It’s a ZOMBIE POST! From my old dead blog, reproduced here, is the first pattern that made me a Ravelry designer. It’s a little sketchy, as my first written pattern, but should be easy peasy. I hope to write down more of my designs, and add them to this blog in time!
These are great because they use very little yarn, and they get both kid’s faces and kitchen counters super clean. We’ve been paper towel free for several years now, and I love using something soft and fun so much better!
Basketweave Scrubby Cloth
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- Yarn: Worsted or aran weight 100% cotton (recommended: Red Heart Scrubby Smoothie)
- Hook: Size H 5.0mm
Abbreviations:
fpdc – front post double crochet
bpdc – back post double crochet
INSTRUCTIONS
Chain 23, turn.
Row 1: Starting at 4th ch from hook, dc to end. Turn. (20 dc)
Row 2: Ch3 (counts as 1st dc), fpdc in ea of next 6 sts, bpdc in next 6 sts, fpdc in next 6 sts, dc in last st. Turn.
Row 3: Ch3, bpdc in 6 sts, fpdc in 6 sts, bpdc in 6 sts. Turn.
Row 4: Repeat row 2.
Row 5: Repeat row 2.
Row 6: Repeat row 3.
Row 7: Repeat row 2.
Continue in pattern to desired length. End with row of sc, ch 1, turn, and sc all the way around. Put 3 sc in each corner and work evenly on sides. Finish off.
Oh hey there! It’s a quick update from the year 2013! Someone recently asked me how I’d upsize this pattern to make a baby blanket… and I though I’d share my answer here for anyone who’s interested!
Basketweave Baby Blanket
INSTRUCTIONS
Row 1: Chain 130 (to make even larger add sts in multiples of 6). Starting at 4th ch from hook, dc to end. Turn. (128 dc)
Row 2: Ch3 (counts as 1st dc), *fpdc in ea of next 6 sts, bpdc in next 6 sts. Repeat from * until 1 st remains, dc in last st.
Row 3: Ch3, * bpdc in 6 sts, fpdc in 6 sts. Repeat from * until 1 st remains, dc in last st.
Row 4: Repeat row 2.
Row 5: Repeat row 2.
Row 6: Repeat row 3.
Row 7: Repeat row 2.
Continue in pattern to desired length. End with row of sc, ch 1, turn, and sc all the way around. Put 3 sc in each corner and work evenly on sides. Finish off.
Written patterns copyright Tamara Kelly 2011. Please include links to this blog post if sharing this pattern with others. You are welcome to see finished items made from this pattern.
Elizabeth
I would like to try this, the pattern seems pretty straight forward, I only know a few crochet stitches and none of the names of them! Is there a good online reference for how to individual stitches and their names?
moogly
Hi Elizabeth! There are lots of crochet stitch dictionaries out there on the web, and lots of videos on youtube. Here’s one site to get you started: http://crochet.about.com/od/crochetstitches/u/Crochet_Stitch_Instructions.htm
Hope that helps and thanks for reading!
Elizabeth
Thanks, I will check them out!
Pippa Muller
Wow! What a cute and very functional pattern! ?Will use this in lots of ways…Thanks!
Audrey Huff
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I am brand new to crocheting, and have been struggling to find something that I can *easily* accomplish so that I can move on to the cute little animals that my nieces have requested! I made one last night (I messed up the order of the pattern, but it is made), and another this morning! I greatly appreciate the confidence builder! And, I will absolutely be making more and using them for all of my cleaning!
moogly
Oh Audrey, I’m so glad! That’s the best. Crocheting is so fun, I’m so pleased I could be part of your start!
jan
Hi Moogly, I like the look of these and I wanted to make this but have no idea what “kitchen cotton” is. Nor have I heard of any of those brands. Can you tell me what weight yarn you used please.
Cathy
I like Sugar n Cream cotton yarn, which I buy at AC Moore or Joann fabrics. The Joanns I go to has a 3 or 4 oz supersize (their words) skein of yarn. I like the choice of colors. I suggest you skip the scented or stripes if you are trying to save money unless you have the 50% coupons! Have fun, and thanks for this pattern. It looks so much harder than it is!
Pauline A Stevens
I recently bought scented Sugar n’ Cream and I do not like the smell, I sure hope the scent washes out.
Tamara Kelly
I haven’t used it myself as I try to avoid perfumes, but I’ve heard that it washes out within a couple of washes.
jan
Okay, I got it now. Thanks.
moogly
Ok, sorry for any confusion – it was the very first pattern I every wrote, so (hopefully!) not my best. 🙂 I’ll go in and clarify within the pattern.
evelyn
Love Moogly blog and all the free patterns.
tee
LOVE this! The only this, is, is the pattern instructions right as follows?
Row 4: Repeat row 2.
Row 5: Repeat row 2.
Row 6: Repeat row 3.
Row 7: Repeat row 2.
I’ve never done a basket weave before, so was just wanting tomake sure. It really is lovely!
moogly
Hi tee! Yep, it’s exactly as written. You see, you’re turning at the end of each row. and since there are an odd number of rows, you’re working the instructions for rows 2-3-2 and then 2-3-2 again but from the opposite sides of the cloth. It’s hard to explain, but when you make it I think you’ll see how it all comes together.
tee
Okay, awesome!
Sherry
I just made this for my Mom, just because I thought it was cute and hoped it was easy 🙂 And it was, I am new to crocheting but am finding I love these little kitchen projects. Easy and fast to work up! Thanks for this pattern! I am planning to make a few more things I saw in your patterns list too! 🙂
Penny
I just started making my second basketweave scrubby cloth with your pattern. I have knitted and crocheted many dish/wash cloths, but I must say this is my absolute favorite! It works up very fast and looks great. I love it! Thanks so much for sharing the pattern. Oh – I also made a ripple puff cleaning cloth and will post a pic of it, along with these dish cloths, on your FB page.
Tamara Kelly
Thanks so much Penny! We’re still using the original one in the picture here too! 😀 I’m so glad you like it as well.
Penny
Just had to pop back in and let you know I’ve made so many of these I’ve lost count! My very favorite dish cloth pattern by far. Perfect size, and wonderfully scrubby. I’ve given several as gifts, and everyone loves them. Thanks again!
Tamara Kelly
😀 So glad to hear it Penny! You’re very welcome!
Tess
VERY happy! 🙂
Katelyn
Hi! I’m thinking about making a couple sets of dishcloths in matching yarn colors but different stitches so I can practice using new stitches, but I’m concerned about light colored yarns (such as the beige in this one). Won’t they stain, or are they pretty good so long as you avoid wines, juices, tomato sauce, etc? Thanks in advance!
Tamara Kelly
I just wash in hot water with the rest of my kitchen linens, so the stuff that stains other things will likely stain these. But I can’t say I’ve noticed any! Using multi-color yarn certainly helps too!
Cathy Riehl
If you put a quarter cup of white vinegar in your wash, it keeps towels from being smelly
sandra
I’ve just found your pattern for the basket weave blanket blanket, its really lovely. Can you remember roughly how many balls of wool it took, as I have some I would like to use but don’t know if there is enough. Thanks
Tamara Kelly
Hi Sandra, I’m afraid this is the first pattern I ever wrote, and I don’t have that info.
Sam
I just want to thank you for this pattern. I have made a couple of these and they are the best for scrubbing dishes! I am making one for each of my guests at my Mother’s Day luncheon. Thanks!
Tamara Kelly
You’re very welcome Sam, so glad you like it!
Kathleen
Your timing was perfect as always. You posted this right after my husband asked me to make him a new washcloth because his old one was disintegrating! 🙂 He loves the colorful one I made with leftovers from the Wiggle Trivet. One suggestion I have is that since you are working post stitches they aren’t as tall as normal double crochets; therefore, I recommend starting rows with ch 2 instead of ch 3. It makes the side much more smooth and finished looking, without the bump left from the ch 3 followed by a post stitch. Just a suggestion! 🙂
Tamara Kelly
Good idea Kathleen! I’ve learned a lot since I wrote this pattern, that’s for sure!
Marion
If I wanted to make the dish cloth wider, how would I calculate the number of foundation chain stitches? Thanks.
Tamara Kelly
You would add a multiple of 6, though 12 would look more balanced. 🙂
Elizabeth
This pattern is really nice!
But I’m making a washcloth, 12″ square, so I increased the base stitches by multiples of 6 like for the baby blanket.
But I don’t understand “continue in pattern”.
Do I start the 8th row with the directions for row 2, 9th with 3, 10th with 4, and so on?
Thanks!
Tamara Kelly
Hi Elizabeth! Repeat Row 2, 3, 2 over and over: 2,3,2,2,3,2,2,3,2,2,3,2,2,3,2, etc. 🙂
Elizabeth Moore
Thank you very much for the clarification! I appreciate it very much. 🙂
Tamara Kelly
🙂 Happy to help!
Jonna pierce
what size does this dish cloth end up to be? I like mine to be at least 8 or 9″ and this looks smaller than that. Love the look!
Tamara Kelly
This one was pretty small. It’s been so many years since I made it though, I can’t say exactly. You’ll want to add sts for sure, if you like them at 9″. 🙂
Karen Sekishiro
It’s been a year since this pattern was on your website. I know someone already asked how much yarn is needed to make the blanket and you said you didn’t know. Have you or anyone you know come up with an answer? I really want to make this blanket, but don’t know if I have enough yarn.
Tamara Kelly
The best solution would be to check Ravelry, there are lots of basketweave blankets on there that should give you a good estimate of yardage. 🙂