Grunge Striped Dishcloth Free Crochet Pattern
Introduction
This grunge striped dishcloth is the perfect first project for anyone who has just learned single crochet and wants to make something they will actually use every day. Wide bands of plum and mauve give it a moody, slightly worn-in look that stands out in a kitchen full of plain white cloths. Worked flat in simple single crochet, it builds up quickly into a dense, sturdy fabric with a soft, even texture and just enough ridge to scrub. The matching plum border adds durability and a clean finish, so the cloth holds its shape wash after wash.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Worsted weight (4) cotton yarn, approximately 80 yards total — 50 yards plum (Color A) and 30 yards mauve (Color B). Cotton is recommended for absorbency and durability.
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a measuring tape
- Finished size: Approximately 8 inches wide by 8 inches long
Abbreviations
- ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
- sc — single crochet: insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
- sl st — slip stitch: insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
- st(s) — stitch(es)
- A / B — Color A (plum) / Color B (mauve)
Gauge
14 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches in single crochet. To check, crochet a small swatch in single crochet and measure a 4-inch section in both directions; adjust your hook size if needed to match.
Tips Before You Start
- Always work the turning chain (ch 1) at the start of each row, but do not count it as a stitch — the first single crochet goes into the first stitch.
- Change colors on the last yarn-over of the final stitch of a row so the new color begins cleanly at the start of the next row.
- Keep your tension relaxed and even; single crochet worked tightly makes a stiff cloth, while even tension gives a dense but flexible fabric.
- Count your stitches at the end of every stripe block — you should always have 28 stitches, which keeps the sides straight.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Dishcloth Body
With Color A (plum), ch 29.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (28 sc)
Rows 2-8: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (28 sc) — 7 rows in A
Change to Color B (mauve).
Rows 9-12: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (28 sc) — 4 rows in B
Change to Color A.
Rows 13-20: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (28 sc) — 8 rows in A
Change to Color B.
Rows 21-24: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (28 sc) — 4 rows in B
Change to Color A.
Rows 25-32: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (28 sc) — 8 rows in A
Change to Color B.
Rows 33-36: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (28 sc) — 4 rows in B
Change to Color A.
Rows 37-44: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. (28 sc) — 8 rows in A
Do not fasten off.
Border
Border: Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire piece, working 1 sc in each stitch along the top and bottom edges, 1 sc in each row-end along the side edges, and 3 sc in each corner. Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off.
Assembly and Finishing
This project is worked in one piece, so there is no seaming required. Weave in all yarn ends on the wrong side of the cloth using the tapestry needle, working each end through several stitches in different directions so it stays secure through washing. Block the dishcloth by wetting it, gently pressing it into an 8-inch square, and laying it flat to dry — this evens out the border corners and smooths the stripe edges.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Make a set: Work the same pattern in reverse color order (mauve as the main color, plum as the accent) for a coordinated pair of cloths.
- Add a hanging loop: After the border, ch 10, sl st back into the corner to form a loop before fastening off.
- Change the scale: Use a smaller hook (4.5 mm) for a denser, scrubbier cloth, or add more rows to each stripe block for a larger cloth — just keep the 28-stitch width.
