Crochet guide
Stitches for dishcloths
A dishcloth wants a stitch with texture, because a textured cloth scrubs better than a smooth one. Waffle stitch, moss stitch, Suzette stitch, lemon peel stitch and grit stitch are all used for cloths, and the plain basic stitches work too. Each has a page of its own.
On this page 7 parts
What a dishcloth asks of a stitch
Texture, first of all. A cloth with a raised or bumpy surface is easier to scrub with than a smooth one. That is why patterns for dishcloths so often use a textured stitch.
The stitches below have a second thing in common: they are closed stitches. None is a lace or a mesh.
Stitch names on this page are United States terms, with the United Kingdom name in brackets where it differs.
Stitches used for dishcloths
| Stitch | What it is | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Waffle stitch | Double crochet (UK treble crochet) with raised post stitches that box in small sunken squares. A thick cloth | Intermediate |
| Moss stitch | Single crochet (UK double crochet) and chain 1, taking turns | Easy |
| Suzette stitch | A single crochet and a double crochet in the same stitch, then one stitch skipped | Easy |
| Lemon peel stitch | Single crochet and double crochet, taking turns: a bumpy fabric | Beginner |
| Grit stitch | Pairs of single crochet in one stitch: a firm, closely textured fabric | Easy |
| Single crochet in the back loop | The loop left free shows as a ridge across the fabric | Beginner |
How to choose among them
- For a first cloth, take a stitch marked beginner: lemon peel stitch, or plain single crochet.
- For the most texture, take waffle stitch. It makes a thick cloth, and it takes more yarn than a plain stitch.
- For a cloth that looks the same on both sides, take moss stitch.
Plain stitches work too
A dishcloth does not need a fancy stitch. Rows of single crochet or half double crochet (UK half treble crochet) make a good plain cloth, and a plain cloth is a common first project.
Edges
A simple border finishes a dishcloth: a round of single crochet all the way round, with three stitches in each corner. See turning corners.
The yarn
Cotton is the yarn for a cloth, whichever stitch you choose. See yarn for dishcloths and washcloths.
Patterns to follow
For a cloth written out row by row, see the dishcloth patterns and the washcloth patterns.
For stitches for other things, see which crochet stitch to use.