PIG Cloth

PIG Cloth Knitted Dishcloth

What is Being Made

The PIG Cloth is a charming knitted dishcloth designed by Ezcareknits and presented by Easy Care Baby Knits, LLC. This square washcloth measures 7 inches wide by 7¼ inches tall (18 cm x 18.5 cm), making it an ideal size for everyday kitchen use, dishwashing, or general cleaning tasks. The finished cloth features a decorative pattern that creates a pig design through strategic placement of knit and purl stitches across the fabric.

Craft and Techniques

This project is created using the knitting craft, making it perfect for knitters of all skill levels, particularly beginners. The design employs fundamental knitting techniques including flat knitting on straight needles and the combination of knit and purl stitches to create texture and visual interest. The pattern uses a straightforward construction method: cast on stitches, work rows following a stitch pattern, and bind off to complete the cloth. The pig motif emerges through the strategic alternation of knit stitches (which create a smooth, V-textured surface) and purl stitches (which create a bumpy, horizontal texture), allowing the design to be visible without requiring color changes or more advanced techniques like intarsia or stranded colorwork.

Stitches Used

• Knit Stitch (K): The foundation stitch used throughout the cloth, creating the smooth stockinette texture on the right side
• Purl Stitch (P): Used strategically in specific rows and stitch positions to create the pig pattern details and add dimensional texture
• Cast On: The initial row establishes 37 stitches as the foundation for the cloth
• Bind Off: All stitches are bound off using the knit method to securely finish the edges

Materials and Tools

The PIG Cloth is crafted using 100% cotton yarn in a medium/worsted weight, requiring approximately 60 yards of yarn total. Cotton is an excellent choice for dishcloths and washcloths as it is durable, absorbent, and easy to care for. The project calls for straight knitting needles in size 7 (4.5mm), or needles one size larger or smaller depending on your personal gauge and tension. A darning needle is needed for finishing and weaving in any yarn ends after the cloth is complete. The pattern spans 56 rows total, with the first 7 rows and final 6 rows worked entirely in knit stitch to create clean, finished edges, while rows 8 through 50 contain the detailed stitch pattern that forms the pig design.