A hybrid of Grandmother’s Favorite Dishcloth, this free knitted washcloth pattern brings together everything I love about hand knit washcloths. It’s squishy and absorbent, extra pretty with that lovely lace inset, works well with variegated yarns, and all those little garter bumps make it extra scrubby for just the right amount of cleansing action.
If you’ve been wanting to try knitting lace, this simple seven stitch repeat is a great way to start. Keeping your place in lace knitting is part of the trick, so even though it isn’t too challenging, this pattern has you place a marker before and after the lace panel. That way you always have a visual on how many stitches you should have in each section and can catch mistakes early.
click here for Knitting Abbreviations
finished size: approximately 8 inches square, depending on your gauge
US 7 needles
worsted weight cotton yarn
Lace Rows:
LR1: k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1
LR2: p2tog, yo, p3, yo, p2tog
LR3: k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1
LR4: p2, yo, p3tog, yo, p2
Instructions:
cast on 4 stitches
First row: knit
Increase row: k2, yo, k to end of row
repeat the increase row until there are 12 stitches on the needle
Begin Lace:
Row 1: k2, yo, pm, knit LR1, pm, k to end
(for subsequent repeats of Row 1, replace “pm” with “k to marker”)
Row 2: k2, yo, k to marker, sm, knit LR2, sm, k to end
Row 3: k2, yo, k to marker, sm, knit LR3, sm, k to end
Row 4, k2, yo, k to marker, sm, knit LR4, sm, k to end
repeat the above 4 rows six more times until there are 40 stitches on the needle
Decrease Row: k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k to marker, sm, knit LR1, sm, k to end
continue repeating the decrease row, knitting next lace row in pattern until there are 16 stitches left on the needle
finishing row: k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k to end, removing markers as you come to them.
repeat finishing row until 4 stitches are left on needle.
Bind off and weave in ends.
Dampen cloth and gently pat into shape, securing corners. Block lace by pulling open and securing with pins to open design.
Blocking isn’t 100% necessary. These cloths are pretty without it, but just a small amount of effort spent here makes a beautifully finished product for gifting or display.
I think you’re worth it!
LOVE it! What a GREAT twist on the Grandmother’s favorite cloth!
Thanks Lori! ❤️
I love the look of this cloth. Thank you for sharing it. I tried to make it but I am doing something wrong. Should I be moving the stitch markers to a new position as indicated in the begin lace section – row 1. For each repeat? When I follow the pattern and reposition the marker I get garter stitches on just one side of the work. I hope you can help me understand what to do.
Again, thanks so much for the beautiful pattern.
Hi Jan, The pattern has you place markers the first row of the first section, but on repeats of the lace rows, you should slip the markers through the rest of the cloth to keep them in place. I’ll try to find a way to make that more clear in the pattern.I apologize for the confusion.
Hi!
I love this pattern. I make it for all friend and especially the ones with arthritis as is lighter and easier for them to ring out. However, my lace does not look like your lace. LOL!!!! Should there only be 7 stiches in the middle for the lace part of the pattern? If so I am doing something really wrong as my lace is all over the place. I appreciate any advice you can give. Thank you. Again thanks for sharing this beautiful pattern.
Cheryl
The lace row pattern in the beginning is different than the one in the pattern after you have have completed the 12 stitches. Which one do you start with doesn’t make sense.
Thanks. Carolyn
Hi Carolyn, mom is traveling right now. She’ll reach her destination tomorrow (Tuesday) so I’m sure she’ll answer your question on Tues or Wed. Sorry for the delay!
-Carli
Hi Carolyn! The lace rows that I put at the beginning of the pattern are used within the instructions. You can just ignore them until you’re instructed to knit LR1, LR2, LR3 or LR4. You’ll refer to them at that time. Hope that helps to clarify it for you. ?
Can you please tell me what LR1 means on the first row of the lace. It is not mentioned in your abbreviation list. Thank you.
I have to say I am sorry to you, I have just realized that you do put the meaning for LR1 at the top of your pattern. Lets just put this lapse down to old age. Your pattern is beautiful and I am off to fininsh one not. Thank you for your patience . Maureen
No problem Maureen! Glad it came together for you! ?
Hi!
What a wonderful site the two of you have!!! I have begun knitting The Almost Lost Washcloth Pattern you published and I love it!!!
Do you allow the finished product to be sold? I would like your permission if you allow.
I am also interested in permission for the 2014-mini-almost-lost-washcloth and this one, Grandmother’s Diagonal Lace washcloth.
I am a new Etsy Shop Owner and love to knit/crochet. I have been looking for interesting dishcloth patterns and came across yours. I would like to add these as offerings. Please let me know if I have your permission.
My shop can be seen here:
MissPamsCreations on the Etsy site
Please visit and let me know what you think.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Pamela Watson (Miss Pam’s Creations)
What a great store, Pamela! I absolutely love the doily currently on your site. Here is our fine print (you’ll find information in the first paragraph): https://www.simplynotable.com/privacy-policy/
Let me know if you have any other questions!
-Carli
Hi,
I knit a few dishcloths for the local hospital to sell. Do you have a format for how you wish to be recognized?
Hi Marianne! Thanks for asking. Just including our url on a tag something like this: Free Pattern available at http://www.SimplyNotable.com
Appreciate it! 🙂
I love this pattern! I have been knitting for years but some how the lace parts are giving me issues. How many stitches should the lace be? (St between pm). Any common mistakes I should watch out for? I just don’t know what I’m doing wrong 🙁
So sorry it’s giving you trouble Ashley. There are 7 stitches in the lace section. Hope that helps to clear it up?
Merci beaucoup pour ce merveilleux modèle Pourriez vous nous montrer un tutorial car je suis une débutante au tricot et j aimerai le realiser et merci
Hi, I love this pattern but can’t get started for the life of me. I am on Row 2 and when I do the LR2, I end up pass the marker. If I understand well, I should be done with LR2 before the marker as it says SM (slip marker).
Hi Francine, You should have 7 stitches between the markers after the first row. If that isn’t the case, check out our knitting abbreviations post to see if that helps how you’re knitting that first row of lace: https://www.simplynotable.com/2015/knitting-abbreviations/
It’s beautiful and I’m not a new knitter but nothing I do keeps the lace from gaining a stitch every purl row. 🙁
Hi Amy,
Are you performing the ssk stitch as, slip one knitwise, slip next stitch knitwise, then knit them both together through the back loops? Sometimes that ssk stitch confuses even us experienced knitters 🙂