A Farmgirl Can Learn Anything… And A Gift To You!

IMG_0696-001

.

I don’t crochet.  I don’t even really know how to crochet.

.

But I’m not a very good “sitter” and this year I made it a goal to do more porch sitting, relaxing and taking life a little slower.  (I actually wrote about that here.)  Since I love cotton crocheted dish cloths, I decided that would be a great thing to do while I’m sitting.  Because you see, my personality says that I have to make even my sitting time productive.  Sigh.  (And besides, yarn is so very beautiful, who wouldn’t want to sit and crochet?)

.

IMG_0689-001..

So, I set out to teach myself how to make the dish cloths.  There are all kinds of tutorials on YouTube and I watched a few very basic ones, purchased some yarn and made a few.  I sort of hated how they came out.  They were really big – like huge.  And I cannot stand a huge dish cloth.  I also wasn’t happy with the fact that they were just a plain, boring square, with what looked to me like unfinished edges.

.

 

IMG_1306-001.

.

So I decided to branch out a bit and make a dish cloth the size I liked and then finish it off with some pretty border or something.  Not having any idea what the different stitches were called I began to do a little research and found one I liked called a shell stitch.  I figured out how to work that as a border around my dish cloth and I loved it.

.

IMG_1329-001

.

So, after making and unraveling many dish cloths I finally got the perfect fit for me!  I decided to share my pattern with you so I sat down to write it and immediately realized that I have NO idea how to write a crochet pattern!

.

IMG_1314-001

.

I called on a very good friend of mine that writes and sells her crochet patterns from her website and asked her if I made a dish cloth for her, would she write the pattern for me to share with all of you wonderful Farmgirls?  Of course she said yes.  So, I’m happy to be able to share my pattern with you.  And if you don’t crochet?  No problem!  YouTube will teach you how!

.

But the really good news?  I have a gift for two lucky readers!

.

I would love to share a batch of three dishcloths with two of you amazing readers!  So, to enter to win, just leave a comment and in two weeks I’ll select two winners!  And once you use cotton crocheted dish cloths you’ll be begging for more… or making your own!

.

They also make such fantastic gifts.  As a matter of fact, I’ve made the above dish cloths so many times and before I could take pictures for this blog post, I gave them all away!  Like three different times!  And my grand-daughter, Rosetta (she’s four) loves to play with them when she comes to my house.  I’m not sure exactly what she uses them for but it is the first thing she grabs when she comes.  (And that is why there should be a pink one in the picture and there’s not.  I think it might be buried in the toy box!)

.

IMG_0651-002

.

One last thing before I share the pattern.  Be sure to buy 100% cotton yarn.  My favorite are the Sugar ‘n Cream yarns.  There are so many colors and patterns.  And you can even buy them off of Amazon!

.

To access my crocheted dish cloth pattern all you have to do is click on the link below and it will take you to a PDF document that you can print or just view on your computer.  Please let me know if you have any problems viewing it.

.Dori’s Dishcloth Pattern

.

I hope you’ll let me know if you make the dish cloth!  And don’t forget to enter to win a few of these bright colored beauties!

.

Until our gravel roads cross again… so long.

.

Dori

  1. Sandi King says:

    Dori, I have never heard of crocheted dish cloths and never saw one until now. I like the idea of making your own. I used to cut old towels into squares for dish cloths, but I think I will try the crocheted ones. I do crochet when my hands allow me to and I am going to try your pattern when I can. Thank you for doing something you didn’t know how to do and posting it here. It inspires me to try again doing new things. I enjoy all the stories I read here on Mary Jane’s Farm and have learned much which I hope to use when I move to my little acreage in the country. I am downloading your pattern so I can get started. Thanks so much. Sandi

  2. Jo Gill says:

    Very nice. I would love to win some. Thanks.

  3. I learned to make these dishcloths a few years back for girlfriend gifts. There are many easy patterns on Pinterest. I attached the dischcloth to a bottle of Meyers dishsoap. They were well-appreciated and useful Christmas gifts. The Sugar and Cream brand is very sturdy and forgiving when you have to unravel and start again:)

  4. Gigi says:

    I admire your can-do attitude and applaud your teaching yourself to crochet. What on earth did we do before YouTube when we wanted to learn something? Encyclopedias and local library can’t hold a candle to this new learning method.
    So glad you figured out how to make these little treasures and I can get a chance to own one and a small piece of my Favorite Farmgirl!

  5. Becky van haselen says:

    I will be anxious to try these…I have made some in the past and they were way too big. Thanks for sharing!

  6. Janet says:

    I don’t crochet but my wonderful sister-in-law does. I will pass this pattern on to her so she can crochet some dish towels for my Christmas present. I enjoy you posts very much as I grew up in the beautiful hills of Tennessee and miss them as I am now living in Memphis.

  7. Carol-Sue says:

    Dori,

    Thank you so much for the pattern! Our local yarn shop uses regular wash cloths to dry hands as an alternative to paper towels. It is on my project list to make some for my guest bathroom

  8. Colleen says:

    Hi Dori,
    Thanks for the encouraging post. On a bigger scale…I have been TRYING to make an old rag rug. I’m SO not talented when it comes to this kind of thing but I love the look of them. Jason’s grandmother made them all the time and we inherited a couple of hers. I love how they wash up and they look so homey. I haven’t mastered it yet but maybe with time and a little more PATIENCE I will. 🙂 I like your little wash clothes…I receive some for gifts every year (in June:) from one of our friends in NV. Maybe someday I can try my hand at the “smaller” stuff too. One farm girl thing at a time! 🙂
    Take care,
    Colleen

  9. Jolene Lake says:

    Dori, I tried years ago to learn how to crochet….. you have inspired me to learn again! Thanks for the tutorial & the chance to win one of your dishcloths!

  10. Susan says:

    Beautiful color’s. …lovely crocheting. I love those wash clothes and when I see them, i buy them .that is when ever i see them at bazaars.they make lovely gifts. Inlove hiw they c look like flowers on the edge.m you did such a loveky job! Susana

  11. Susan says:

    Loveky job….you can play ut my name down. …oneceach color.

  12. Susan says:

    Lovely job…,ill get it right yet!

  13. Cathy R says:

    Oh Dori, you are such an inspiration! I never learned how to crochet but love the dish cloths. My sweet friend keeps me supplied with round ones. Yours are beautiful!! I will give it a try as soon as my newly broken right wrist heals. Thanks for the giveaway!

  14. Judy says:

    This are so cute. I have never used a crocheted dish cloth, but I want to try them!!

  15. Victoria Hall says:

    Oh Dori….you put me to shame!!! I want to crochet so badly, but shoot…I don’t know. Maybe I’m just not smart enough!!! I wanted to make an afghan for my grandson, so bought yarn and trooped over to my neighbor who crochets beautifully. We got started. I broke out in a sweat. I could feel my blood pressure rise!!! It wasn’t relaxing at all!!! Everyone says it is so EASY….so FUN! I struggled and struggled. I wrote instructions on a cheat sheet and went home to proceed. Oh contraire!!! I haven’t touched it since, and that has been months!!! I feel like such a failure. Did you just go to YouTube? H….E…L..P. That is said with a whine………

  16. Julie A. Weaver (ClaireSky) says:

    You really inspire me to learn to crochet. Your dishcloths are really pretty. I would love to win your pretties… [:)]

  17. Julie A. Weaver (ClaireSky) says:

    You really inspire me to learn to crochet. Your dishcloths are really pretty. I would love to win your pretties… 🙂

  18. Denise Ross says:

    Dori, well done to you for teaching yourself to crochet. Your pattern looks lovely so I’m going to have a go over the summer at learning how to crochet using your pattern. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
    Blessings from Australia

  19. Rhiannon Carlton says:

    Your dishcloths are lovely! I love hand crocheted dishcloths, but sadly haven’t been able to make any that were at all recognizable as a dishcloth. I rely on finding them at yard sales and thrift stores, but I like them small so that’s hard to find. Yours sound perfect and I love the fancy edge! How cute would it look in my vintage style kitchen! Pick me and I show you by sending a cute photo of your dishcloth in its new digs!

  20. Judy Mac says:

    Well, you’ve inspired me…time to learn to crochet. I purchased a few crocheted dish cloths and love them. Would love to win a few more and thanks for the directions, sounds like a good project for football season.

  21. Bethany Leach says:

    My four year old daughter would love those, too!

  22. Rebecca says:

    The cotton crocheted are the only dishclothes I like to use. I bought a couple last year and I was hooked. I’ve made a few, but like you, it took some trial and error to get it the way I liked it. Yours are very nice and I love the bright colors.

  23. Lynn Lind says:

    It must be that in a past life I was a knitter… I have crocheted a lot when my mother was living so she could help me keep the stitches straight, but every time I lay it down, I forget it; and it feels like I’m starting over again! But I can tell you did very good work there! You should be proud!

  24. Susan says:

    If you want an easy pattern to make winter go easy and be prepared fir the cold winds, try making a crocheted hat..,.heres ghe instruction…my own pattern….
    You need one skein (seven ounce skein) of any yarn or color, ….chain 4 and close or slip stitch to the first chain to make a circle. Then chain two for start …one double crocheted stitch, then make nine more double crochets. ( you should have a total of ten double crochet stitches on first round_row

    For second round_row, your increase,…do two double crochet in each single crocheted stitch of the previous round. You should have ….twenty double crochets for second round and close to the first stitch.

    For third row_ round , repeat row _round two, your still increasing, do the same, two double crIchets in each previous double crochet. You should have a total …of forty double crocheted stitches on third row. and then close to the beginning stitch, wutb a slip stitch, to make the round completeby…. . just slip and chain up two slip stitches to make the next rows double crochet stitch.

    Fourth row_round….now you have the first double crochet stitch, then do two double in next , then a single stitch in next, alternating, ….two double crochets in every other stitch from below, making, every other one single double crochet t
    . ( one double crochet, then two in next stitch) rounding off with one in the next and last ….you start with a single, to make the last double stitch….being two double in one foubdation stitch. This makes the last row for increases. increasing every other stitch …. in every stitch repeat same in next round as previous double crochets. You should get 60 but if you get one more… 61 stitches, you can do a better pattern if you end up with 61, its easier to do the pattern. If you have 61 double crocheted stitches crocheted on fourth round. Do the following….

    Pattern for 61….and each round_row after, row above…do the same..TWO DOUBLE CROCHET then single double crichrt around.

    Pattern …..below…
    Now the pattern after the above increased foundation. …first double crochet in first stitch, then next stitch, put yarn over hook, then , stick hook behind the double crochet in below stitch, and bring yarn up from behind, and chain two for next double crochet. ( wish i could show you, easier than explaining). But you do this stitch every other stitch and a regular double crocheted min the next stitch place. …it almost like doing a cable stitch in knitting, but then thIs is crochet. The trick is to count like one, two, while doing this round. But you do this only if you have an odd number.

    Pattern if you have 60 in foundation, do one double crochet then the double backward cable stitch, on row_round four…. and repeat vuntil 60 stitches completed, and continue these round until you

    Do two double crochets, then the next stitch you put yarn over hook, stick hook behind the double crochet in the double crocheted stitch in previous row four , pull yarn up and make double crochet. The stitch is that simple….it looks better using odd numbered stitches. but if you have even numbered stitches, do two double then one backward double crocheted dtitches. (T h e pattern us explsined better below… … but you will have do two double crochets then the fancy cable stitch, that’s what i call this stitch, and do that for the rest of the round…one cable stitch, then two double crochets and do that aroubd fir eavh vontinued riw untl its long until its long and covers your ears.

    the fancy crochet…..the actual pattern…
    …………
    That fancy stitch is really simple. …you put yarn over the hook, as If to make a double crochet, but instead of going thru the hole you normally go thru, you stick the hook “behind” the previous double crocheted in the previous round, below, and then bring up the yarn to complete the stitch and do next doubke crochet stitch. Its this going below and drawing up the yarn that makes and completes the cable looking backward double crocheted stitch that complete the fancy twisted stitch. Your still making a double crochet but your going behind the previous stitch, which makes it like a cable stitch. I DONT KNOW IF theres a Name FoR THIS stitch, BUT For ME…It’s different stitch i like for hats. . I call It a crocheted cable stitch for crocheting.

    So continue each round as the above to continue the rounds until you get tge length you need. MaIe tye length of your head, usually just past the ear. Then finish off with a stiitch until the end of row. Hiding the ending by weaving the stitch to the backside of the hat.
    I hope i explained the pattern for the hat.
    If i get AROUND to it and can, will try and post a picture of the hat, but c i dont know th I s new tablet yet. Tgey are not all alike. Good crocheting. Susana

  25. Patti Hurlburt says:

    Such beautiful colors. My grandmother used to make these but I never learned how. Guess it’s time to learn now.

  26. Sandra brewer says:

    I do love your dish cloths too
    I love the colors you have used.
    I have never had any like thes and would be pleased to win this. I am sending this pattern to my daughter too. Thanks
    Sandra

  27. Tricia Ann says:

    Thank you for your lovely pattern! I had decided to take a class w/my Granddaughter so that she too can learn how to crochet and this project will be perfect for her. I agree that the shell edging makes the dish cloth complete!

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Dear Tricia,

      Taking a class with your grand-daughter is such an awesome idea. I love that. And yes, this project is perfect for the beginner, which is what I am and probably will always be! 🙂

      – Dori –

  28. Ellen Kelling Vukovic says:

    I would very much like to try these dish cloths… or try making them. They sound like they would be much better than typical store bought ones. Quite frankly the store bought ones are so bad I’ve been using regular bath wash cloths as dish cloths.

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Ellen,

      I hope you’ll try making the dish cloths and email me if you have any questions. redfeedsack@gmail.com

      One of the things I love about the crocheted dish cloths is that they just get better and better. I won’t use anything else now.

      – Dori –

  29. Brenda P516 says:

    I love the dishcloths. I am unable to pull up the pattern. I am a beginner and hope my trial will be as good as yours. Thanks for coming up with the pattern.

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Brenda,

      I will email you the pattern since you were having problems pulling it up here! Good luck!

      – Dori –

  30. DeOnna Houghton says:

    I cannot pull your pattern either. Could you email it to me?

  31. Sue says:

    Thanks for the pattern Dori! I’m anxious to try it! Happy Memorial Day!! A good day to sit on our porches and knit/crochet!!

  32. Candy says:

    The scalloped edges pulled me in. Gramdma taught me the basics of crochet when I was young. Last year, I went to live awhile with my elderly parents, and while there I decided to relearn crochet. I started with dishcloths because they are small and yet useful. I had no idea what I was doing, so they were made from acrylic yarn with many errors and laughable uneven rows. I gave one to Mom and when I used it for dishes, the wet feel of it was odd and totally offputting. It did dry quickly, however, so there was no musty, sour smell. I finally decided to try a different yarn. I bought Peaches & Cream cotton yarn. There were free patterns on the back, so I taught myself to follow a pattern. It has been comical to watch as I have misunderstood small details with devastating results. My family encouraged me, however, and took every one of my initial sorry efforts at our Christmas get-together. I’m doing much better now. I love to use the dishcloths in my own kitchen now that I’ve moved back home. I think I will try your pattern next because I like that pretty ruffled edging. Then I’m going to try my hand at knitting, I think. I retire in a year or two. I’m looking forward to having time to make these as gifts. I’ll have to try the yarn you use next. I’m not sure how it differs from the Peaches & Cream. It will be interesting to see.

  33. Susan Lavay says:

    Is it possible to get this patter? The link does not work

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Susan, I sent you an email with a PDF document of the pattern, but the email bounced. You can email me at: redfeedsack@gmail.com and then I can send it to you! I’m not sure why you were having problems opening the link on the blog post, I checked and there doesn’t seem to be any problems with it. Sorry you weren’t able to get it to open.

      – Dori –

  34. KAthy says:

    Love the trim.

  35. Natalie Wayne says:

    I am so excited to try this pattern! My first project was a baby blanket for my granddaughter River. I love crocheting with cotton yarn and dishcloths are my favorite ! Thanks for sharing this pattern! Natalie Wayne

  36. Carol Todd says:

    I think crocheting is relaxing too. Havent done it in a long time. But love the dishcloths. Will try my hand at it soon. Going to retire this year so will have time on my hands. Thank you.

  37. I love these dishcloths

  38. Debbie Niman says:

    I love the way the dish cloths look. Can’t wait to try your pattern. Its so unique. Hope I can do it. I’m excited. Thank you sooo much!

    Debbie

  39. Anita Pearson says:

    You made some very pretty dishcloths. Thank you for sharing pictures and your patterns.
    I’ve knitted since I was about 7…my grandmother taught me. Then when I was 19 my mother-in-law taught me to crochet. I’ve been crocheting every since. Let’s just put it this way…I’m a grandmother of 6 now. No one else crochets but me. So I make things and give them away. Giving to others makes it nice for me to see them smile. I can’t do much else now due to my chronic illnesses. You take things easy and sit and crochet. It is better for you. Don’t wait like I have before I’ve had to slow down I don’t have any choice now.
    Keep crocheting and sitting on the porch.

  40. Anita Pearson says:

    This is an older site now. Are you still crocheting? What all have you made?

    • Dori Troutman says:

      Hi Anita,

      NO….. I’ve not continued crocheting. I make these dish cloths often because I can do them quick and they make great gifts! But I discovered that crocheting just isn’t “my thing”!!! I also come back to how much I love sewing and quilting. That is my passion! 🙂

      – Dori –

  41. Paula DesRoches says:

    I love to crochet but this dishcloth was just amazing thanks for sharing this

  42. Sonia says:

    They look.beautiful they look easy to make so i willl try ur pattern. I am not a crocheter but i think i can do this. Hey if it turn out like u ststed u tube had good bideo to look at. I not to good at reading patterns i let myself go by the picture.

  43. Tracy Caraker says:

    These are TOO cute! I’m going to get the pattern and try my hand at this as well. I love the crocheted dishcloths my aunt used to make for me.

  44. Susan says:

    Love your color selection. How about a multicolor one…red, white and blue? I CROCHET…FROM WHAT I see your s very good professional for a beginner. Love the pattern. Whst yarn did you use…was it the creamy yarn ?

  45. Susan says:

    If you can hold a needle you can hold a crochet hook…ig you can make a slip knot you can learn to crochet… Hobby Lobby has a beginners crochet booklet that teaches all the basics to crochet or knit. Its how I learned because my mother didn’t teach me…she didn’t have the time or patients to teach me. If I can do it….anyone can learn to crochet or knit.

  46. Gert stegenga says:

    I’ve been doing knitted dish clothes for ages. Love making them and when we go on a trip and rent a cabin or cottage I leave my homemade dish clothes behind. It is so relaxing to either knit or crochet. Your dish clothes are beautiful!!!

  47. Wilhelmina says:

    I am a knitter, I would love to crochet a dishcloth. I will learn to crochet.
    As I live in Australia, I don’t know the cotton you use, would you know the ply equivalent to our yarns.
    Also I am not sure about crochet hook size H ? what would that be.
    I would appreciate any help.
    Regards Wilhelmina

  48. Genny says:

    This looks really cool for farmhouse. We just bought a 1874 farmhouse cant want to make these

  49. Lori says:

    who else has tried the pattern? I feel like I can’t understand the directions. Crocheting on one side and then back up the other? And do I repeat the side stitches, i’m so confused.

  50. Pam Rogers says:

    Could not open dishcloth to get pattern

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *