Nothing says summer like cotton, and I always find myself making these washcloths in the summer months. Maybe it’s because of the fiber, or maybe because they are a wonderfully simple palette cleanser. Or maybe I just don’t want a whole sweater sitting on my lap in the summer heat! Regardless, this washcloth pattern works wonderfully up with solid and multi-colored yarn. It makes for a soft but scrubby fabric that’s great for everything from doing the dishes to bath time with little ones.
Supplies and Tools
Approximately 30g worsted weight, 100% cotton yarn
5mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge
Darning needle (for finishing)
Gauge
21 sts and 17 rows to 4” in pattern (see below)
Skills and Abbreviations
Chain (ch)
Single crochet (sc)
Stitch/stitches (st/sts)
Myrmica Washcloth Recipe
Foundation chain: ch 36.
Note
If you would like your washcloth bigger or smaller, you can change the number of ch sts here, as long as it is an even number. Changing the number of foundation ch sts will change the required yardage for this pattern.
Row 1: sc into the 4th ch from your hook, ch1. *Skip 1 ch, sc into the next ch, ch 1.* Repeat directions within * * until you reach the end of your row. You should end with a sc st in your final foundation ch st.
Row 2: ch 2 and turn work. Into your first ch 1 space, sc. *ch 1, sc into the next ch space from the previous row.* Repeat directions within * * until you reach the end of your row, finishing with a sc into the ch 3 at the end of your foundation row.
Row 3 and all further rows: ch 2 and turn work. Into your first ch 1 space, sc. *ch 1, sc into the next ch space from the previous row.* Repeat directions within * * until you reach the end of your row, finishing with a sc into the turning ch 2 from your previous row.
Continue working in pattern until you have completed a total of 26 rows, or until the washcloth is as big as you desire (working more or less total rows will change required yardage for this pattern).
Optional Border
Ch 3 and work another sc into the same space as your previous sc without turning your work.
Ch 1, and work a sc into the next ch space down the side of your washcloth. Continue to ch 1 and then work a sc into the next ch space down the side of your washcloth until you reach the next corner of your cloth.
Work your final sc into the last ch space down the side of your cloth, then ch 3 and work another sc into that same space.
Ch 1, and work a sc into the next unworked ch from your foundation chain along the bottom of your cloth. Continue to ch 1 and the work a sc into the next unworked ch from your foundation ch until you reach the last unworked foundation ch.
Work your final sc into the last unworked foundation ch along the bottom of your cloth, then ch 3 and work another sc into that same space.
Ch 1, and work a sc into the first ch space up the next side of your cloth. Continue to ch 1 and work a sc into the next ch space up the side of your washcloth until you reach the next corner.
You have now established your border. After working your final sc into the last ch space up the side of your washcloth, you can break your yarn and finish off, or you can continue to work more border rounds as described below:
Into each corner, work [sc, ch 3, sc, ch 1]
Into each ch space along an edge, work [sc, ch 1]
You can work as many rounds of the border as you wish. You can end after working the first sc into any corner.
This pattern works wonderfully for all types of yarn, both solid and multi-colored. You can even make a striped version by working 2 rows with one color, then 2 rows with another color, and continuing to swap colors every other row.
I hope you enjoyed this pattern and get lots of use out of the washcloth you made! I would love to see pictures of your finished pieces. If you share on social media, please use the tag #MyrmicaWashcloth and tag me in your photos. Feel free to check out my website or more of my work, and for information on where you can purchase my patterns.
