I make ‘dishcloths’ with sugar and cream cotton and a plain garter stitch diagonal pattern, like the “grandma’s favorite”, but for ‘washcloths’ or ‘facecloths’ I use a nicer brand of cotton or bamboo yarn and a lacy pattern. Usually the dishcloths I make are bigger than the washcloths.
This is my tweaked version of the Grandma. It’s relaxing & brainless.
[U][B]Basic Dish Rag[/B][/U]
Worsted weight cotton yarn
Sz. US8 needles
Cast on 4 sts.
Knit.
Knit again.
K1; Kf&b of next 2 sts; K1 - 6 sts.
to # - at last st yf, then sl last st pearlwise.
K2, YO, knit to end of row - 7 sts.
Rep this row till 50 sts.
K2, YO, K2 tog; knit to end of row - 50 sts.
Rep this row - 50 sts.
K1, K2 tog, YO, K2 tog; knit to end of row - 49 sts.
Rep this row till 6 sts.
(K1, K2 tog) X2, K1 - 4 sts.
Bind off.
Thanks for teh commetns about the Lion Brand Cotton… how is it for fading?
How many, (on the average) dish or washcloths can you get from the Tahki? I love the colors!
I’m not sure. I’m guessing 1.5 maybe, but I have some left from the last one I made that I’ll be starting on and I’ll see how far it goes. It does depend on the cloth size you like and even the pattern. I am doing this one right now and it’s garter with short rows which may take more than some. Stockinette would take less, but I prefer garter for dishcloths.
http://1870pearl.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/01/pocket_knitting.html
Lion has this too… http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/lion-brand-natures-choice-organic-cotton
It’s softer than S&C, I think, and it’s a bit thicker too… but not like bulky weight…
I have not washed anything with it yet, so I don’t know how it is on fading.
When I first starting knitting all mine were dishcloths. I use them to practice a pattern, to play around seeing what I can. Then I discovered doing them in cables and lace when I am practicing those designs and seeing what kind of cables I can think up on my own, I now use these as washcloths. Most are very decorative and the lacy ones are so pretty. I also usually do these in white as well and give with a bar of lavender or fancy wrapped soap. I think they are lovely in lace and make the whole bathing setting special.
SO my dishcloths are rougher, like the brick wall and waffle stich and my washclothes are mostly lace and sometimes cabled. I can always tell the difference for me that way when sorting laundry.