Wednesdays Are For Knitting: Dishcloths
One of the things I love about knitting is the ability to create something useful. Sure, a lace shawl is beautiful but it’s sort of a frivolity. Socks, though? Totally useful. Mittens, hats, scarves? Couldn’t live without ’em in New England in the winter time. But perhaps the most useful handknit item of all?
The dishcloth.
Now, I know that some of you would never stoop so low as to knit dishcloths. And some of you loathe knitting with cotton yarn. But when you look in your kitchen basket and the dishcloths there are ragged and unraveling, faded and shrunken, well, you break out the Sugar ‘n Cream and you get cranking.
The Ballband Dishcloth Pattern is my favorite one ever. It’s entertaining enough to keep me amused but mindless enough that I can knit it anywhere.
And it’s pretty, especially in bright solid colors like these.
I can’t decide which is my favorite!
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Beautiful!
Love that pattern. I need to knit some new dishcloths myself, mine are in that ragged and torn state!
Beautiful dishcloths! I spent my summer knitting this very pattern … perhaps I am easily amused, but I find it very satisfying.
I love that pattern, too! And I LOVE hand knit dishcloths. (Lowly? Never!) I’m really lucky because my mom knits dishcloths constantly — and she shares! (Love those colors. They might even make me WANT to do dishes!)
Your dishcloths are beautiful. While I haven’t yet made this pattern, your pretty cloths are pushing me in that direction. When I make dishcloths, I make them in 2 different colours – one for the kitchen, and another for the bath. They are great exfoliators.
Love the useful! (That is why I started weaving.)
Love the bright colors! The perfect thing when mindless knitting is needed.
I like knitting them too! Your dishcloths are so pretty!!
They make great gifts! I make the swiffer ones as well, and sew on elastic loops- they are fantastic!!
They’re happy, useful, beautiful and make perfect gifts. I may brave the craft store just to pick up some cotton!
Gorgeous! It’s been a few years since I’ve made them but they are a joy. I might have to dig out some cotton too!
I don’t know why so many people look down their noses at dishcloths – they are the ultimate useful knitted item! Yours are truly lovely.
I had in mind to knit some facecloths for people and give them with fancy soap. I don’t know if I’ll get to it, but it is a nice idea …
Coincidence rules! I just drug out the cotton yarns and the Ball Band Dishcloth pattern last night and started a new one – for us. Somehow they all get given away, but my kitchen badly needs a new dishcloth for its own self. I should be paying bills, but knitting a dishcloth is more fun.
Nice way to brighten up the kitchen!! I love that pattern.
I love to give dishcloths as a gift. Yours are beautiful!
I love your washcloths. That pattern is such a fun one.
What is this ‘doing dishes’ you speak of? ;^)
I suppose a girl could be tempted with those candy colored pieces of usable art.
My aunt knit me some dishcloths and I love them! I am planning on making some myself when they wear out.
So pretty and cheerful!
Those will make great gifts. Love the bright colors and love
the pattern. I need to get that pattern and some cotton
yarn!! Thanks for sharing and giving us another gift idea!
I’m all in for vibrant color…maybe I’ll even give up the cotton aversion.
Hi Carole,
I love those dish cloths! Can you tell me where you got your yarn?
I guess I stand alone among your commenters to having an aversion to knitting dishcloths. I hate the idea of knitting getting despoiled which is inevitable with them. At what point to you throw them out because they’ve become grotty looking? Also, I don’t see shawls as frivolous. I wear them to keep my neck and shoulders warm and publicly promote the wonders of knitting and because they make me happy. People also love them as gifts.
They’re so pretty – I love the pile of dishcloths! I like knitting dishcloths. They’re a quick, mindless knit for me. They’re something I can take with me, to knit while I’m out.
I have to agree whole heartedly with loving a pile of colorful hadnknit dishrags , but in the words of the great and lazy Homer Simpson (Ok, paraphrased)” Can’t someone else knit them for me?”
I love your dishcloths! They are so happy looking. I’ve just made a few for my mother’s church fair. I use the leftovers and make mine. I’m going to have to knit this pattern again as it’s been awhile.
They are so pretty! I don’t knit them because I don’t know if I could ever actually use them as dish cloths. I know what mine end up looking like after a few months. 🙁
I love your dishcloths! Such beautiful colors. I always have one on the needles. You never know when you could need a little gift. Right now I’m making Mitered square ones..but the Ballband is also my favorite! Thanks for a great post!
Agreed. I have the world’s largest stash of Sugar ‘n’ Cream, which is s-l-o-w-l-y being knit into dishcloths.