You know, I use cotton for mine. I don’t really like washing dishes with them, but I do when there’s nothing else. I like wiping counters with them. I bleach them after use so there is no “smelly” issue here. I use white yarn.
Hi, it’s Red Heart yarn. The edging is just a garter stitch - 5 stitches on each side.
Just got some 100% cotton Peaches 'n Cream @ Walmart :cheering: Can’t wait to try a washcloth!
I don’t do dishes with my regular washcloths, but I use them to wipe counters, and I’m a stickler for clean ones. I keep a small basket under my sink which I call my washcloth hamper. As soon as one gets dirty I throw it in there for laundry day. On laundry day I add do a quick short wash in cold just to get the ickiness out - no soap. Then, put in the rest of my whites with bleach. I hope the knitted ones can take all that! 
I must admit that i don’t use my knitted dishcloths to wash dishes either, but i do use them to wipe down the counters and such. Plus, i just love being able to knit something that i can use - i’ve got enough scarves to fill an art gallery! I usually use the Rowan Handknit Cotton DK -there are some gorgeous colors!
I’ve just finished my first dishcloth! :cheering: I think I’ll use it to wipe the counters with too, I like to use a sponge (the ones with a scratchy side) for the dishes.
Be aware! I bought a dish cleaner that had a sponge on one side and a promised ‘non scratch’ scourer on the other. I had had someone on the stove spatter my grill (like a george foreman’s but a different brand) and left it for a couple of days and then found it hard to get off. I turned the sponge over to use the non-scratch and it took all the dots off (when you point the dial to). Doesn’t matter to me as such as I know where I want the dial to be but goes to show how wary you must be!
“spa” washcloths are always wonderful gifts.
Kitchen/craft cotton ones are nice, chenille ones, super! you can knit body puffs too (for liquid soaps) and when paired with hand made soaps or creams, (made yourself or bought) they make wonderful luxery gifts.
personally, i only knit wash(face) clothes… i never use them for dishes.
(i have knit potholder and placemats, and hot pads… but not dishrags!)
[color=#300090]
Ah, painting and photography came long before the word processor. Landscape as in a wide sky line with less height. Portrait as in more height for the subject and less width (people to tend to stand or sit upright after all). 
The word processor designers stole borrowed the terms from the earlier artists and craftsmen.
Dishcloths and Washcloths:
Heat is what kills the bacteria and germs that cause odor. Microwave the damp cloths (it is the water that absorbs the microwave energy and causes the heating)
OR
After the washer, toss them in the dryer on hot.
OR
Steam iron! Cotton will take the steam iron while synthetics can’t take that heat.
OR
If you are camping I suppose you could boil the cloths in a pan of water to sterilize them… Just watch you DH or teenagers!
(Hey, what’s cooking. Is that for lunch?) :roflhard:
Cotton vs. synthetics? It depends on the use. Your pots and pans don’t care about the feel of cotton but the synthetics are better scrubbers.
Synthetics don’t hold as much water, so they dry faster and deter germ growth (less smell). That is why the scrubber sponges have the scratch synthetic side. (In truth the sponge is likely synthetic also).
Cottons are better at picking up the spills.
Microfiber I would suspect to be better than cotton at holding more liquids with out drips (more like a shammy or chamois cloth is my guess).
Cottons better feel for shower and bath use.
Make your self a set of seven or more. Use one a day and wash with towels.
Doilies for dishes?
Funny but my dear wife does this the other way around. I make her dishcloths that match the color of her kitchen and she wants to keep them for doilies as she thinks they are too pretty to scrub dishes with them. :roll:
–Jack [SIZE=“1”](flattered and frustrated about dishcloths)[/SIZE]
P.S. Use acrylic and double strand on large needles for a perfect car wash rag. Open stitches rinse easier and cleaner.
My current project:
A [B][U]Round, Short-Rows Dishcloth[/U][/B] made with short rows and using YO increases and knit bind off.
Next project:
A [U]Dishcloth Duo[/U] from [U]Knitability.com[/U] I think I have a cotton ball and an acrylic skein that are a reasonable match in color to form a dual purpose set.[/color]
I have to admit that I have NO interest in knitting dish cloths. I don’t want any MORE things to be wash and dry. I’d rather spend my yarn money and knitting time on knitting much more beautiful things.:knitting: :knitting:
I love knitting dishcloths. I have several patterns now for ones with a ladybug, butterfly, duckling, sailboat, spring thems - flowers, christmas themes, thanksgiving etc. and babies by krisknits - i knit a set for my twin gc to use for bath time. They are quick and fun.
I use cotton. I use my dishcloths for wiping counters. I change them out daily and also wash them in the washer.
I have knitted and crocheted a bunch of dishcloths…I used to give them away to family all the time but I’ve been making some for myself because we go through dishcloths so quickly! I prefer using a cotton yarn for cleaning counters and the table, you can wring out the cotton better than the acrylic, so your cleaner or water will dry on the surface faster…However, I really like the acrylic for washing dishes because it’s kind of rough and really helps wash off stubborn food spots.
I wash mine in the washing machine and in between washings, I put them (same goes for sponges) in the microwave for 2 minutes to kill bacteria. Just be sure, if you use the microwave method for killing bacteria, you leave the cloth (or sponge) damp. After the microwave, I sometimes also soak them in bleach water to make extra sure the bacteria is killed…lol…Overkill?
But yeah, I enjoy making them, they’re quick, easy, and a great way to try out new stitch patterns!
My knitted ones far outlast the store bought and I have bought the top of the line from Dillards Macy’s and Foleys and over time terry and velor washcloths fluff away out the dryer lint tube as do dishcloths-even from upscale dept stores
My hand knit cloths are coming up n 5 years old and are thick and brightly colored and still look new ( mercerized worsted cotton) and even my non-mercerized (Cotton Tots) still are thick and soft and look nice I never had a storebought dishcloth or a washcloth look good or last for 5 years so…
#1 economical It lasts longer
#2 Beauty The colors stay bright and true when one spends the money on worsted mercerized cotton My friends cloths are 10 yrs old and still look good If you buy the cheapest cotton- it will not be worth it
#3 knitting household items is green You are building a group of things that willlast years Linen lasts generations WHen did you ever see a wool coat 3 generations old One stain and it is done
a stain on cotton means time in the laundry and it is fine and ready to go again looking new I have cotton items from my grandmothers kitchen from the 60’s that look great
just something to think about when we are trying to be a bit more green
Susan P, The dishcloth was the very first thing my LYS instructor taught me to knit , it was fast and easy and you felt a sense of accomplishment when you were finished knitting it. I remember showing it to my DH with pride, like “Looky what I did in class today!!!” He just looked at it and said hummm, so you made a dishrag! But I was proud of my very first knitted project.
There nice and quick to knit up for a baby shower, or make a few and add to a get well basket with some nice bath salts or add to a new homeowner basket set.
[COLOR=“DarkOrchid”]I used to knit washcloths all the time but not any more. Now I just look for them at yard sales and secondhand stores where I can buy them for about a buck a piece.
They are just wonderful for cleanup. They are made of cotton but not the really good stuff. The stuff I used was more like string than anything but it did the job.
The other thing is you can usually find the pattern for a washcloth on the inside of the wrapper so they are good things to start knitting with.
TEMA:knitting: [/COLOR]
I started knitting dishcloths cause I wanted something that I could take along and work while sitting at swimming lessons or at the park. I’m currently using Grandmas Favorite dish cloth pattern. It’s so easy. I can make 1 in about 45 minutes. I will build my collection, then maybe I’ll make them for gifts. I offered my SIL dishcloths, but she said she could never use something so pretty that took my time to knit. I tried to explain that I wanted them to be used. But she didn’t want to listen. So I make them for me. I will also be making them from stitch pattern swatches. I use 100% cotton and I don’t actually “do the dishes” with them, but I wipe the counters with them. i have a scrub brush for the dishes and a dishwasher…I will also make them for the shower.
It’s funny how some are reluctant to use knit dishcloths. When I first started making them years ago, a woman actually framed one I made for her. It was so embarrassing! After trying many patterns, I now stick to Grandma’s Favorite. I love the way the diagonal pattern “acts,” for lack of a better word. And like you said, it’s a quick, non-stressful project. I can’t imagine using anything else now.
Until I read this thread, I didn’t realize I mostly use them for wiping down counters and sinks too. I always used a scrub sponge on dishes before loading them in the dishwasher and to do pans by hand. Now I’m making the knit scrubbies for that, following the hints in the FO Scrubbie thread, and they are wonderful.
I started by making a few washcloths for my new baby and as baby gifts. Then my girls each picked their own colors and pattern because they wanted their own washcloths for bathtime too. Now I’m trying to choose a pattern so I can make myself a collection to use in the kitchen.
They certainly last longer than shop bought cloths and you can knit them in colours to match your kitchen or bathroom.They are so easy to keep clean and wash through in the washing machine.would never go back to the old shop ones again.
Reading this thread and it occurred to me that dish cloths or spa cloths are simply swatches, with style