It’s been quite a while since I did a crochet post. I haven’t been crocheting much this summer, but I got the urge to do something simple and quick.
I bought some inexpensive cotton yarn in a pretty rose pink, and I whipped up a wash cloth last night while I was watching the Olympics. I used a US H or 8 or 5.00 mm size hook, but you could use anything around that size that you already have.
This is a beginner’s project, but it assumes that you know how to create a chain, and do a double crochet. If not, check out the Craft Yarn Council’s website for easy to follow instructions. The shell stitch is nothing more than two double-crochets, a chain, and two more double-crochets in one stitch.
Here’s the pattern:
- Make a foundation chain by chaining 24 stitches.
- In the 4th chain, make a shell (2DC, ch, 2DC), skip 3 ch and make another shell all the way to the end of the row. Turn.
- Chain 3, in the middle stitch of the shell (the chain stitch), make a shell (2DC, ch, 2DC), continue till the end of the row. Repeat till the wash cloth is the size you want. I did about 12 rows.
- I wanted to finish off the wash cloth with a simple border, so I did single crochets around the cloth, putting a single crochet in each stitch and occasionally putting more than one single crochet if there was more space. When I got to the corners, I added 2 chains to make the corner.
I haven’t gotten around to “blocking” the wash cloth, i.e. ironing it so that it’s a perfect square. Also, because the wash cloth will get wet so often, I don’t think blocking is necessary. I think it’s OK that it looks handmade!
I’m going to make a second one tonight to finish up the yarn. Then I may get a different color yarn and make some more. Making a few in different shades and either rolling them or laying them flat and wrapping them with ribbon makes for a nice hostess gift for someone who appreciates handmade things.
Let me know if you try making them. And if you have a question, I’ll try to answer. Be crafty!
I love the color of yarn that you picked out for this. I always wanted to learn how to crochet and knit. My mom never had the patience to teach me. She tried once when I was nine or ten. I was left handed and she right. The session lasted maybe one minute. I was so disappointed and sad when she threw her hands up but I said nothing because it only would have made it worse.
Thank you, Laura! I had a hard time choosing coz there were a number of pretty colors, but I am a pink girl. In my mind, I see this in a greyed aqua shade, but not sure I’ll be able to find that. My mother was a talented knitter, but it never occurred to me as a kid to even ask her to teach me. Like you, I am a lefty and she was a righty plus I unfortunately did so few things with my mother. I learned to crochet at camp when I was 16. I think another girl taught me. I wish you lived close by because I would be happy to teach you to crochet, lefty to lefty!
I am bound and determined to learn to knit. I took a lesson from a woman who owned a yarn shop about 5 years or so ago, but one lesson wasn’t enough. My stitches were so tight on the kneedle I couldn’t get them off. Hopefully, my cousin’s wife will try to teach me this fall, but she’s not a lefty so we’ll see. With Continental, handedness is not supposed to be an issue but I don’t believe it!
Over 40 years ago I made a tank top in the same color and pattern as your wash cloth. Don’t remember the last time I crocheted, although I’m always knitting something. Might just try making this wash cloth for a simple refresher. Thanks for sharing.
Liz, thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my little “get back to crochet” project! It is a quick refresher. I was inspired by a pattern I saw that used the puff stitch. I tried it but I made a mistake in the first row that I discovered at about row 4 plus it used too much yarn, so I substituted a simple shell stitch and I like it even better. I am hoping my cousin’s wife will try to teach me to knit this fall. I’ve gotta crack the code!!
My mother was a super star knitter and crochet enthusiast. I used to know crochet but I feel it is like riding a bicycle, gotta jump back on!
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I know you’re so busy, Norah, but hopefully you’ll have time to get back into it and teach your daughter when she gets older 🙂
I admire anyone who knows how to knit or crochet because I have two left hands when it comes to these. LOL!
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Now now, I’m a lefty! I really enjoy crocheting – so relaxing. This fall, I hope to learn how to knit because it takes less yarn and I want to be able to make lighter weight items 🙂
What an awesome knitting project..love the color the yarn and the design!!
Ursula
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Thank you, Ursula! It’s actually crochet but I’ll take the compliment anyway!
That is seriously the most gorgeous wash cloth that I have ever seen! I love that you made it, and the color is among my favorites! Nice job, Allison! You are a very talented woman!
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Thank you so much, Helen! You are too sweet xoxo
I never learned how to crochet, my sister used to make granny squares and make them into blankets.
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Granny squares have definitely made a comeback. I’m going to make a granny square hat this winter
Lovely! Such neat stitches! I’m hopeless when it comes to knitting and/or crocheting. I just don’t have the dexterity in my hands to hold the hook and loop the yarn.
Monica.
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Thank you, Monica! I enjoy crochet. I find it relaxing. But it’s not for everyone. I would love to learn to knit because it takes much less yarn and I can make lighter weight garments, but I find it so difficult. I’m going to try again this fall, but I’m not sure I was meant to knit, lol
That’s such a pretty washcloth! With the exception of yours truly, the women in my family are all huge crocheters. I’ve got to show you some of the material I have.
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Oh, please do, Renu! I’d love to see your family’s handiwork!!
This was a quick little project. I crochet more often in the cold weather, but truthfully, I have so many ponchos, scarves, shawls, hats, bracelets, even sweaters that I don’t know what else to make. I’ve stopped giving crochet gifts unless people specifically ask for them I need to learn to knit next.
I never learned how to crochet. I’m left handed and it was always too hard for anyone to teach me that or knitting. I finally learned how to knit but stopped because I was so busy working and raising a family. I’m impressed that you can whip this up in a night.
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I’m a lefty too, but someone managed to teach me at Camp Ramah when I was 16 and everyone was crocheting yamakas! But I’m having a tough time in my old age learning how to knit because I don’t know any left handed knitters around here though they say that Continental is not “hand-specific”. At any rate, I enjoy crocheting ‘coz it’s relaxing. This little wash cloth is super fast to work up, about an hour or less. I need to find someone with a baby to make things for coz I have all the scarves, ponchos, hats, shawls I can use!
I’ve tried crochet in the past and I just couldn’t get the hang of it!
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It’s not for everyone! I’m trying to learn to knit, and it’s a struggle. I’m a lefty!
I love the color you’re using
Thank you! Like you love purple, I love pink
I wish I was able to knit. Either way, I love a good knit dish cloth!
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Not knitting, not a dish cloth, lol. A crocheted face cloth!
What a cute idea! I am a total novice at this but maybe I can give the washcloth project a try.
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That’s great, Anatasia, that you know how to crochet! I think this is a good beginner project. It gives you more practice with a pattern, ad it works up really fast. If you decide to make it and have any questions, I’m glad to help!
This is awesome Allison 🙂 My mom crocheted when I was younger and my grandma did but passed away years ago and I was so sad to not learn from her before she did. She won many awards for her quilting and crochet work. This year before summer, my mom taught me the basics and I was able to make me a scarf… It’s so much fun and I really enjoy it. I’m gonna try and do a washcloth… I just seen some gorgeous microfibre yarn at Walmart that I think would be something great to use. 🙂
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That’s so great that your grandmother and mother were/are crocheters and crafters, and I’m glad your mom taught you. I learned at camp when I was 16. It never occurred to me to ask my mother to teach me to knit when she was alive, and that was very silly on my part. I hope you do have a chance to try making the wash cloth in microfiber. It’s so quick. It took about a half hour while watching the Olympics. I made a couple of them, and now I need to get another color. They’re really cute – almost too pretty to use as wash cloths!
I have always wanted to learn to knit or crochet! What a cute little project and I love the color.
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Thank you, Kristina! I enjoy crocheting, and I too would love to learn to knit. I’m hoping my friend will teach me this fall if she has time. I think crochet is easier to learn because there’s only one hook. You should try it so you can teach your girls when they get a little older!
Allison…….. Thank you so much for sharing your pattern. Such an easy dish cloth to make. Both my mom and grandmother crocheted and taught me. Not having them here with me has been hard. I miss both each and everyday of my life. I stay connected with both in my crocheting projects. I can hear my mom “keep trying you will get it!” Since losing my mom (2years ago) I find crocheting so comforting. She and I always had great times trying a new pattern together. Her always getting it and me not so much. Crafting has always been in our family. Great memories. Again, many thanks for sharing. Also, thanks for not charging for the pattern. Being a senior and on a fixed income this is important to so many of us. Big hugs to you. ❤️
DiEtta, thank you so much for reading my post and taking the time to get in touch. I’m so glad that crocheting links you to your mother and grandmother. What a wonderful way to keep them close even though they’ve passed.
I learned to crochet at camp. My mother was a great knitter but she didn’t crochet. I foolishly never asked her to teach me (I’m a lefty and she wasn’t and I thought that mattered), so I still don’t know how to knit. But my great-aunt was an amazing crocheter. Unfortunately, I learned to crochet the year after she died. I’m not as talented as she was, but I really enjoy it.
I made those “dishcloths” to use as face cloths, but they’re too pretty to use! I need to get over it, lol. Did you make some?
Right now, I’m finishing up a shawl made with the “virus pattern”. Have you seen that, or have you made it yet? I found it tricky to get started because the pattern was translated from German, and it was rather confusing. So I used a combination of the written pattern, a visual pattern/graph and also YT videos. I was doing pretty well till I finished the first motif and then had to figure out how to repeat it. About 28 rows later, I realized I made a mistake and had to rip it out to about row 10. Grrr. But I’m glad I went back and fixed it coz it is so pretty. I’ll post about it once it’s completed. I just ordered more yarn today in a different color scheme to make one for my cousin for the holidays. During the winter, I always like to have a project going. What are you working on now?