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Have you ever wanted to try new stitches or techniques, but always seem to end up going back to the same familiar textures? I love a good double crochet as much as the next person, but there are only so many ways to arrange the same couple of stitches before they become boring or worse, it’s already been done.

As a designer, one of my biggest fears is working through the development of a pattern idea, making the sample and going through the editing and testing process only to find out that I’ve unintentionally copied someone else - GAH! Anyone else had that dream, or worse, had it happen in real life? It ain’t fun.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I can change things up, or use common stitches a little differently to make sure I’m creating unique and distinct patterns. When I first started designing, I often got stuck because I’d be trying out all these completely new stitch techniques and expecting them to act the same as basic stitches. I would get discouraged when something didn’t work out, and fall back on the stitches I knew and loved.

A goal of mine this year is to branch out and explore different textures and techniques, without the pressure to immediately turn them into a full garment pattern. This way, I can learn about how the stitches behave when they’re worked up together, and then consider what type of garment or accessory pattern they might be best suited for. I thought this would be a great journey to share, since I’m certain I am not the only designer/maker who struggles in this area. So without further ado, welcome to the Stitch Exploration Series!

As the name suggests, I will be exploring new stitches and techniques in a series of FREE dishcloth patterns here on the blog. I’ve chosen dishcloths as the pattern type, because they are just the right size to get a good feel for how the stitch works up, but small enough that you can try out these new techniques while also completing a project and making something useful. My motivation is also practical… I need some new dishcloths - my old ones are in bad shape!

I’ve chosen a beautiful, durable cotton yarn, Dishie from WeCrochet. As you can see, it comes in lots of fun colours (30 solids in total, plus there are also Dishie Twist and Dishie Multi!), and it feels great. And I’ve heard people say that this yarn is good for other things, too - summer garments and tote bags come to mind. Grab some for yourself, and let’s get started on our first Stitch Exploration pattern, the Studded Dishcloth!

Texture is the name of the game here, and this deceptively simply pattern creates a sturdy dishcloth with studded texture that hopefully will make you actually want to tackle that pile in the sink!

Materials

Hook - US G/4mm, or size needed to meet gauge.

Yarn - WeCrochet Dishie, 100% cotton, 190yds (174m)/100g (3.5oz) per skein. I used approx. 107yds (98m) of the colourway Bumblebee.

Notions - scissors, tape measure, yarn needle.

Notes

Ch 1 to start each round does not count as a st.

Gauge is not critical for this project, however, if yardage is a concern, you should aim to meet it as closely as possible. No one will judge an extra half inch on your dishcloth!

Generally, I do not block cotton washcloths, because they’re just going to get wet anyway. If you’re making for gifting, or just want to straighten things out, feel free to block as you see fit.

Sizing

Gauge - 4” = 17 sts x 19 rows in sc unblocked.

Finished measurements - approx. 9” wide x 8.5” tall

Terminology/Abbreviations

This pattern uses standard US terms as detailed by the Craft Yarn Council:

Ch - chain

St(s) - stitch(es)

Sc - single crochet

Tr - treble crochet

( ) - repeat instructions contained within the parentheses as specified

* * - repeat instructions contained within the asterisks as specified

Pattern Instructions

Row 1. Ch 40 and turn. Starting in the second ch from hook, and working into the back bumps of each ch st, sc across. <39 sts>

Row 2. Ch 1, sc in next 3 sts, *(tr in next, sc in next) three times, sc in next.* Repeat from * to * four more times, and sc in last 2 sts.

Row 3. Ch 1, sc in each st across and turn.

Rows 4-7. Repeat Rows 2 and 3.

Rows 8-9. Repeat Row 3.

Rows 10-33. Repeat Rows 2-9 three more times.

Rows 34-39. Repeat Rows 2-7 once more.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Variations

To make your dishcloth narrower or wider, start with fewer or more chain sts in Row 1 in multiples of 9, and work fewer or more * * repeats accordingly in Row 2.

To make your dishcloth shorter or longer, work fewer or more repeats of Rows 2-9.

Congratulations on finishing your Studded Dishcloth! I really enjoy how combining the simple treble with single crochets creates a uniquely studded texture. I’d love to know what you think about the texture, and if you’ve ever tried a stitch combination similar to this before. I’m also curious to see how this stitch will work with less sturdy fibre, like merino wool or acrylic!

Share your dishcloth on Instagram using the hashtag #StuddedDishcloth, and tag me, @capital.crochet!

You may sell finished items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer by linking back to this blog post.

Thank you so much for your support! If you’d like to be the first to know about new patterns in this series and other blog posts, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter below.