Knitted Dishcloths

I’ve been around plenty of blogs and forums in the last few years and have heard people often wax lyrical about the wonders of knitted dishcloths. I have to admit, I didn’t really get it. Oh, I get the whole natural, non-disposable part sure, but I thought that cutting up old towels and other rags would work just as well, with less effort. I mean, going to all that trouble to knit something that is meant to get dirty?

But recently I came across a video teaching how to knit the European or continental way and I wanted to give it a go. Basically, the thread is held in the left rather than the right hand. I thought this would make it easier swapping from garter to purl and back again, and I do crochet so it is similar to holding the cotton when you crochet.

Now, I’m not a bad knitter, I’m just not a good one. I made a whole jumper once which wasn’t too bad, but any kind of stitch or pattern beyond the basic garter and purl and I know nothing. But switching from right to left handed set my knitting skills back about 20 years.

So I thought, what better way to practice than on making dishcloths. It doesn’t matter how bad my knitting is then.

Well now it’s my turn to expound on the benefits of using knitted dishcloths. I’ve actually been using mine as bench cloths, because that is what I needed more. The texture of the cloth makes cleaning very easy. It’s soft yet the bobbly, knitted texture provides enough abrasion to clean very quickly and effectively.

The cotton I used was one that I had in the cupboard for years. Its a 4ply crochet cotton, I think. White is not the best colour. Especially when you’re wiping up tea stains and tomato sauce. I clean my cloths by soaking them in nappy soaker and throwing them in the wash with the sheets – they’re clean, but the stains mean that they don’t look clean. I will choose a better colour next time, but you can’t beat using what you already have on hand.

I cast on 50 stitches  using no. 10 needles (English sizing I think) and made my cloths square, but the beauty of course of making your own, is that you can make it whatever size suits you! And the type of yarn and size of the knitting needle will also dictate how many stitches you cast on to begin with.

So I’m definitely converted, I really love the way my knitted dishcloths clean, and if you’re wanting to learn how to knit or to try new stiches and patterns, then a dishcloth is a quick and easy project to practice on.

Have you read these posts?

1. using knitted dishcloths
2. Roundup: knitted dishcloth patterns
3. winter wool projects part three – learning to knit