Easy Basket Weave Pattern to Make a Knitted Dishcloth! [4 Quick Steps]

The Basketweave Stitch is a beautiful textured pattern that is used by knitters in many different projects. It’s one of the quickest ways to add charm to any simple knitting pattern.

Why Knit Dishcloths?
Knitting dishcloths is an excellent starting point for beginners for so many reasons! Firstly, dishcloths are relatively small projects which means that they’re manageable and less intimidating for new knitters. Dishcloths are also typically small projects. They’re just big enough to allow new knitters to practice and improve their basic knitting skills, such as casting on, knitting, purling, and binding off without the stress of finishing a huge project.

Hand-knit dishcloths can also be a practical and rewarding way to create useful items for the home while learning a new craft! The simplicity of dishcloth patterns also allows beginners to experiment with different yarn types, colors, and stitch patterns, fostering creativity and confidence in their knitting journey.

Overall, knit dishcloth patterns are a great way for beginners to build foundational skills and gain satisfaction from completing projects they can use every day.

Tell me more about the basket weave stitch!

The basket weave knitting stitch is simple and versatile. The basket weave pattern uses blocks of alternating knit and purl stitches to create a textured fabric that is both attractive and functional for cleaning. The stitch’s rhythmic nature makes it easy for beginners to learn and master. Additionally, the raised texture of the basket weave stitch adds scrubbing power to dishcloths, making them effective for wiping surfaces and washing dishes!

Today, I will teach you how to knit the basketweave stitch in the most beginner-friendly way possible!

Ready to learn different knitting stitches to spice up your knitted projects? Let’s get started!

How to Knit the Basket Weave Pattern for Dishcloths!

Ready to try out this basket weave knitting pattern? Well, I’m very excited to teach you how! Here’s all you need to know before you start stitching:

Terms

• CO – Cast on
• K – Knit
• P – Purl
• [   ] – Instructions inside [   ] should be repeated.
• PM – “Place stitch marker”
• BO – Bind off
• Sts – Stitches

Knitting Gauge:

12 stitches and 19 rows = 4” x 4” in basketweave stitch
Important note: My stitch tension is a bit tight, that is why I am using 8 mm needles. Feel free to size up or down with your knitting needles depending on your own tension.

Dishcloth Dimensions:

The size of my finished dishcloth is about 9” x 8.5”, however, you can make your basket weave pattern as wide and as long as you want. You can even use this pattern and modify it to create your very own scarf! To make your project wider or narrower you can cast on more or fewer stitches!

Basic cast on rule for Basketweave Stitch:
To knit the basketweave stitch you’ll need to cast on certain numbers of stitches in order to knit the pattern correctly.
For the basketweave stitch pattern you’ll need to CO in multiples of 6 + 4.
For example CO 28 stitches = 24 for the multiples of 6 + 4 for the edges!

Basket Weave Knitting Pattern for Dishcloths

Casting On & 1st Set Up Rows:

Casting on starts the stitches on your knitting needles.

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Set Up Rows

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Basket Weave Stitch Repeat #1

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Repeat Set Up Rows

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Repeat the Set Up Rows 1 & 2 once:
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl

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Basket Weave Stitch Repeat #2

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Repeat Set Up Rows

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Repeat the Set Up Rows 1 & 2 once:
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl

This is how your piece should look at the end of the Basket Weave Stitch Repeat #2 section!

Continue in the Pattern:

To knit the rest of the dishcloth keep repeating the following 4 sections until your dishcloth is the size you’d like!

1. 6 rows of Basket Weave Stitch Repeat #1
2. 2 rows of Set Up Stitches
3. 6 rows of Basket Weave Stitch Repeat #1
4. 2 rows of Set Up Stitches

I prefer to end after fully repeating the Basket Weave Stitch Repeat #1 as it gives me the cleanest edge. But you are free to stop wherever you want!

I find that counting the knit stitches is a much easier way to keep track of when it’s time to start another sequence. But you can also refer to how many purl rows you have!

Bind Off

Binding off (aka: Casting off) takes your stitches off the knitting needles and creates a finished edge! I use the knit bind off because it’s quick and sturdy. You can also use other bind off methods to achieve your desired edges, do whatever is easiest!

But for this quick project, I’m opting for the basic knit bind off! It’s simple to make, sturdy, yet still has a bit of a stretch to it.

Yarn Fiber Suggestions

Dishcloths go through a lot of wear and tear. You want fibers that can withstand all that. So I opted for acrylic yarn. It’s cheaper, accessible, and low maintenance — perfect for household items that are frequently used.

Has your knitted washcloth gotten dirty? Chuck it in the washing machine and bada-bing-bada-boom it’s as good as new!

You can use more natural fibers like cotton and bamboo if you want to use your basketweave dishcloth as a face scrubby instead. Using natural fibers also makes this the perfect little washcloth for a baby!

But for practice-swatches, you can use acrylic yarn! It’s cheaper and you won’t feel too bad messing up when you’re learning different knitting stitches.

A Textured Washcloth for Home Use!

It’s always a fun time when you’re learning different knitting stitches. This basket weave knitting pattern is perfect for new knitters who want to add texture to knits but aren’t quite confident enough to try out more complicated patterns!

Although the basket weave pattern does demand a certain level of attention to detail! I remember when I was writing this pattern, I couldn’t quite grasp why my prototype was turning into a bootleg version of the waffle stitch! Turns out a skipped a few purls in the row…

— and yes, I did lose my cool a few times! Hahaha! Oh well, I was still able to make this adorable dishcloth pattern. I hope you try it out for yourself too. You can even tweak the pattern a bit to turn it into a warm scarf to wear out.

Let us know what other free patterns you want to see from us. Let’s chat in the comments section below!

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• FREE KNIT DISHCLOTH PATTERN: STACKED RIB
• FREE BEGINNER LOOM KNIT BEANIE PATTERN: 5 SIMPLE STEPS!
• FREE GARTER STITCH BULKY KNITTED HEADBAND PATTERN
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