Dishcloths

[Tamar Dohel]

I enjoy knitting dishcloths but am not sure I'd like to ruin them with use.

What do you guys use them for except gifts?

Or do you just keep them for show?

Tamar

[Yarnlady]

IMHO, part of knitting is making utilitarian items, not just showy items. I knit dishcloths to use and to give as gifts. Use doesn't ruin them, any more than a child wearing out a hand knitted blanket or sweater by loving it too much. And as they only take a little while to make, the time investment isn't that great that if they get used up, one can't make another. I find it takes years, though, to use them up even with daily use.

I have one hand knitted cloth on the counter to catch the drips from my coffee pot when pouring and one draped over the bar between the sinks that is used when washing dishes, cleaning couters and wiping the table. I soak both in a mild bleach solution and interestingly enough the yellow one has never faded. If I had a dishwasher I'd put them in the last cycle of the day to clean them.

[ChroniclesofYarnia]

I'm at the point where almost all my dishcloths are handknit. I absolutely LOVE them. I just recently made a 1200 mile move away from all my friends and, and missed out Christmas dishcloth swap. They sent me a box of dishcloths, and now when I use the cloth from that person I pray for them.

There is nothing better than useful knitting. Oh, and you will have to work hard to ruin a knit dishcloth. They are workhorses. If you make them out of linen they will outlast cockroaches.

[Cristy]

They sent me a box of dishcloths, and now when I use the cloth from that person I pray for them.

That is so sweet and thoughtful--I'd have never thought of such a good reminder--your friends are lucky to have you!!

If you make them out of linen they will outlast cockroaches.

that's an interesting way of putting it....cockroaches scare me!!!



I have never gotten into knitting dishclothes although the thought did hit me that making washcloths might be a good housewarming gift for some friends that are about to buy a house nearby. Maybe I can find out what color their bathroom will be....I can't think of anyone who would like dishcloths other than maybe my parents and grandmother and they all live in the same house....

[Nikki]

Oh Tamar, don't use them! If you do you'll never use any other and then you will have to make yourself about a dozen, then friend and family and then.......more yarn stash to keep. It's a slippery slope.

[Jan in CA]

I use mine and so do the others I've given them, too. As long as you aren't using them for scrubbing cleanser like Barkeeper's Friend or Comet they seem to last a long time! I love them!

The cotton comes in many pretty colors which makes knitting them fun, but I have discovered that they do stain so I'll probably stick to "stain colors" like brown ombre or a variegated brown color.

Oh and don't bleach them...

[newamy]

I make them, I use them, I give them away. Recipients think they are too pretty to use...

I dishcloths!!

[auburnchick]

I've made two dishclothes from the Mason Dixon knitting book. I LOVE these!! Even my daughter, who I'm not cool enough to be around most days, likes them.

One of the biggest reasons I started knitting (as opposed to cross-stitching, which I did for years) was the practicality of it.

[Jeremy]

One of the great things about dishcloths is they are quick and cheap. I used them to practice Continental stitch before I switched over. Who cares whether they are sloppily knit if you're wipeing egg off a frying pan with them.

[newamy]

I've made two dishclothes from the Mason Dixon knitting book. I LOVE these!!

I've made lots of Mason Dixon Ball Bands. The round ones are harder but I've managed it. Such a fun book.