This is my new favorite dishcloth pattern. I love the gorgeous texture and the stripes. It’s a great stashbuster too, as you don’t need much yarn at all to crochet this. I was hoping to use up what I had left over from the last dishcloth, but I still had lots left over.

Alternating Dishcloth ~ FREE Crochet Pattern

The dishcloth measures 8 inches, which is a bit bigger than what I normally make them, but it’s not overly big. With that said, you can easily increase or decrease this pattern to any size that you like.

And the real beauty of this is that it’s crocheted with three colors, which means that you can carry the yarn along the sides instead of having to cut and weave in a bunch of ends.

The Stitch Pattern

If you love the crunch stitch, then you will enjoy this stitch pattern as well because it’s basically the same stitch, but I alternated the stitches between the front and back loops to create even more textures!

The Yarn

Choose a cotton yarn that is designed tough for washing dishes. I used Bernat Handicrafter, a medium worsted weight, 100% cotton yarn. I changed colors after each row to really bring out the stitch pattern, but you could just as easy whip this up in a single color as well.

Other Patterns to Try

Alternating Dishcloth

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Skill Level

Easy

Materials

Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Small amounts of three colors.
Crochet Hooks: I/9-5.50mm and H/8-5.00mm
Other: Measuring Tape, Scissors, Yarn Needle.

Finished Size

8" by 8"

Abbreviations

CA = Color A – Off White
CB = Color B – Peach
CC = Color C – Green
Blslst = Back Loop Slip Stitch
Ch/Chs = Chain/Chains
Flhdc = Front Loop Half Double Crochet
Hdc = Half Double Crochet
Rep = Repeat
Sc = Single Crochet
Sl St = Slip Stitch
St/Sts = Stitch/Stitches

Notes

The stitches are alternated with the half double crochet worked into the front loop only of the slip stitch, and the slip stitch is worked into the back loop only of the half double crochet. See tutorial alternating between the front and back loops.
Join new color at yarn over for last slip stitch in row.
Carry yarn up along the edges. Use the turning chain to secure the dropped color along the edge.

Instructions

With CA and I hook, Loosely Ch 25, or any uneven number.
Row 1: Hdc in 2nd ch from hook, sl st in next ch, *hdc in next ch, sl st in next ch; rep from * across changing color at yarn over for last sl st. (24 sts) Ch 1, Turn.
Row 2: With CB, *flhdc in first st, blslst in next st; rep from * across changing color at yarn over for last sl st. (24 sts) Ch 1, Turn.
Row 3: With CC, rep row 2.
Row 4: With CA, rep row 2.
Rows 5-22: Rep rows 2-4 until you have reached a desired length.

Edging:

Rnds 1-3: With H hook, sc evenly around working 3 sc in each corner; join with sl st in first sc. Use any color sequence, but I did CB, CC, and finished with CA. Fasten Off at last rnd.

You might also enjoy the FREE Dishcloth pattern collection on CPB.