Fading Dishcloths: Free Knitting Pattern

A fun and modern twist on the classic granny’s or farmhouse knit dishcloths, use up your stash or play around with your favorite color blends to knit these up. The yarn is always held double to for sturdy and striking results. Try it in either the bias or classic construction and use two, three, or four colors… or more if your imagination takes you!

Materials:

--Two to four skeins of 100% cotton dishcloth yarn (Size 4), depending on how many colors you want in the finished object.

--US size 8/5 mm needles(or size needed to obtain gauge -- can be straight, long DPNs, or circulars)

--Tapestry needle

** A note on yarn, for every dishcloth, there are times when you will be working with two strands of the same color. I simply used center-pull skeins and worked from both ends of the skein at once. If you don’t like this method or your yarn isn’t wrapped in a way that makes this possible/practical, simply roll a small ball off the main skein before starting the color so you can work off of it and the main skein at the same time.

Gauge:

8 stitches and 15 rows = 2x2”

**Please note, all versions of the dishcloth are knit with two strands of yarn held together. Your gauge will be off if you knit your gauge swatch with a single strand of yarn.

Abbreviations:

K - knit

P - purl

YO - yarn over

K2TOG - knit two stitches together

C1 - Use two strands of color 1 held together

C1/2 - Use one strand of color 1 and one strand of color 2 held together

C2 - Use two strands of color 2 held together

C2/3 - Use one strand of color 2 and one strand of color 3 held together

C3 - Use two strands of color 3 held together

C3/4 - Use one strand of color 3 and one strand of color 4 held together

C4 - Use two strands of color 4 held together

With so many options, you're sure to make this more than once. Go ahead and get it pinned to your Pinterest boards or share on Facebook to make sure you can find it again!

Two-Color Bias Dishcloth

This project is knit in its entirety with two strands of yarn held together.

Cast on 4 stitches

Rows 1-26:(C1) K1, YO, K to the end

Rows 27-36:(C1/2) Same as Row 1

Rows 37-40:(C1/2) K1, YO, K2TOG, K to the end

Rows 41-50:(C1/2) K1, YO, K2TOG, K until 3 stitches before the end, K2TOG, K1

Rows 51-75:(C2) Same as Row 37

Row 76:(C2) K1, K2Tog, cast off 1,K1, cast off 1, K2TOG, cast off last two stitches

Weave in ends.

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Three-Color Bias Dishcloth

This project is knit in its entirety with two strands of yarn held together.

Cast on 4 stitches

Rows 1-14:(C1) K1, YO, K to the end

Rows 15-30:(C1/2) Same as Row 1

Rows 31-36:(C2) Same as Row 1

Rows 37-40:(C2) K1, YO, K2TOG, K to the end

Rows 41-46:(C2) K1, YO, K2TOG, K until 3 stitches before the end, K2TOG, K1

Rows 47-62:(C2/3) Same as Row 37

Rows 63-75(C3) Same as Row 37

Row 76:(C3) K1, K2Tog, cast off 1,K1, cast off 1, K2TOG, cast off last two stitches

Weave in ends.

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Four-Color Bias Dishcloth

This project is knit in its entirety with two strands of yarn held together.

Cast on 4 stitches

Rows 1-10:(C1) K1, YO, K to the end

Rows 11-22:(C1/2) Same as Row 1

Rows 23-32:(C2) Same as Row 1

Rows 33-36:(C2/3) Same as Row 1

Rows 37-40:(C2/3) K1, YO, K2TOG, K to the end

Rows 41-44:(C2/3) K1, YO, K2TOG, K until 3 stitches before the end, K2TOG, K1

Rows 45-54:(C3) Same as Row 38

Rows 55-66:(C3/4) Same as Row 38

Rows 67-75:(C4) Same as Row 37

Row 76:(C4) K1, K2Tog, cast off 1,K1, cast off 1, K2TOG, cast off last two stitches

Weave in ends.

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Two-Color Classic Dishcloth

This project is knit in its entirety with two strands of yarn held together.

Cast on 30 stitches

Rows 1-3:(C1) K across

Odd Rows between 4-14: (C1) K across

Even Rows between 4-14:(C1) K2, P until 2 stitches remain, K2

Odd Rows between 15-28:(C1/2) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 15-28:(C1/2) Same as Row 4

Odd Rows between 29-40:(C2) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 29-40:(C2) Same as Row 4

Rows 41-42:(C2) K2, P to the last 2 stitches, K2

Row 43:(C2) Cast off by purling.

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Three-Color Classic Dishcloth

This project is knit in its entirety with two strands of yarn held together.

Cast on 30 stitches

Rows 1-3:(C1) K across

Odd Rows between 4-8: (C1) K across

Even Rows between 4-8:(C1) K2, P until 2 stitches remain, K2

Odd Rows between 9-16:(C1/2) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 9-16:(C1/2) Same as Row 4

Odd Rows between 17-26:(C2) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 17-26:(C2) Same as Row 4

Odd Rows between 27-34:(C2/3) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 27-34:(C2/3) Same as Row 4

Odd Rows between 35-40:(C3) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 35-40:(C3) Same as Row 4

Rows 41-42:(C3) K2, P to the last 2 stitches, K2

Row 43:(C3) Cast off by purling.

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Four-Color Classic Dishcloth

This project is knit in its entirety with two strands of yarn held together.

Cast on 30 stitches

Rows 1-3, 5:(C1) K across

Even Rows between 4-6:(C1) K2, P until 2 stitches remain, K2

Odd Rows between 7-12:(C1/2) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 7-12:(C1/2) Same as Row 4

Odd Rows between 13-18:(C2) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 13-18:(C2) Same as Row 4

Odd Rows between 19-24:(C2/3) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 19-24:(C2/3) Same as Row 4

Odd Rows between 25-30:(C3) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 25-30:(C3) Same as Row 4

Odd Rows between 31-36:(C3/4) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 31-36:(C3/4) Same as Row 4

Odd Rows between 37-40:(C4) Same as Row 1

Even Rows between 37-40:(C4) Same as Row 4

Rows 41-42:(C4) K2, P to the last 2 stitches, K2

Row 43:(C4) Cast off by purling.

I'd love to see your versions and the colors you pick out. Tag me on Instagram @balancedambitions and follow me for more great patterns, inspiration, and ideas!