Waffle Stitch Dishcloth (knit)

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I love crochet. Well, I also love to knit. Here is a simple pattern for a knitted dishcloth. The stitch pattern is a multiple of 2, so feel free to adjust the width to your taste. It would also make a fabulous dish towel.

Why bother knitting dishcloths when they will just be used to scrub dishes? Here are some reasons:

  1. They actually work well.
  2. You can make custom-size, custom pattern versions. Harry Potter’s face? Bumblebee? The classic garter stitch on the bias? Easy peasy.
  3. You can make a swatch to test out a new stitch pattern, then actually use it for something.
  4. Hand-made dishcloths are a cult fave (I’ve seen people search for them on Facebook). Everyone took them for granted while their grandmothers were making them, then missed them once Grandma passed away.
  5. They’re great gifts! Whip one up as a hostess gift or make one to put in a spa gift basket.
  6. They are a quick project that can be completed in one evening. It’s a nice break from a larger project that’s taking forever.
  7. They are somehow just satisfying.




Knitting needles, 3.75 mm*

Bernat Handicrafter cotton (medium #4 weight) or your favourite cotton/cotton blend yarn. (Kitchen Cotton, Dishie, Scrubby Smoothie, etc.)

*Although gauge is not crucial, using smaller needles gives a good, firm fabric that won’t stretch out as much when wet. You could even try 3.5 mm.


  1. Cast on 50 stitches
  2. Rows 1-8 (lower border): Knit (makes 4 garter-stitch ridges).
  3. Rows 9-10: Knit 1, purl 1 across. (2 rows k1-p1 rib.)
  4. Rows 11-12: Knit.
  5. Repeat rows 9-12, 18 times or until dishcloth is nearly the desired length, then work upper border. This is the waffle-stitch pattern.
  6. Last 8 rows (upper border): knit.
  7. Bind off and weave in ends.


Feel free to use this pattern to make dishcloths for sale. Please give credit! Thanks and happy crafting.

For a downloadable PDF version of this pattern, visit https://www.yarncanada.ca/content/WoolWitchesWaffleStitchDishclothPattern.pdf

(Not a paid endorsement of Yarncanada.ca. They requested permission to use my pattern.)

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