Easy Crochet Dishcloth Pattern

If you’re new to crochet or just looking for an easy project to enjoy while relaxing, this simple dishcloth pattern is a great choice. It’s quick, easy, and creates a lovely texture – perfect for making as a gift or for yourself!

Green crochet dishcloth in progress with a hook, surrounded by other colorful dishcloths in bright yellow, pink, and black on a white background.

I’ve made this simple crochet dishcloth pattern for last-minute housewarming gifts, and they were a huge hit. People are always impressed and often surprised when they hear you made it.

These days, it’s so easy to buy things that a handmade gift feels extra special. It shows you’ve put time and care into creating something just for them. I promise this pattern is so simple, you can make a few in different colours in just one day. All you need is one skein of cotton yarn, any brand, colour, or type, for each dishcloth.

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What crochet stitches are best for dishcloths?

To make a simple crochet dishcloth, the stitches don’t have to be complicated. Some of the best crochet stitches for dishcloths are basic stitches that create textured and somewhat dense fabric. Single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet and a variety of different combinations of these basic stitches are some of the easiest and best stitches for crochet dishcloths.

In this dishcloth pattern, I’m using a combination of single and double crochets, which is why I think it’s so easy. It’s a one-row repeat, which means that you repeat the same row over and over again until you reach your desired size. This is particularly easy to remember and great for beginners and experienced crocheters alike, when you just want a mindless crochet project to relax and unwind.

Pin featuring crochet dishcloths and a bowl of soapy water, with the text “Easy Crochet Dishcloth, Free Pattern” displayed in the center.

What yarn to use for crochet dishcloths?

People often ask me if you can crochet dishcloths with acrylic yarn, or what kind of yarn is best. While you can use acrylic, I find that cotton yarn works so much better. It holds and absorbs water really well and just feels more natural in your hands. In my opinion, the best yarn for crochet dishcloths is cotton or a cotton blend. I personally never use acrylic for dishcloths, washcloths, or towels.

For this crochet dishcloth, I used 100% cotton yarn. I had a few skeins of light worsted #3 yarn (DK/8ply) in different colours, so I just used one of the skeins to make a dishcloth. As it absorbs water better, it will also dry longer than acrylic. It’s a good idea to rinse and hang your dishcloth to dry after each use to keep it in good condition.

What’s the best size for a dishcloth?

In general, 8″ by 8″ would make a good-sized dishcloth. But it really is a matter of personal preference. The best thing about being able to crochet a dishcloth is that you can easily customise your dishcloth and adjust the size by chaining more or less.

If you prefer larger ( 9″ or 10″) crochet dishcloths, just chain until your foundation chain measures 9″ or 10″, or whatever size you want it to be. A dishcloth doesn’t need to be a perfect square; it can be a rectangle or whatever shape you like. So, if you’re wondering how many chains you need to chain for your crochet dishcloth, it will depend on the type of yarn you’re using and the size of the dishcloth you’re planning to make. In general, it will be somewhere between 30 and 40 chains. But the best way to make the perfect size dishcloth for you is to chain until you reach the desired width.

How to care for your dishcloth?

I make mine with cotton, so while they absorb water beautifully, they can take a little longer to dry than acrylic. After each use, I give mine a good rinse and hang it up to dry to keep it fresh. Every now and then, I toss it in the washing machine, and it comes out looking as good as new. The natural cotton fibres are strong and durable, so they last for ages, which is one of the reasons I love them so much.

Easy Crochet Dishcloth Pattern

Difficulty: Easy

Dimensions

Width: 8″ (20cm)

Length: 8″ (20cm)

Gauge

16 St x 14 rows = 4″ (10cm)

Abbreviations (US Terms)

Ch = chain

St = stitch

SC = single crochet

DC = double crochet

Materials

You can use any 100% cotton yarn. I used Flinders 8ply (light worsted #3 / DK), but you can use worsted weight yarn #4, which will make your cloth slightly bigger and more robust.
126 yards (115 meters), 50 grams (1.76 ounces)
Crochet hook 4.5mm
Scissors
Yarn needle

Special Crochet Stitches

The dishcloth pattern uses the Crumpled Griddle Stitch, which is a combination of single crochet and double crochet stitches.

Pattern Notes

This crochet dishcloth measures 8 inches square, and the size can be easily adjusted by chaining more or less for your foundation chain. The number of chains will depend on the thickness of your chosen yarn and the size you want for your dishcloth. Simply chain any even number until you reach the desired width and work an amount of rows until you reach your desired length.
The pattern is a one-row repeat.
Every row starts and finishes with a SC.
SC should be worked into SC in previous rows and DC should be worked in DC in previous rows.

Easy Crochet Dishcloth Pattern

Chain 34 or any even number of chains until your chain measures 8 inches or desired width.

Row 1: SC in second Ch from hook, *DC in next Ch, SC in next, repeat from * across the row. You should finish with a SC in last stitch.

Row 2: Ch 1 and turn. *SC in first, DC in next, repeat from * across the row. Your last St should be a SC.

Row 3 – 28 or until you reach 8 inches in size: repeat row 2

Row 29 or last row: Slip stitch in the first St and across the row.

You can keep going and slip stitch around your dishcloth like I did with the cream coloured one, as pictured above. Simply turn your dishcloth when you reach the end of the last row and continue slip stitching into every row, 1 slip stitch per row. Turn again to work on the foundation chain side, and work slip stitches in each chain across. Then turn again and work on the last side of your dishcloth, 1 slip stitch into each row as on the other side.

The slip stitch border is not necessary, and it’s almost not noticeable, but if you like making borders, that’s an option. The green crochet dishcloth doesn’t have a border, and I only slip stitched in the last row. Slip stitches in the last row make the edge a little tighter, so it doesn’t stretch too much, and it will help to keep your crochet dishcloth in shape.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

I hope you like this simple and easy crochet dishcloth pattern! I honestly think this may be the best crochet dishcloth pattern you can possibly get. It’s easy, quick and looks pretty nice too! What do you think?

If you make anything using my patterns and share them on Instagram, make sure to tag me @my_crochet_space! I would love to see your makes! 🙂

If you have any questions about this crochet dishcloth pattern or suggestions for the next one, leave a comment! And if you like to see more easy crochet patterns, take a look at those below.