Make a Beautiful Crochet Dishcloth — Easy Beginner Pattern (Modified Half Double V Stitch)
Crocheting a beautiful dishcloth is a quick, satisfying project that brightens your kitchen and makes a thoughtful handmade gift. This beginner-friendly pattern uses a modified half-double V stitch worked widthwise and is crocheted in cotton yarn for absorbency and durability. Gather your hook and yarn, follow the step-by-step instructions below, and enjoy a tidy little project you can finish in an afternoon.
Supplies
- Yarn: Lily Sugar ‘n Cream Super Size, 4 oz (113 g), 200 yds (184 m), 100% cotton. Machine wash and dry.
- Color: Rose Pink (Color: 18046) — 1 skein
- Crochet hook: 4 mm (G)
- Finished project: Washcloth — about 1.87 oz (53 g) and 94 yds (86 m)
- Scissors, tapestry needle (yarn needle) for weaving in ends
Difficulty level: Beginner
Finished size: Approximately 9.5 inches x 9.5 inches
Gauge: Approximately 14 hdc per 4 inches and 11 rows per 4 inches, worked in pattern. You can substitute any yarn and hook for this stitch pattern — if your gauge differs, finished size and yarn usage will change.
Abbreviations (US terms)
- beg – beginning
- bet – between
- ch – chain
- g – grams
- hdc – half double crochet
- m – meters
- oz – ounces
- R – row
- RS – right side
- rem – remaining
- rep – repeat
- sc – single crochet
- sk – skip
- sl st – slip stitch
- sp – space
- st/sts – stitch/stitches
- yds – yards
- * to ** – Repeat the instructions between the asterisks the number of times indicated.
- [] – at the end of the row – the total number of stitches
- () – notes or sets of stitches worked within one stitch or space
Notes
- Stitch multiple: 2 + 1
- Initial ch 2 counts as 1 hdc — skip the stitch at the base of the ch 2 when working the next stitch.
- The initial ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
- When working into the foundation chain, you may work into the back bar (back bump) of the chain or the back loop if you prefer.
- To make the dishcloth longer, work more repeat rows. To make it wider, chain more stitches using the stitch multiple.
Photo tutorial follows the pattern.
My Favorite Crochet Dishcloth Pattern (worked widthwise)
Using your 4 mm (G) crochet hook (or the size required to meet gauge):
R1: Ch 33, sk the first ch. 1 sc in each ch across. Turn. [32 sc]
R2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc). *2 hdc in the next st, sk the next st**. Work from * to ** across to the last st. 1 hdc in the last st. Turn. [15 sets of 2 hdc and 2 hdc]
We will be working in the space between the 2 hdc that make up each set.
R3–R26: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc). *Sk all sts not mentioned. Make 2 hdc in the sp between the next 2 hdc**. Work from * to ** across to the last st. 1 hdc in the last st. Turn. [15 sets of 2 hdc and 2 hdc]
R27: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), 1 sc in each st across. Ch 18 and sl st to the side of the last sc of the row (this creates the hanging loop for the dishcloth). [32 sc]
Finishing instructions
Finish off and weave in ends.
How to Crochet the Modified Half Double V Stitch (to any size)
You can make your project any size using the stitch multiple. Chain any number of chains to the width you want, then make sure the total number of chains is divisible by 2 and add 1 extra chain. (Example: chain 30, which divides evenly by 2, then add 1 extra chain for 31 chains.)
Modified Half Double V Stitch Pattern
Row 1: Chain the number of chains as indicated above. Sk the first ch. 1 sc in each ch across. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc). *2 hdc in the next st, sk the next st**. Work from * to ** across to the last st. 1 hdc in the last st. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc). *Sk all sts not mentioned. Make 2 hdc in the sp between the next 2 hdc**. Work from * to ** across to the last st. 1 hdc in the last st.
Repeat Row 3 until your piece reaches the desired length, stopping after you have completed an even-numbered row. Proceed to the last row below.
Last Row: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), 1 sc in each st across. Ch 18 and sl st to the side of the last sc of the row to create the hanging loop. Finish off and weave in ends.
