Buttermilk Dishcloth, Free Knitting Pattern
This quick and easy dishcloth knitting pattern will bring just a touch of farmhouse charm into your kitchen, especially if you’ve knit the matching Buttermilk Tea Towel already! Grab your needles and a couple of colors of worsted weight cotton yarn and enjoy this simple knitting project while catching up on an episode of your favorite series this evening.
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GET THE BUTTERMILK DISCHLOTH:
Buttermilk Dishcloth Free Knitting Pattern
If you haven’t knit from a knitting pattern yet - I highly recommend you check out my post on reading knitting patterns here - it will help you follow the instructions smoothly!
© Whileberry 2023. Please keep in mind that this pattern is for personal use only, and both the pattern and photos can’t be copied or reproduced on another website.
sizes
One size - width 18 cm (7”), length 18 cm (7”)
supplies
yarn
For this dishcloth I used Lion Brand 24/7 cotton in colors Ecru as the main color and Amber as the contrast color.
If you'd like to knit the dishcloth in a different yarn - you can choose any similar worsted weight (category 4 - medium) cotton yarn, in colors that contrast well. A few options that should work fine:
Yardage: main color: approx. 25 m (27 yds), contrast color: 12 m (13 yds).
needles
5 mm (US 8) straight or circular needles, or to fit gauge
other notions
Tapestry needle and scissors
gauge
20 stitches x 27 rows in 10x10 cm (4x4”) in broken rib stitch, blocked
Broken rib stitch for the gauge: cast on an even number of stitches.
Row 1 (RS): k all sts.
Row 2 (WS): * k1, p1 * until end of row.
pattern notes
As the dishcloth is not a wearable item, gauge is not critical in this project - however if you can’t match the gauge listed, the dishcloth will differ in dimensions and it may affect the yardage needed.
To make sure you don’t run out of yarn before completing all 3 sections of the cloth, use a kitchen scale. Weigh your yarns separately before starting the project, then after completing Border 1 section. Note how much yarn you’ve used for the border section (both Border 1 and 2 require same yardage), and work the Inner Area as long as you have enough yarn left to complete the Border 2.
You don't need to break yarn during color changes - rather carry it vertically along the edge.
removing hanging loop
If you'd like to knit the dishcloth without a hanging loop, you can modify the pattern in the finishing section as follows: omit the hanging loop section and bind off all sts before finishing.
Row totals are noted in italic.
abbreviations
k - knit
p - purl
RS / WS - right side / wrong side
sl1wyif - slip 1 st purlwise with yarn in front
st(s) - stitch(es)
** - work instruction between asterisks given number of times or until given moment
instructions
Border 1
Using main color, cast on 35 sts with long tail cast on, or another cast on technique of your choice (choose a slightly stretchy technique, for example Old Norwegian Cast On).
Work Rows 1-2 in main color two times.
Row 1 (WS): sl1wyif, *k1, p1* until 2 sts left, k2.
Row 2 (RS): sl1wyif, k until end of row.
Change to contrast color and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to main color and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to contrast color and work Rows 1-2 three times.
Break contrast color.
14 rows worked in total in this section.
Inner area
Change to main color and work Rows 1-2 ten times.
Row 1 (WS): sl1wyif, *k1, p1* until 2 sts left, k2.
Row 2 (RS): sl1wyif, k until end of row.
20 rows worked in total in this section.
Border 2
Change to contrast color and work Rows 1-2 three times.
Row 1 (WS): sl1wyif, *k1, p1* until 2 sts left, k2.
Row 2 (RS): sl1wyif, k until end of row.
Change to main color and work Rows 1-2 once.
Change to contrast color and work Rows 1-2 once.
Break contrast color. Change to main color and work Rows 1-2 two times, then work Row 1 once more.
15 rows worked in total in this section.
Hanging Loop
Bind off sts using standard bind off until there are only 2 left on the needles (1 on left needle and 1 on right needle), k1, slip both sts to the left needle. The loop cord will be worked over these last 2 sts.
Work Row 1 until the cord measures approx. 10 cm (4”).
Row 1 (RS): k2, slip the sts back to the left needle.
Bind off both sts and sew the end of the cord to the back of the dishcloth corner to create the hanging loop.
Finishing
Weave in ends. Block to dimensions.
I hope you enjoyed knitting your project! If you share your project on Instagram, please tag me with @whileberry.creative and #knitwithwhileberry so I can see your lovely knit!
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