Knit a Quick and Pretty Basketweave Dishcloth

I have been knitting dish cloths to use as gifts and to include in the cleaning hampers and I used my usual diagonal pattern. I love this pattern because it's quick and easy to knit, and being basic garter stitch it has good scrubbing power without the scratchiness of a nylon scrubby.

But sometimes I get a little bored with the same old, same old. I know - who'd a thought I'd ever get bored! So occasionally I break with habit and try a new pattern. This week it was a simple basket weave and I have to say it looks very nice, especially in the blue and white variegated cotton I used. It will go beautifully with the kitchen chair covers.

It's really easy to knit, so easy even a beginner can do it, no special skill required (other than counting - you can count to five can't you?).

Basket Weave Dish Cloth

Cast on 50 stitches.

Knit 5 rows. This will form the lower border and start the side borders.

Row 1: Knit 5 *Knit 5, purl 5. Repeat from * to last 5 stitches, knit 5.

Row 2 Knit 5 *Purl 5, knit 5. Repeat from * to last 5 stitches, knit 5.

Row 3: As Row 1

Row 4: As Row 2

Row 5: As Row 1

Row 6: Knit 5, *Purl 5, knit 5. Repeat from * to last 5 stitches, knit 5.

Row 7: Knit 5, *Knit 5, purl 5. Repeat from * to last 5 stitches, knit 5.

Row 8: As Row 6

Row 9: As Row 7

Row 10: As Row 6

Repeat last 10 rows four more times, 50 rows in total.

Knit 5 rows. Cast off. Weave ends in.

Notes:
At the moment I am using 10 ply cotton from Bendigo Woollen Mills and 4mm needles to knit my dishcloths. I buy it online, when the 200g balls are on sale and there is a free shipping offer. A ball makes 4 -5 dishcloths, bringing the price down to between $2 and $2.40.

This pattern knits in a garter stitch border around the dishcloth - it finishes it off nicely rather than just having the "weave" ends as the border.