“Celia, it’s just a dishcloth…”
It was all my friend Maude could do not to roll her eyes at me.
Ok. I do get a bit excited sometimes. But honestly, these cotton dishcloths are ridiculously good.
They first arrived in the mail a couple of years ago, a gift from my blogging friend (and avid knitter) Rose. Here’s the photo I took in 2013, when they were brand new…
They are totally brilliant – they absorb well, rinse out completely, and go straight into the washing machine. This one has been washed at least 30 times. It’s outlasted most of my tea towels…
Rose, bless her kind heart, sent me a refresher pack earlier this year…
Now, I haven’t knitted for over 20 years, but I was inspired to give these a go. Rose sent me the link to her blogpost, which led me to this pattern at Homespun Living. I ordered some magnificent Australian cotton from Bendigo Mills (8ply, 200g balls) and borrowed a pair of 4mm circular needles from Maude (I find circular needles are easier on my slightly arthritic fingers than straight ones). Edit: I’ve since made another one using 4.5mm needles and found that they produce an even better result!
Tah-dah! I’m seriously chuffed with how well this turned out…
Rose, thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into making these for me! Having now made one, I know just how long each dishcloth takes (a couple of hours for me, but I’m quite a slow knitter). Having said that, I’m definitely going to make some more, because they’re beautiful, work brilliantly and make me happy!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I have another friend who makes these all the time. I think she uses up bits and pieces of left over skeins from op shops, wool with nylon in them. You’ve convinced me that the are worth the effort. I do like knitting but can’t stand lengthy projects- perfect!
Fra, the advice Rose gave me is to use bamboo or cotton only, as the acrylics don’t absorb water. I suspect wool will absorb too much! The ridged weave improves absorbency too. The cotton from Bendigo Mills is stunningly beautiful!
Gorgeous – I’ll be giving these a go! They remind me of my great-aunts kitchen, from back when I was closer to the ground. They always had hand made dish cloths in the sink.
I am so not a knitter but I am really intrigued by these. How hard are they really? If it’s knit one, purl one I might just manage it.
Knit purl only, lovely!!
You know what I think of knitting after my instagram comment!!! I’m going to have to crochet a dishcloth now.
Nancy, Maude crocheted one for me and it’s lovely but it doesn’t rinse out as well. I think the stitches are too thick…
Beautiful! The dish clothes look too lovely to use! I have loads of yarn…maybe I’ll gather the courage to knit some. My knitting skills aren’t the greatest. These look much smoother and thinner than the thick crocheted ones I’ve seen at the farmer’s markets.
They’re too lovely to use as dishcloths Celia.. I’d sew them together, put a transferable picture of my loved ones on each square & display them on my wall- is what I’d do!! ( if only I had time to knit!) sigh…..
They look wonderful. I have made knitted cotton dishcloths and do not look anywhere near as good as yours. I mentioned to a friend that l was making them and offered some to her. She wasn’t interested at all. i think they are a great idea especially when they look as good as yours:)
Absolutely beautiful Celia. I use facecloths for my dishcloths. :-)
Have a lovely day.
:-) Mandy xo
This post made me cry. While my mother and I had an on and off again relationship much of my life, every year she knitted cotton dishcloths for me and I loved them. I haven’t had any for a long time but now I want to get out the needles and make some. I’m inspired. :)
I would definitely have rolled my eyes! I bet October and November IMK posts will be filled with dishcloths “just like Celia’s” :)
Not sure I could face the ridicule from my family if I knit some of these. Oh, what the hell – where are my knitting needles?
I was thinking exactly the same thing Anne! Fear not I will support you in your quest!
My family thinks I’ve used up all my quirky (they say stupid) ideas for gifts. Boy are they wrong with this new idea now thrust upon me! Ever tried using string? I might give that a go!
Nice colour combo you’ve got going there with the moss green and coral.
Well done Celia, your cloth looks terrific! And thank you for the kind words ma’am, consider the cloths a small thank you for all the chocolate, sourdough and other tutorials.
You can also use these patterns for facecloths (a lovely Christmas present with some good handmade soap), bamboo is great for facecloths. A white facecloth can look quite stunning.
when I visited your blog this morning, I thought I was in wrong place :) But yes, now I understood why these kintted things in here… they are so nive. Inspired me. Thank you dear Celia, love, nia
These are gorgeous! I’d be excited, too! >
Celia, my mother in law knits and uses these! :) I have a couple she gave us from our last trip but not sure where I’ve stored them…must look for them!
ok I’m seriously impressed…yes, I remember the Dorcas squares, Celia, and mine were NEVER as neat or as perfectly square as this! I failed knitting 101. You are just way too clever with your hands! Beautiful work xx
Will definitely be trying this out – was looking for something to work on for the cooler months ahead, they could make nice gifts. I imagine I’d need yarn with cotton since it would be more absorbent?
Loretta, my friend Rose recommends using either cotton or bamboo, in an 8ply. The 100% cotton I’ve been using is wonderful and very absorbent.
I can understand that excitement…;)
Love this post Celia. I am a beginner knitter! Emma.
You know me – anything crafty and for winter I like knitting and crochet, And I love quick projects so I’ll be over there to check out the pattern! Love that they are so co friendly too – use, wash, repeat :)
Eco friendly…not co friendly!!!
I am laughing at all the excited people (me included) over knitted dish cloths! I haven’t knitted in about 40 years and probably can’t even remember any more, but this might be just the project to urge me to relearn. Love a good dish cloth, or anything else that makes domestic chores more fun/easier. Thanks Celia!
I missed the knitting, sewing genes in my family, regrdless I have knitting needles so the a desire is there somewhere, and your creations are fantastic… we use so many dishcloths, it would be an ongoing task. Love the idea of giving them for gifts too :) Hmmm.
Very nifty. My sister is a weaver & made me some cotton towels that are excellent absorbers & just don’t wear out. I love them, you just can’t go wrong with cotton.
These also make great baby wash cloths, knitted in soft baby colours. Add a bar of mild soap and you have a sweet little gift. I love Bendigo cotton!
Way to go!!
I have a friend in Canada who makes these. On her last trip to Sydney she brought me two she’d just made. They really are super. So absorbent and they last really well and they’re very easy to care for xx
What a good idea! I have boxes full of yarn…must get them out.
I bow to the Queen of Knitting, Deb.. :) xxx
Perhaps this is a silly question, but do you use them to wash dishes? I could see them being used to wipe down benches etc…but then it occurred to me that with their textured surface they really might work in place of the scouring sponge I normally use to wash dishes.
I use them to wipe down benches and sinks. They’re very soft, so might not be great for scrubbing?
I look forward to knitting one or two and giving them a go. I should also mention that, on the basis of your recommendation of’ I dined at Bistro Cocotte last week with friends. It was wonderful! Looking forward to your next dining review :)
Now I wish I could knit. These look beautiful. I am seriously impressed with how well they have worn too!
I like Rose’s idea of bamboo facecloths.
Your colour choice is gorgeous……..such an inspiration!
Despite my mom trying to teach me several times I still don’t knit! Some day maybe, like when the kids are out of the house and I’m not feeding them constantly! These look great though and I can imagine they work quite well.
MiddleC knits constantly and will love a new project. There’s only so many scarves I can wear :) When littlej was about 4 I wouldn’t let her learn knitting as I was worried about the pointy needles being left around and being stuck into the lounge seats etc. However she is a very stubborn – I mean determined – child and I caught her one morning knitting perfectly with chopsticks. She had taken matters into her own hands and forced MiddleC to teach her when I wasn’t around :) xo
Beautiful! Well done! I love the colors you chose too- PS, your original dishcloths are so clean! I have to buy gray ones because, well you know, kids ;)
Love the colours Celia you clever thing :)
It’s always the little things in life that give great pleasure. Even having a dishcloth in colours that please is a small celebration in my eyes! I remember my Mum teaching me to knit with large wooden needles and plain cotton and it was dishcloths that I knitted. Being cotton, when they do eventually throw in the towel they can go in the compost – I suspect even my wormies would be pleased to have the odd one or two.
Hi Celia
I ordered the cotton yarn from Bendigo mills from your recommendation to crochet dish cloths for Christmas presents. Their 8-ply is much thinner than the 8-ply from Lincraft. They are closed for Christmas (rats, there goes the presents). I am wondering if you don’t mind telling me how many strands there are in your 8-ply. Mine has 3.
Thank you
Jenny
Hi Jenny, my 8ply from Bendigo Mills has three strands. I find it works well for dish cloths – the thicker ones don’t rinse out as well.
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