January 15, 2025

Knit with Liz Chandler @PurlsAndPixels 🧶

I think it’s about time to put all of our knitting skills together to start creating the useful knits you want. Since flat, cotton washcloths are the most simple of the knits, let’s start there. But, we are going tiny! So you can have a finished knit in no time flat, we’ll work on my free Beginner Face Scrubby Pattern. Open that pattern in a new tab or print it to use as you follow along with the lesson here.

Watch the full process here or continue reading to see everything in smaller steps.

What Do Materials I Need to Knit a Washcloth?

Yarn to Knit Washcloths

One ball of Lily Sugar ‘n Cream 100% Cotton Yarn in “Beach Ball Blue,” “Robins Egg,” (or your favorite color).

Knitting Needles for Washcloths

Knitting Needles:
Long Circular Needles
36-inch (91 cm) long US No. 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Or Straight Needles
9-inch (23 cm) long US No. 7 (4.5 mm) straight needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Notions to Finish Knit Washcloths

What Skills Will I Need to Knit a Washcloth?

Weave in Loose Ends on Flat Knits

How to Knit Washcloths

Step 1: Cast On

First, cast on. This means you will be wrapping the number of stitches called for in the pattern around your knitting needle. So, for your tiny washcloth, use the long-tail cast on method to put 14 stitches on your knitting needles.

How to Start Your Knitting – The Long-Tail Cast On for Beginners

Step 2: Turn Your Work

When you reach the end of your row, it’s time to turn your work.

How to Turn Your Work in Knitting for Beginners – What to Do at the End of a Row

Step 3: Knit

Now that you have your 14 stitches cast on, it’s time to create your washcloth. We’ll be using the garter stitch, which means knitting every row. This creates a lovely, squishy texture that’s perfect for washing.

Row 1: Knit across all 14 stitches.

How to Make the Knit Stitch

Rows 2-27: Turn your work at then end of each row. Then, just keep knitting every row until your piece measures approximately 4 inches square. Remember, every row is just knitting – no purling needed! This repetition is perfect for building muscle memory.

Step 4: Bind Off

Ready to finish? Time to bind off!

How to Take Knitting Stitches Off the Needles – Bind Off Knit Stitches

Step 5: Weave in Loose Ends

Finally, we’ll weave in those loose ends to make your washcloth ready for use.

How I Weave in and Tie Off Loose Ends on Flat Knitting

Troubleshooting Tips:

Counting Stitches: You should have 14 stitches on your needle at the end of every row.
Tension Check: Your knitting should feel firm but not tight.
Edges: Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly straight – this comes with practice!
Mistakes: Mistakes are ok! Let them be, or try to fix your mistakes with my knitting troubleshooting guide.