Thursday 3 January 2019

What is your favourite stich for making dishcloths?

Due to the recent renovations, any craft projects I had on the go were put on hold due to the disruption of strangers wandering through the house and the constant dust that was subsequently generated by those strangers (tradies).  I really need to make some soap and will get organised with that soon but in the meantime I thought I would try and get back into the swing of things and crochet a dishcloth while refreshing myself on how to do the Iris Stitch once again.


 

I crochet so infrequently that I forget the stitches as you can see from the above photo but I have found that the dishcloths made using the Iris Stitch are the ones I am most happy with.




I was introduced to the stitch by my friend Judy who is quite an expert at crochet, sewing and everything else in between. She gave me the above dishcloth a couple of years ago and it has faded since then but I am quite pleased that it keeps its shape despite all the wringing out that I do.




This was one of my first tries and I think I used some string. It is one of my favourites.




You see I have a big problem with my dishcloths holding their shape. This one was made using cotton from a $2 shop using two different coloured strands. The pattern is an easy, basic one Grandmother's Favourite Dishcloth and looked fine in the beginning but now after being used, washed and wrung out a lot of times....




...it looks like the one above on the right....out of shape well and truly. 




Then there was the one I knitted using a pattern in the book Garden Dishcloths to Knit and it looked really nice in the beginning BUT....




....now it is also out of shape. I used Bendigo Woollen Mills cotton for this one and I think it is just too soft for dishcloths although this is a really good quality cotton. Perhaps I am just too hard on my dishcloths and wring them out too much but I don't like to leave them sopping wet.



Even though I made these dishcloths a tad larger than the norm they are still really good to use and dry fairly quickly so I might stay with the Iris Stitch for a while I think. There seem to be a few versions of the stitch from what I have seen online.

So tell me, which stitch do you prefer and what cotton have you had the most success with?

Obviously I am not an expert at either knitting or crochet as I don't do it often enough to master the techniques and forget so very easily these days but still, the dishcloths are good enough to clean the dishes even though they are out of shape etc. LOL!




I am looking forward to our Simple Living Group starting up again on the 9th February and our first workshop will be held by a couple of ladies who recycle denim and make some terrific items in the process like cute tote bags.  Those who are on the email list will get more details from our fearless leader, Margy, closer to the date.

Meanwhile, it's back to making the perfect dishcloth :-)




21 comments:

  1. The last few I've made are just plain knitting, they seem to keep their shape reasonably well, I do stretch & straighten as I hang up on the line. I use either the cheap cotton from the cheap shops or one from spotlight which I think is patons, but not sure!

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  2. Hmmm Karen, perhaps I should shape them a bit when I hang them on the line. Thanks for the tip.

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  3. Hi Nanna Chel,

    All my dishcloths go stiff and out of shape, probably because I don't care for them enough. I guess throwing them in the washing machine doesn't help much. I just think it is the cotton, it changes texture once washed for some reason. Maybe we are meant to treat them more delicately and wash in wool wash or similar. I prefer to knit dishcloths but have crocheted quite a few too. Plain stitch is easiest and best for me. But I have been knitting those pretty garden ones like you have pictured here, I just haven't used them because they are too pretty lol! I think they would make a lovely blanket if sewn all together in different colours :-) I use both cheap-shop cotton and Bendigo Mills. I also knit double for a thicker dishcloth.

    Hope you figure it all out and let us all know :-)

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    1. Tania, I am glad I am not the only one who has them go out of shape. LOL! I usually use two strands for mine too.

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  4. Hi Chel, the quality of cotton yarns varies quite a bit and will affect the shape and wear of the cloth. A few thoughts on mine, I no longer make them face washer size...no need as small ones do the job,dry faster and I get more from the yarn ball.
    I don't use crochet as the knitted ones release food particles better and dry faster.The 4 ply yarn is good for faster drying in the cold months.
    If you straighten them as you hang them they stay in shape better, most of mine are the very quick from the corner pattern for tv watching ☺

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  5. If any dishcloths get really manky from a gross clean up I put them in the dishwasher where the temperature is deadly...no oil,fat or germs survive that !!

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    1. Hmmm Margaret, I was doing crochet because it was quicker. You know what I am like with the needles ;-) i have made a couple of small ones using the basketweave stitch and quite like them. No dishwasher here as you know :-)

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  6. I haven't made any dishcloths for a long time. I am crocheting hexagons at the moment with a view to making a bedcover or blanket for winter.

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    1. Sherri, that will be nice when finished. I always wonder though how hard it is to wash an item like that but I guess a light spin would get rid of some of the water.

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    2. Chel, basket weave or waffle weave look good on both sides, so make good gifts. I think the waffle is on the DTE site and is waaaay easier than it looks ☺

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  7. The stiches are pretty and the dishcloths are useful even if they are out of shape. So all is good Chel. :)

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    Replies
    1. You are right, Nil....they still do their job regardless of appearance.

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  8. OOo I like that Iris stitch. I think I will get onto You Tube and see if I can find a tutorial on that one. I tend to use corner to corner as my go to stitch. I use up the bits and bobs of bendigo cotton that I use for other projects. They dont always hold their shape but they're dishcloths and I dont really care what shape they are as long as they do the job.

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    1. Jane, if you click on 'Iris Stitch' in the first paragraph that will take you to the video I used.

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  9. My new favorite is corner to corner crochet (C2C). It is so easy and quick! It has a nice texture, holds its shape well, and I can make one in about a half hour!

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    1. Jenn, I haven't seen a corner to corner crochet pattern. I will have to have a look online for that. Thanks for the tip.

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  10. hard working dish cloths, mine are the same, they even lose their colour after a few years too; my earliest ones have gone a gray with holes but still usable
    when i hang them on the line I just pull them back into shape as best as I can; they are fine for dishes
    that Iris stitch is commonly called V stitch? looks the same to me & it is very pretty
    great post
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Selina, I just looked up the V stitch and it looks like the Iris stitch is slightly different. Both are quite pretty I must agree.

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  11. You know it's worth making them, when they get all bent out of shape like that. I consider it a badge of honour, lol. Like others have suggested, I shake mine before hanging on the line. They're still not as uniform, as when you first make them however. My favourite is an oldie, but a goodie. It's Deb's washcloth, Rhonda from Down to Earth, linked to in the beginning.

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  12. I had to smile at your wonky dish cloth Chel, it looks like it's worked hard, and Nil's right, they still do their job. I use the cream coloured cotton from the cheap shop, it's called kitchen string I think, but is cotton. I find it knits up well and hold it's shape and has a nice texture for scrubbing, but still soft enough to use on my tender skin in the shower lol Not a fancy colour, but if I'm gifting or feeling energetic, I'll add a coloured stripe. I use Homespun Living's waffle knitted dishcloth pattern. Hope your house is back to normal now and you can get on with your soapmaking.

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  13. It's hard to choose, Chel. One of my favourites is a knit pattern called Chinese Waves.
    I like to use Sugar n Cream cottons and soft organic cottons (if I can find them) to knit them up. I am busy knitting lots of washcloths right now, a lady who makes her own soap and has a stall at Straddie's little market, has ordered a dozen of them from me after we got chatting when I bought some soap from her. I am knitting them up in different patterns. My original ones, that my Mum made for me, are really well loved and a bit on the holey side now. Still going strong! Meg:)

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