It's no secret that homemade dishcloths make great gifts. Both crochet and knit varieties last forever, holding up through repeated beatings in the washer and dryer, not to mention what they go through in the kitchen or bath. Since they are inexpensive to make and work up quickly, they are also a great item to crochet or knit in bulk to sell at church bazaars and craft fairs. With the number of free patterns available on the internet, it's easy to make a nice gift with little time or money spent.
I'm no fancy designer and like to crochet simple things, but I played around with a favorite crochet stitch and threw this little number together very quickly. Others that I have shared the pattern with have proclaimed it to be a hit because of its simplicity and functionality, while still being an attractive piece.
I prefer a crochet dishcloth that has a little bit of a raised stitch and even have a few set aside that I use strictly as washcloths - they're perfect in the bath for gentle exfoliating without being too rough. I think this pattern will work well in the bath as well as the kitchen.
You may print this pattern for your personal use, but if sharing with others, please do so by providing a direct link to this page.
Gentle Ridges Dishcloth Pattern
Finished size approx 8"x8"
Abbreviations
DC = double crochet
SC = single crochet
SK = skip
Ch - chain
St = stitch
Sl St= slip stitch
With size H crochet hook and any kitchen cotton yarn, ch 31.
Row 1: dc in 3rd ch from hook, sk 1, * sc and dc in next ch, sk 1 * - repeat from * to * to end of row, ending with sc in last stitch. Ch 2, turn.
Rows 2-21 are worked in back loop only except for first and last stitch.
Row 2 - 20: dc in first st, sk 1, * working in back loop only, sc and dc in next space, sk 1 *, repeat from * to * to end of row, ending with sc in last st. Ch 2, turn.
Finishing: After completing last st in row 20, sc/ch 1/sc in that corner space, continue to sc around all sides of piece, with sc/ch 1/sc in corners. Join with sl st to first sc in first corner worked. Bind off and work in ends.
This pattern can also be adapted to make hot pads. Simply make two dishcloths the same size and stitch together. You can easily vary the size of the hot pad by increasing the starting chain and/or number of rows. I like to make them long and wide enough to fit beneath an oblong or rectangular casserole dish.
For gift-giving, roll a couple of coordinating dishcloths, tie with raffia and tuck into a small basket with a bottle of eco-friendly dish soap. Nestle a pair of washcloths alongside a bar of homemade soap or moisturizing shower gel, then add a homemade scented candle or diffusers for the gift of a truly luxurious bathing experience.
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