Mar
Starting With The Actual Pattern
So I made my first real dishcloth in spring 2022 when I was trying to stop buying those scratchy sponges from the grocery store. Used Lily Sugar’n Cream cotton yarn in that basic white color because honestly I didn’t care about aesthetics yet, just wanted something that worked. The whole point is you need 100% cotton for dishcloths because acrylic will just melt if you use hot water or put it near anything warm.
The basic pattern I started with was literally just single crochet in rows. Chain like 25 or 30 stitches—depends how big you want it but around there gives you a decent hand-sized cloth. Then you’re gonna single crochet across, chain one, turn, and keep going until it’s square-ish. I never counted rows because who has time for that, just held it up and eyeballed it.
Yarn Choices That Actually Matter
Okay so cotton yarn is not optional here. I’ve tried:
- Lily Sugar’n Cream (the standard, comes in a million colors, cheap)
- Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (slightly softer but basically the same)
- Peaches & Crème (same company as Sugar’n Cream I think)
- Some organic cotton from Hobbii that I ordered online once and it was fine but expensive
The Sugar’n Cream is what you’ll find everywhere and it works. It’s scratchy when you first make something but after you wash it a few times it softens up. I made like six dishcloths in summer 2024 when my cat kept knocking my coffee over and I needed to stop using paper towels for everything—those cloths got soft after maybe three washes.
The Texture Problem Nobody Warns You About
Here’s what annoyed me: cotton yarn feels weird to work with compared to acrylic. It doesn’t have that stretch and it’s stiffer in your hands. Your tension’s gonna be different and honestly my first few cloths were so tight they could probably stop a bullet. You have to consciously keep your stitches looser than you think or you end up with this rigid little square that won’t absorb anything.
I use a 5mm hook (H hook) with worsted weight cotton. Some people go up to 5.5mm or even 6mm to keep it looser. The tighter your stitches, the less absorbent your cloth will be because water needs to get into those gaps.
Patterns Beyond Basic Squares
Once you’ve made like three boring squares you’ll want something more interesting. The moss stitch is good for dishcloths—it’s just alternating single crochet and chain stitches. You do: chain an even number, then row 1 is single crochet in 2nd chain from hook, chain 1, skip next stitch, single crochet in next stitch, repeat across. Row 2 you’re putting single crochets into the chain spaces and chaining over the single crochets. It creates this bumpy texture that’s actually better for scrubbing.
There’s also the corner-to-corner method which I tried during that whole period where everyone on Instagram was doing it. You start with a small corner and increase until you hit your desired width, then decrease back down. Makes a diagonal stripe pattern if you change colors. I used this for washcloths more than dishcloths because they ended up thinner.
Dishcloths vs Washcloths
They’re basically the same thing but washcloths for your face should probably be softer cotton if you can find it. I made some facial cloths with that Hobbii organic cotton and they were definitely gentler. Also for washcloths you might want to avoid heavy texture—moss stitch is fine but anything with big bumps or holes is gonna be annoying on your face.
Dishcloths can be rougher and that’s actually better for scrubbing stuck-on food. I made one with half double crochet stitches instead of single crochet and it was too thick, took forever to dry. Single crochet or the moss stitch are your best options.
Size Guidelines
Most dishcloths end up around 8 to 10 inches square. Washcloths are similar, maybe slightly smaller like 7 to 9 inches. I never measure while I’m working, just make it hand-sized. If you can comfortably hold it bunched up in your palm it’s probably right.
For reference my starting chain is usually:
- 25-28 chains for single crochet cloth
- 20-24 chains for moss stitch (because the chain spaces make it wider)
- 30-32 chains if I’m doing half double crochet for some reason
The Actual Working Process
I usually make these while watching TV because they don’t require attention once you’ve got the pattern down. Made probably eight of them while binging that show about the chess player, what was it called… anyway the repetitive nature is good for that. You can make one dishcloth in like an hour, maybe 90 minutes if you’re going slow or messing with your tension.
One thing I figured out late—weave in your ends as you go if you’re changing colors. I used to leave them all for the end and then I’d have like twelve yarn tails to deal with and it was the worst part. Just stop every few rows, thread your yarn needle, weave in whatever ends are hanging there. Takes an extra two minutes but saves you from wanting to throw the whole thing away later.
Color Changing Techniques
If you want stripes it’s straightforward. Work your last stitch of the row until you have two loops on your hook, then pull through with your new color. That’s it. The color change happens right at the edge and looks clean.
For dishcloths I usually did three or four row stripes. One cloth I made had single-row stripes and it was… fine but lots of ends to weave in. Not worth it unless you really want that look.
You can carry the unused color up the side if you’re doing consistent stripes. Just crochet over it loosely as you work your edge stitches. This only works if your stripes are regular though—if you’re doing random color changes you gotta cut the yarn.
Finishing And Care
When you’re done, cut your yarn leaving like a 6-inch tail, pull it through the last loop, and weave it in. I use a yarn needle and go through several stitches in different directions so it doesn’t work loose. Some people do a single crochet border around the whole cloth but honestly for dishcloths I don’t bother. They’re gonna get beat up anyway.
Before you use them: wash them. Seriously. Cotton yarn has some kind of coating or stiffness from manufacturing and that first wash makes a huge difference. I throw mine in with regular laundry, hot water, normal detergent. They shrink a tiny bit—maybe half an inch—but then they’re stable after that.
For washing after you’ve been using them, I just toss them in with kitchen towels. Hot water. They can go in the dryer but I usually hang them because it’s better for the fibers or whatever… actually I mostly hang them because I’m doing laundry at the same time and don’t want to run the dryer for just dishcloths.
How Long They Last
Way longer than you’d think. I’ve had some for almost two years now that are still fine. They get a little faded and sometimes the edges start looking ratty but they don’t fall apart. The ones I use for dishes definitely wear out faster than the ones I use as washcloths because of the scrubbing and hot water exposure.
When they’re too worn for dishes I demote them to cleaning cloths for counters or bathroom stuff. Nothing goes to waste and honestly it feels less gross using an old dishcloth for toilet cleaning than using a fresh one would.
Patterns I Actually Use
I keep coming back to three patterns because they work and I don’t have to think:
Basic Single Crochet: Chain 26, sc in 2nd chain from hook and across (25 sc), chain 1, turn, sc in each stitch across. Repeat until square. This is boring but fast and makes a dense cloth that’s good for scrubbing.
Moss Stitch: Chain an even number like 24. Row 1: sc in 2nd chain from hook, *chain 1, skip next chain, sc in next chain*, repeat to end. Row 2: chain 1, turn, sc in first chain space, *chain 1, sc in next chain space*, repeat across. Repeat row 2 forever until it’s square. Better texture, more absorbent, looks less boring.
Waffle Stitch: This one’s more complicated but worth it for dishcloths. Chain a multiple of 3 plus 2. Row 1: dc in 4th chain from hook and across. Row 2: chain 2, turn, *front post double crochet around next stitch, back post double crochet around next stitch*, repeat across. The texture this creates is really good for scrubbing and it looks professional even though it’s not hard once you get the rhythm.
What Didn’t Work
I tried making one with those big mesh holes—the filet crochet style—thinking it would be good for dishes but it was useless. Too many gaps, food got stuck in it, couldn’t scrub anything effectively. Also tried granny squares once because I had a bunch of cotton scraps and thought I’d make a patchwork dishcloth. It was lumpy and weird and the joins between squares created weak spots.
Also don’t do anything with long stitches like treble crochet. Too loose, doesn’t hold up, can’t scrub with it. Stick to single crochet, half double at most, or double crochet for the waffle pattern.
Cost Breakdown
One ball of Lily Sugar’n Cream (the 2.5 oz size) costs like $2.50 to $3 depending where you buy it. You can get maybe 2 to 3 dishcloths from one ball depending on size. So each cloth costs about a dollar in materials. Compare that to buying kitchen cloths at the store which are like $5 for a pack of three if you get the decent ones.
The time investment is real though. If you value your time at anything significant, you’re not saving money. But that’s not really the point—it’s more about making something useful and having control over the colors and materials. Also it’s a good beginner project because the stakes are low. If you mess up, it’s still gonna clean your dishes.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your cloth is curling: your tension’s too tight. Go up a hook size or consciously loosen your stitches. Cotton doesn’t have the give that acrylic does so tension problems show up more.
If it’s not square: you’re either adding or losing stitches somewhere. Count your stitches in the first row and then count periodically to make sure you’re maintaining the same number. I still mess this up sometimes when I’m distracted.
If it’s too stiff after washing: it might soften more with additional washes, or your stitches might be too tight. You can try soaking it in fabric softener but honestly I don’t bother. Stiff cloths still work fine for dishes.
If the edges look messy: make sure you’re crocheting into the first and last stitch of every row. It’s easy to miss that first stitch or accidentally work into the turning chain. Also your turning chain might be too loose or too tight—experiment with chain 1 vs chain 2 at the ends of rows.
Using Them For Gifts
People actually like getting handmade dishcloths as gifts, which surprised me. I made a set of six in different colors for my friend’s housewarming and she still mentions them. Make them in sets of three or four, tie them with a ribbon or twine, and suddenly it looks like you put in way more effort than you did.
Good color combinations that people seem to like: blues and whites, earth tones, or those variegated yarns that do the color work for you. Sugar’n Cream has some ombre colors that look fancier than they are.
