Textured Blocks Dishcloth in Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie - LM5937 - Downloadable PDF

Textured Blocks Dishcloth in Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie (LM5937) – Free Crochet Pattern by Cassandra Bibler

About This Crochet Pattern

The Textured Blocks Dishcloth (LM5937) is a free, downloadable PDF crochet pattern designed by Cassandra Bibler for Red Heart. This beginner-friendly project produces a 7" x 7" (18 cm x 18 cm) dishcloth or washcloth — a practical, quick-to-finish make that is perfect for crocheters who are just learning to work with different stitch types and loop variations. The finished cloth is ideal for kitchen or bathroom use, and its textured surface makes it especially effective as a scrubbing cloth.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a single square dishcloth or washcloth measuring 7 inches by 7 inches. The design features a textured blocks surface created by alternating stitch heights and strategic use of chain spaces worked over stitches from the row below. The result is a visually interesting grid-like texture that also adds functional scrubbing power — especially when worked in the recommended yarn.

Materials Required

• Yarn: RED HEART® Scrubby Smoothie®, 1 ball in colorway 9313 Loofa — a worsted weight yarn specifically engineered for scrubbing and cleaning tasks. Its unique fiber composition gives the finished cloth gentle abrasive properties without being harsh on surfaces.
• Crochet Hook: Susan Bates® crochet hook, size 5.5mm [US I-9]
• Notions: Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Stitches Used

This pattern is an excellent beginner project because it introduces several fundamental crochet stitches within a small, manageable swatch. The stitches used include:

• Chain (ch) – used for the foundation chain and for creating decorative chain spaces within the textured block rows
• Single Crochet (sc) – used in the foundation rows to establish a firm, even base
• Half Double Crochet (hdc) – used in alternating textured rows to create variation in stitch height
• Double Crochet (dc) – used in alternating textured rows alongside chain spaces to build the block pattern

Techniques Used

While the stitches themselves are beginner-level, this pattern introduces several important crochet techniques that help build foundational skills:

• Working in Back Loops Only (BLO) – Several rows instruct the crocheter to work exclusively in the back loops of stitches. This technique creates a subtle ridge on the fabric and is a key element in giving the dishcloth its textured, dimensional appearance.
• Working in Both Loops – Certain stitches within the textured rows are worked through both loops as usual, creating contrast with the back-loop-only sections.
• Chain Spaces with Skip Stitches – Rows incorporate ch 2, skip 2 sts sequences that create open spaces in the fabric, which are then worked over in subsequent rows to build the block effect.
• Working Over a Chain Space into Stitches in the Row Below – This technique, used in the hdc rows, involves reaching down past the chain space of the current row to insert the hook into the stitches of the previous row. This closes up the open spaces and creates the signature raised, block-like texture of the design.
• Turning Chains as Counted Stitches – The pattern uses ch 3 as a counted double crochet and ch 2 as a counted half double crochet, a standard convention that beginners will benefit from practicing here.
• Weaving in Ends – The finishing step involves securing yarn tails with a yarn needle for a clean, polished result.

Pattern Construction Overview

The dishcloth begins with a foundation chain of 25, which is then worked into to produce 24 single crochet stitches across Row 1.