How to Crochet a Dishcloth for Beginners
The following article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase from these links, I may receive affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend yarns which I believe are sustainable and suitable for the pattern.
In this post I’m going to show you how to crochet a really easy and quick dishcloth when you’re a complete beginner in crochet. This simple crochet pattern can be made with any weight (thickness) of yarn that you already have and with any hook size that suits your chosen yarn, as the dishcloth can be adjusted to any size you like as you work.
I make these all the time for my own home and use them for washing our dishes and wiping down our kitchen surfaces and cleaning.
Which Yarn to Use
I use hemp yarn in lace weight to make the one you can see above in the photo because it makes a really lovely, flexible, versatile dishcloth that I can use for multiple purposes. Plus, once they are worn out, I can pop them into my compost knowing they won’t damage the environment.
Hemp is gently scrubby without being abrasive so it’s good for washing dishes but also scrubbing down work surfaces and bathroom sinks. Add a bit of bicarb and it works wonders to remove stains from cutlery, pans and worktops. You can read more about hemp and why I use it to crochet zero waste items.
Which Other Yarns Are Suitable?
As mentioned above, you can use any yarn you like, that you already have but please steer clear of any synthetic yarns like acrylic, nylon, polyester, microfibre etc. Read more about the best yarns for dishcloths.
As we will be using these for washing dishes and cleaning around the house, you want a yarn that won’t shed micro plastics or toxic dyes into the water system or the soil, if you’re choosing to compost them when they are worn out.
Other Yarn Recommendations
I have listed some alternative yarn suggestions below in case hemp is not available to you.
Lion Brand - Linen Cone (US) (100% Linen)
IDOKNITinCalifornia - Organic Cotton (100% Organic Cotton)
If you are looking for a thicker dishcloth with a more textured pattern then head to my other free dishcloth pattern.
This pattern assumes you know some crochet basics like how to hold yarn when crocheting and how to crochet a foundation chain. If you are an absolute beginner then head to my “How to Crochet Step by Step” post that will guide you through some of the basics.
Let’s get to it!
Pattern Notes
Measurements
This specific crochet pattern will make a dishcloth that is 15.5cm x 16.5cm (6” x 6.5”) but the great thing about it is that you can make it as wide or as long as you like. It’s completely up to you.
What You Will Need
Yarn: Roughly 85 yards of your chosen yarn.
Hook: A hook that matches the yarn. I used 2.5mm with lace weight yarn.
Stitch Markers: You can use proper stitch markers or I often use paper clips that work just as well.
Abbreviations
Some words will be abbreviated in the pattern as follows:
ch = chain
st(s) = stitch(es)
prev. = previous
dc = double crochet (U.K. treble crochet) - double crochet tutorial
Notes
<10> = Numbers in between greater than and less than symbols at the end of each round shows how many stitches you should have at that point.
Watch the Video Tutorial
The Pattern
Ch 40. (or make a chain to match the width that you want the dishcloth to be)
Mark last st with st marker.
Row 1: Ch 2. Dc into marked st. Dc into each st along foundation ch. Turn. <40>
Row 2: Ch 2. Dc into last st of prev row. Dc into each st of prev row. Turn. <40>
Row 3 - 20: Repeat row 2. <40>
If you want your dishcloth to be longer, keep repeating round 2 until you reach the size you want.
Of course you can also make it shorter by stopping the repeat sooner.
To Fasten Off
Once you have reached the size you want, cut the yarn, knot the end, so it doesn’t come loose, and weave your ends in.
That’s it!
