Using H needle and worsted weight cotton–Ch 34.
Row 1 Sc and dc in 2nd ch from hook, *skip 1 ch, sc and dc in next ch; rep from * across (34 sts). Ch 1, turn.
Row 2 Sc and dc in first dc, *skip next sc, sc and dc in next dc; rep from * across, skip last sc. Rep row 2 for pat until desired length, do not fasten off. Ch 1, turn.
TRIM: Sc in each dc and dc in each sc along the edge to corner, hdc and sc in corner, then work along side edge *sc into each dc “bump” of scallop and dc into each “valley” or “ditch” of scallop*’ to next corner, working an extra 2 sc at last st, sc evenly across foundation to next corner, hdc and dc in corner, then work along side edge as for other side edge (from * to *) working an extra 2 sc at last st, join with slip slip st to beg sc. Fasten off.
Scrubby-scrubby,
Ivory
Thanks for the pattern. I hope to try it out soon. Homemade dishcloths are so much nicer. I especially like them for washing baby faces. They are much, much softer than commercially made wash cloths.
You are welcome. They really are so much softer. I’m a recent, yet permanent convert.
I love your blog–it’s so informative and fun. Maybe I missed it, but in the directions for the Trim, I don’t see the second *. I’ve not started this project, though, so maybe it will be obvious where it should be when I do. I look forward to making this–
Wait–I found it! Sorry.
Thanks for sharing the pattern! I am making tons of dishcloths to sell at a bazaar in a few weeks, and am always looking for new patterns. I get bored easily, so I make each one a little different. One of my faves is just a simple one. It looks lacy, but doesn’t leave you with large spaces, so it is functional. I will try to explain it. Chain enough to get the width you want. I do about 25. sc in 3rd ch from hook and each ch across, turn, chain two and one hdc in first sc. Skip one sc, two hdc in next. Just keep doing that until you have a square. To finish, go all around in sc, with 3sc in each corner. You can leave it that way, or add a border. I hope that is followable!
I also prefer making my own things, for my family. Cheers!
Noelani
I just wanted to say thanks for the pattern.
Noelani….I would like to make some of your dishcloths, I am on Ravelry, I was wondering if I could make these cloths and post it on Ravelry with your name on my project page? If not ….I wont do it.
I also prefer making dishcloths and washcloths for my Family too.
They love the Tunisian basic stitch washcloths using I Love This Cotton from Hobby Lobby