Knitch Magazine

Jackie Awerman submitted this article to Knitch Magazine so she could share her love of knitting dishclothes.

I don’t know how it happened but it’s the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the dishcloth truth: I’m devoted to knitting dishcloths. I might call them other names--dollhouse rugs, afghan squares, washcloths, drink rugs, nursery mopsies—but a dishcloth by any other name is still a dishcloth. I love ‘em. The world loves ‘em.

Any time that I need a quick gift, I knit up a stack of dishcloths, tie the stack with some pretty ribbon (or left-over yarns) and abracadabra! Gifted!

Dishcloths are capable of conveying thanks, love, care, sympathy (you had how many people over and did the dishes until what time in the am??) and relax, take-it-easy—gimme a dishcloth. Yes, dishcloths evoke all kinds of positive emotions from the simplest delight that you made these for me! to the complexities of a new romance. Hear that, Cousin Cookie? Make dishclothes!

I think that it’s downright amazing that you can get all of this emotional swag from a couple of hours of needle clicking, yarn swinging fun. Your family, blood or choice, will adore you. Your mother will be extremely impressed that finally, at last and after all of these years, you learned to give practical gifts. Of course, your mother will not have read my secret instructions for turning four dishcloths into a bikini. Don’t ask.

But there’s even more going on with dishcloths. Let me tell you a handful of knitted dishcloth secrets.

Secret #1. There’s no rule about how many dishcloths constitute a stack. Just know that a stack is more than one. So you are in charge. Think pancake stacks in your favorite pancake palace: short stack, long stack and stack attack! You decide.

Secret #2. You can’t kill a dishcloth. You can throw it, jump on it, smack it around, vent! vent! vent! A dishcloth will still be there, ready for next move, your deepest dishcloth need. Yes, a good dishcloth is impervious to mood swings as well as hot and cold water and high temperature dryers. A dishcloth is about forever, amen.

Secret #3. No one, not even you-know-who-makes-you-a-teensy-bit-jealous has too many dishcloths. Some might be showing off in the kitchen, a few might make it as substitute hot pads on Momma Sandi’s heirloom dining room table; and then there are the ones you threw in the diaper bag, just in case. Oops! I forgot the ones in the laundry and the bath and the golf cart…

Secret #4. A stack of dishcloths will not break the budget, force you to sell shares of stock or get a third job to make the yarn budget. If you need a third job to fund your yarn stash, you’re already in trouble and you just can’t blame it on dishcloths. Then again, if you make them 24 x7…awe, forget it; it ain’t the dishcloths. In fact, they just might SAVE you. The pun is intended!

Secret #5. The best dishcloth is a simple one is a knitted one is an easy one! There are a bazillion dishcloth patterns out there. You can find them on the web, in dishcloth books and as project sheet freebies in most craft stores. Some of the patterns are so complicated that you might as well resign yourself to starting a dishcloth of the year club. I am advocating that you don’t get caught up in the Six Cable Wonder or the Fair Isle, Ten-Color Jewel of a dishcloth. Stay simple. Stay sane. Stay with my pattern! Unless, of course, you’re exploring how long it could take to make a dishcloth I prefer my dishcloth of the moment movement.

So, here is my all time favorite dishcloth pattern. It calls for cotton yarn. Please use one hundred percent cotton. Be kind to yourself and stick with worsted weight yarn. Go crazy with color, not with pattern. Just knit ‘em, friend. Just knit ‘em. Then dishcloth the world!

Jackie’s Favorite Dishcloth Pattern

Materials:

1 skein of 100% cotton yarn such as Lily Original Sugar & Cream

Size 9 or 10 knitting needles

Gauge:

About 7 stitches equal 2 inches but it’s not all that important in dishcloth knitting

Directions:

Starting at a corner, cast on 4 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 3 rows.

Row 4: K2, yarn over, knit to end.

Repeat Row 4 until the side edges measure about 10 inches, ending with 48 stitches on the needle.

Next Row: Knit 2 together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit to end of the row.

Repeat this row until there are 3 stitches left.

Knit 3 rows.

Last Row: Knit 2 together, knit 1. Bind off.

That’s it! That’s one. And now, with the NEXT ball of yarn…repeat until!

Email Jackie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .