Dishcloth KAL/CAL

[Shandeh]

Hi, Thursday or Friday afternoon I was going thru the forums and I saw a washcloth someone made and it was beautiful!! I have spent five days trying to find it and see if there was a patteren attached. It was white with purple edging. It was shaped like a flower. Even if I can't find the patteren I'd love to tell someone how much I enjoy what they do. I have not made and washcloths yet (been crocheting for years and years) I almost made a scrubby once put it down and we know how that goes! Anyway could you please help me I have a baby blanket that needs to be finished in two weeks can't spen much more time on computer lol
Thanks again. Happy stiches, Billie

Hi Billie!
That was the Lily Plum Blossom Dishcloth. It's not a Bernat pattern, but it is lovely!
Here's a link to the post you mentioned: viewtopic.php?f=141&t=2353&start=20#p40645

[Shandeh]

In the midst of our KAL/CAL, I started another two discussions, teaching forum members how to knit and how to crochet.
Now, I have two completed basic dishcloths!

Crochet:

Crochet Dishcloth - Beginner by Shandeh, on Flickr

Knit:

Knit Dishcloth - Beginner by Shandeh, on Flickr

[atplmom]

I have to say that dishcloths are my "riding in the car" activity

I can easily knit a couple of dishcloths while we are driving around town during the weekend I used to make the same old simple knit dishcloth all the time until I started the KAL a couple of months ago! Now I have tried a ton of different patterns! I am going to try to get a couple of these chrysanthemum's made up real quick to surprise my mom for Mother's Day! Thanks Shandeh (and Bernat)!

[Shandeh]

I have to say that dishcloths are my "riding in the car" activity

I can easily knit a couple of dishcloths while we are driving around town during the weekend I used to make the same old simple knit dishcloth all the time until I started the KAL a couple of months ago! Now I have tried a ton of different patterns! I am going to try to get a couple of these chrysanthemum's made up real quick to surprise my mom for Mother's Day! Thanks Shandeh (and Bernat)!

Those Chrysanthemum Dishcloths are SO PRETTY!!! I gave mine to my sister in California. Now, I need to crochet another one.

[CohoesMom5]

I have never used a dishcloth - my mother only used sponges for cleaning the dishes, counters, sinks, stove, etc. I have seen all these great patterns for dishclothes and would love to make some but don't know how how to use them.

So my questions :
How do you get the food off the cloth before moving to the next dish? Does it come off as easily as a flat sponge?
How often do you wash in the washing machine?
Do you wash each night or are they used for more than one day?
How are they stored during the day? My faucet is rounded and wouldn't hold it if it was draped over.

I'm sorry if this seems really obvious but I would love to make these dishclothes and actually use them.

Thanks for the help.

[Shandeh]

How do you get the food off the cloth before moving to the next dish? Does it come off as easily as a flat sponge?

I've used dishcloths my whole life. Most food just comes off the cloth - it doesn't stick. Occasionally, a sticky food will leave tiny bits on the cloth, but they come out if you squish the cloth and rinse it off with clear water.

How often do you wash in the washing machine?

Do you wash each night or are they used for more than one day?

I use the same dishcloth for several days before washing it. I wash all my towels and cloths together in the same load, sorting the white towels and cloths in a separate load, of course. I wash them about once a week.

How are they stored during the day? My faucet is rounded and wouldn't hold it if it was draped over.

I always place my washcloth over the center part of my two-sided sink. It dries between loads of dishes. When my cloth becomes too soiled to use again, I still let it dry out in the sink before placing it in the laundry basket. (A wet dishcloth will cause mold to grow in the laundry basket.)

Dishcloths are excellent ways to learn new stitches for knit or crochet. And there are so many fun colors of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton yarn to choose from!

Mosaic Dishcloth by Shandeh, on Flickr

Sometimes, I use the cloth I make as a face cloth instead....using a softer cotton yarn like Bernat Cottontots.

Bernat Cottontots - Wonder White by Shandeh, on Flickr

[zhanie]

:knit: This is my version of a Mermaid Tears Dishcloth. I used the Bernat Waverly in Tibetan Red and Celadon.

05-06-12_114 by tjnllike, on Flickr

I love it!!! It might make a nice trivet for a teapot too. The teapot will look like it is sitting in a flower

[karenarp]

I have never used a dishcloth - my mother only used sponges for cleaning the dishes, counters, sinks, stove, etc. I have seen all these great patterns for dishclothes and would love to make some but don't know how how to use them.

So my questions :
How do you get the food off the cloth before moving to the next dish? Does it come off as easily as a flat sponge?
How often do you wash in the washing machine?
Do you wash each night or are they used for more than one day?
How are they stored during the day? My faucet is rounded and wouldn't hold it if it was draped over.

I'm sorry if this seems really obvious but I would love to make these dishclothes and actually use them.

Thanks for the help.

I have always preferred dish cloths over sponges.

When dishes are done for the time being take the cloth and swish it in your rinse water before you drain it, this will help remove the soap from the dish washing and most food debris.
Squeeze the cloth well and as Shandeh suggested, use the sink divider area to dry it. And she also had great advice about never dumping it in the laundry while still wet - unless you are doing the laundry right that minute! Don't let a cloth sit IN the sink corner - this is when it gets all kinds of funky!
I replace my dish cloth with a freshly laundered one when it needs it - that could be after one really nasty load of dishes or after a few days of dishes. All kind of depends on how you care for it when letting it air out or how bad the pots were. I also will put it in the wash if it gets a 'crispy' feel to it when it is dry or if you can smell something funky. Or if it happens to be a wash day I will grab all the kitchen towels and cloths even if I just replaced them. I wash them in my towel load.
Make yourself at least 2 to start. I happen to have more than I can count these days so tossing them into the wash often is no big deal for me, as another is always around to replace it in the sink.

[roseannie]

Notice that the pattern called for a chain one between each sc but Mike didn't do that in the video. Does it make much of a difference which way you do it?

[Shandeh]

Notice that the pattern called for a chain one between each sc but Mike didn't do that in the video. Does it make much of a difference which way you do it?

Which dishcloth are you referring to? We've made several different ones in this CAL/KAL.