Ready to start your first simple knitting project? This beginner-friendly dishcloth knitting pattern is the perfect place to begin. It’s quick, easy, and gives you the chance to practice your skills while making something useful. Follow along with our step-by-step tutorial right here on this page, or buy the ad-free, printable PDF from our shop!
UPDATED: APRIL 18, 2025 BY BRITTANY
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Skill Level | Beginner
Finished Size | About 8.5″ x 8.5″
This beginner dish cloth knitting pattern is a great place to start if you’re brand new to knitting—especially if you’re not into scarves, headbands, or endless swatches.
Dishcloths (and washcloths) are a practical first project because you get to practice the basic skills you’ll use in more advanced patterns—and actually use what you make when you’re done!
In this easy guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to knit a simple dish cloth from start to finish. Let’s get started!
Don’t know how to knit yet? No worries! I’ve created a comprehensive How to Knit for Beginners Guide that walks you through all the basics. Check that out first, then return to this project when you’re ready.
About Our Beginner Dish Cloth Knitting Pattern
With this project, you’ll get to practice the most basic stitch—the garter stitch—along with two essential skills: casting on and binding off.
These three fundamentals—cast on, knit stitch, and bind off—are the building blocks of nearly every knitting project. Once you’ve got them down, you’ll be set up for success in everything you knit going forward. A simple dish cloth is the perfect way to learn and build confidence.
Curious about the project, need a few details, or just have a question? Keep reading! Or if you’re ready to dive in, scroll straight down to the free pattern. Happy knitting!
Pattern Overview:
- Supplies
- Buy the ad-free, printable pattern
- Abbreviations
- Pattern Notes
- Gauge & Finished Size
- Easy Dishcloth Knitting Pattern Instructions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Knitting Tutorials + Patterns for Beginners
You can view the pattern completely free on this page. But, if you prefer having a digital copy that you can save or print, we’ve got you covered with that option as well.
If you’d like to support our work here at B.Hooked, purchasing the digital pattern is a wonderful way to do so!
Recommended Supplies
- About 70 yds; Medium-Weight (#4) 100% Cotton Yarn
- 5 mm (US 8) Knitting Needles
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
I have knit these dishcloths with a variety of cotton yarns, and they all turned out great! The dishcloths you see in the photos were knit with Lily Sugar ‘n Cream yarn in the colors “soleil ombre”, “stonewash”, and “aran”.
Feel free to experiment with different medium-weight (#4) cotton yarns for your dishcloths, but it’s best to stick with 100% cotton (and not a cotton blend) because cotton yarn is very durable, washable and drys quickly – making them perfect for dishcloths. Otherwise, the pattern is very flexible and I haven’t found a cotton yarn that didn’t work or that I didn’t love!
Abbreviations
- CO Cast On
- K Knit
- Rem Remaining
- Rep Repeat
- St(s) Stitch(es)
Our Dishcloth Knitting Pattern Notes
My beginner-friendly dishcloth knitting pattern works well with any medium-weight (#4) cotton yarn, but I personally love using Lily Sugar’n Cream. It’s affordable, easy to find, and comes in tons of colors—perfect for a fun, simple project like this.
You’ll begin with a basic long-tail cast on, knit back and forth using the garter stitch, and finish by binding off your stitches with a simple bind off technique.
For a small project like this or other dishcloth patterns, you don’t need to worry too much about gauge—it’ll work out just fine even if your stitches are a little bigger or smaller. But as you continue knitting, gauge becomes an important concept to understand. It’s just a way of measuring how many stitches and rows fit into 4 inches of fabric.
For example, if you’re making something like a sweater where the size really matters, you’ll want your gauge to match the pattern. If you’re curious and want to learn more about gauge now, I have a helpful post here. But for this dishcloth? Don’t stress—just enjoy the process!
If you’d like to try measuring your gauge for this dishcloth:
Gauge: 19 sts and 17 rows = 4″ worked in garter stitch
Finished Size: About 8.5″ x 8.5″ after blocking
Easy Dishcloth Knitting Pattern Instructions
CO 40 stitches using the long tail cast on technique.
Row 1: K all sts (turn the work)
A digital pattern is available in our shop so you can print out the pattern
Repeat row 1 until your dishcloth measures about 8″ from the starting edge, but don’t cut the working yarn. Continue with the bind off step next
Bind Off: Work a simple knitting bind off and weave in your ends.
TERMS OF USE:
This pattern is for personal use only. You agree not to modify, publish, transmit, sell, create derivative works or in any way exploit any of the content within this page, in whole or in part. If you wish to share this pattern, share a link to this webpage only. You may sell finished items made from this pattern.
Copyright, B.Hooked Crochet, LLC
Frequently Asked Questions About Knitting Dishcloths
Can I use a different size needle than the pattern recommends?
It’s best if you use 5 mm (US 8) knitting needles for this dishcloth knitting pattern. That way the stitches and sizing will turn out like you see in the pictures.
What is the best yarn for knitting a dishcloth?
100% cotton yarn is the best choice. It’s absorbent, washable, and holds up well to scrubbing and repeated use. Avoid acrylic—it doesn’t soak up water and can melt if used near heat.
What’s the easiest stitch pattern for a beginner dishcloth?
The garter stitch (knitting every stitch of every row) is perfect for beginners. It lays flat, is easy to memorize, and gives you practice holding your needles and working your tension.
How big should a knitted dishcloth be?
Most dishcloths are about 7–9 inches square and this dishcloth knitting pattern is right within that range making it the perfect size for your hands.
Why are my dishcloth edges not straight?
Uneven edges are common for beginners! It usually means you accidentally added or dropped a stitch. Try counting your stitches every few rows and keep an eye on that first and last stitch. With practice, your tension and edges will improve.
More Knitting Tutorials + Patterns for Beginners
Making step-by-step tutorials for beginners is kind of our thing. If you aren’t ready to knit a blanket yet, check out some of our other tutorials with free crochet patterns specifically for beginners:
