Free Crochet Patterns for Dishcloths & Washcloths

Why dishcloths are the best small crochet project

A dishcloth is finished before your interest runs out, generally uses just one ball of cotton, and gets used every single day. It is also the cheapest possible way to learn a new stitch: if the woven stitch or a shell repeat goes wrong, you have only lost an hour and a small amount of cotton, not a jumper you’ve been working on for hours on end. The patterns here include round dishcloths worked outwards from a magic ring, square cloths worked in rows, granny square washcloths, cascading shell designs, and novelty scrubbies including pumpkin and spider web shapes for autumn.

Cotton is the whole point

Use cotton, and preferably a plain worsted or aran weight kitchen cotton such as the Sugar 'n Cream and Handicrafter yarns these patterns are written for. Cotton absorbs water, scrubs without scratching, survives a hot wash and does not melt against a warm pan. Acrylic does almost none of that: it repels water, goes limp and can be damaged by heat. Scrubby yarns are the exception and are deliberately textured for stuck-on pans, and they are often held together with cotton so the cloth has body. A 50g to 71g ball of cotton is typically enough for one cloth, sometimes two if the design is small.

• Absolute beginner: a square cloth in double crochet rows, turning at the end of each row.
• First shaped piece: a round dishcloth from a magic ring, which teaches even increases.
• First motif: a granny square washcloth, the gateway to blankets.
• First texture: the woven stitch, which alternates stitches into spaces for a thick, grippy cloth.
• First lace: a shell or lacy cloth, better as a face washcloth than for scrubbing.

Hooks, size and tension

Most kitchen cottons are happy on a 4mm to 5mm hook. Work slightly tighter than you would for a garment: a dense cloth scrubs better and holds its shape through the wash, while a loose one sags and snags on cutlery. A finished dishcloth is usually somewhere around 20 to 25cm square, but nothing depends on exact tension here, which is precisely why these make good practice pieces. If your square is coming out as a trapezium, you are almost certainly missing the last stitch of the row; count your stitches for the first few rows until the habit sticks.

Making them into gifts

Three cloths, a bar of soap and a length of ribbon make a genuinely useful present, and a set in seasonal colours works for housewarmings, teacher gifts and Christmas. A softer version in fine cotton makes a face washcloth for a new baby. Because they are small, they are also the ideal way to use up cotton oddments, and mismatched cloths in a set look deliberate rather than thrifty if you keep to one stitch pattern throughout.

Washing and how long they last

Machine wash cotton cloths hot with towels and tumble dry if you like; they will shrink a little and firm up on the first wash, which improves them. Do not use fabric softener, as it coats the fibres and reduces absorbency. Expect a well-made cotton cloth to last months of daily use before it thins; when it does, it still has a life as a cleaning rag. Weave the ends in properly and split the yarn as you go, because the constant wringing of a dishcloth will work a lazily woven tail loose within a fortnight.

Crochet dishcloth questions

Are these free crochet dishcloth patterns available as PDFs? Yes, they are free downloadable PDF patterns you can print or read on screen.

What is the best yarn for a crochet dishcloth? Worsted or aran weight 100 per cent cotton. It absorbs water, scrubs well and takes a hot wash.

What size hook should I use? Usually 4mm to 5mm, worked a little tighter than usual for a firm cloth.

How much yarn does one dishcloth take? Generally a single ball of kitchen cotton, and small designs may give you two cloths from one.

Which pattern suits a complete beginner? A square cloth worked in rows of double crochet, then a round cloth from a magic ring as your next step.