-This post may contain affiliate links. Yarn for this post provided by WeCrochet, all ideas and opinions are my own-
I am so excited to be kicking off another week of dishcloth and washcloth patterns. Dishcloths and/or washcloths, I use them interchangeably depending on how I plan on using the actual cloths, are a crochet project I really enjoy making for several reasons. One, they are small and quick. I am a big fan of quick finishes, I love the feeling of accomplishment when you finish a project and that comes a lot quicker with a dishcloth than it does with a blanket.
I also love that they are a great way to try out new stitches. They are big enough to get a good idea of what a stitch is going to look like and get the pattern down, but you aren't committing to a huge project. Learning new stitches is always fun, and you can then use that stitch later in other projects.
Another thing that is great about making dishcloths and washcloths is that they are useful. I have always liked making things that people can actually use, whether that is a hat that they can wear, a blanket they can cover up with, a doll they can cuddle, or a washcloth they can use to wash their face. They are a great way to add a handmade touch to a practical gift. Stick a couple of handmade washcloths in a basket with pretty soaps, lotions, and other bath items for a spa basket type gift. Add some soft washcloths to baby shampoo and lotion for a useful baby shower gift with a little bit of handmade. Or pair them with cleaning supplies to give to someone getting married or moving into a new house. I like to make sets of 2-3 if I am giving them as a gift, and then pair them with something.
Now, after that way too long of an introduction to why I am doing a week of dishcloth patterns we should get to today's pattern. One of my favorite stitches to use lately to give added texture to a crochet project is the crossed double crochet stitch. I have used it in several projects, including a couple of different hat and scarf patterns.
The crossed double is made by skipping one stitch, working a double crochet in the next stitch, then crossing over the stitch you just made and working your next double crochet in the stitch you just skipped. This creates a sort of x shape with the two double crochet stitches.
You can work rows of just crossed doubles, or combine it with rows of other stitches, which is what I have typically done. In this case I used rows of single crochet alternating with the rows of crossed doubles. I think this creates a nice pattern and texture on the washcloth using an easy repeat.
How to Crochet the Crossed Doubles Dishcloth
You will need:
Instructions:
*note: most of the time you use a turning ch 3 to replace the dc at the beginning of the row, I am using a ch 2 instead because I felt like the ch 3 was a little too long and made a gap on the side of my work because the crossed double crochet stitches may be just a tiny bit shorter than a regular dc because they are worked in more of a diagonal. If you prefer to use a ch 3 at the beginning of the double crochet rows that is fine too. The turning ch on the dc rows does count as your first stitch.
ch 31
Row 1: sc in 2nd stitch from hook and each stitch to the end (30 sc)
Row 2: ch 2, [skip next stitch, dc in next stitch, dc in skipped stitch] repeat until 1 stitch remaining, dc in last stitch (30 dc)
Row 3: ch 1, sc in each stitch across (30 sc)
Rows 4-21: repeat rows 2-3 until you have 21 rows, or feel like your washcloth is the size that you want it, if you add or subtract rows make sure you end with a row 3
Border: Continuing from the last row ch 1, turn your washcloth 90 degrees so you are working down the side, sc evenly along the side (I worked 1 sc in each sc row and 2 sc in the side of each dc row), 3 sc in corner, turn sc aross the bottom, 3 sc in the corner, continue until you have worked around the entire edge of your washcloth
Finish off, cut yarn, weave in ends.
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