Knitted Cotton Dishcloths

September 8, 2015 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

“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!

Posted in Frugal Living | 48 Comments

48 Responses

on September 8, 2015 at 3:25 pm Francesca

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!
- on September 8, 2015 at 4:53 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  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!
on September 8, 2015 at 3:46 pm lambsearsandhoney

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.
on September 8, 2015 at 3:56 pm Tania @ The Cook's Pyjamas

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.
- on September 8, 2015 at 4:05 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Knit purl only, lovely!!
on September 8, 2015 at 3:59 pm Nancy |Plus Ate Six

You know what I think of knitting after my instagram comment!!! I’m going to have to crochet a dishcloth now.
- on September 8, 2015 at 4:54 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  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…
on September 8, 2015 at 4:02 pm Manuela

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.
on September 8, 2015 at 4:16 pm Lina

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…..
on September 8, 2015 at 4:29 pm soapy tales

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:)
on September 8, 2015 at 5:07 pm thecompletebook

Absolutely beautiful Celia. I use facecloths for my dishcloths. :-)
Have a lovely day.
:-) Mandy xo
on September 8, 2015 at 5:28 pm Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

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. :)
on September 8, 2015 at 5:52 pm Anne Wheaton

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?
- on September 8, 2015 at 6:25 pm fergie51
  
  I was thinking exactly the same thing Anne! Fear not I will support you in your quest!
on September 8, 2015 at 6:28 pm fergie51

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!
on September 8, 2015 at 6:30 pm tiffinbitesized

Nice colour combo you’ve got going there with the moss green and coral.
on September 8, 2015 at 6:54 pm Rose

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.
on September 8, 2015 at 7:12 pm niasunset

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
on September 8, 2015 at 8:08 pm Misky

These are gorgeous! I’d be excited, too! >
on September 8, 2015 at 8:14 pm Stefanie

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!
on September 8, 2015 at 9:35 pm Jaqi

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
on September 8, 2015 at 10:02 pm Loretta

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?
- on September 9, 2015 at 9:25 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  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.
on September 9, 2015 at 12:20 am Elaine @ foodbod

I can understand that excitement…;)
on September 9, 2015 at 3:10 am emmabarrett1508

Love this post Celia. I am a beginner knitter! Emma.
on September 9, 2015 at 5:07 am Chica Andaluza

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 :)
- on September 9, 2015 at 5:07 am Chica Andaluza
  
  Eco friendly…not co friendly!!!
on September 9, 2015 at 5:55 am ardysez

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!
on September 9, 2015 at 6:43 am EllaDee

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.
on September 9, 2015 at 7:43 am dianeskitchentable

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.
on September 9, 2015 at 7:59 am joolzmac

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!
on September 9, 2015 at 8:20 am anne54

Way to go!!
on September 9, 2015 at 11:29 am hotlyspiced

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
on September 9, 2015 at 3:07 pm Debra Kolkka

What a good idea! I have boxes full of yarn…must get them out.
- on September 9, 2015 at 3:09 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I bow to the Queen of Knitting, Deb.. :) xxx
on September 9, 2015 at 6:05 pm shazzameena

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.
- on September 9, 2015 at 6:10 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I use them to wipe down benches and sinks. They’re very soft, so might not be great for scrubbing?
  - on September 9, 2015 at 10:17 pm shazzameena
    
    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 :)
on September 9, 2015 at 7:42 pm Lisa

Now I wish I could knit. These look beautiful. I am seriously impressed with how well they have worn too!
on September 9, 2015 at 8:51 pm Le Petit Potager

I like Rose’s idea of bamboo facecloths.
Your colour choice is gorgeous……..such an inspiration!
on September 9, 2015 at 10:04 pm Gretchen

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.
on September 10, 2015 at 8:29 am theintolerantchef

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
on September 10, 2015 at 8:41 am Emilie @ The Clever Carrot

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 ;)
on September 11, 2015 at 11:56 am Jan (agluttonouswife)

Love the colours Celia you clever thing :)
on September 12, 2015 at 1:05 pm Jan

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.
on December 22, 2015 at 12:46 pm Jenny

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
- on December 22, 2015 at 3:00 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  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.
on January 9, 2016 at 2:53 pm In My Kitchen: living it « EllaDee

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