This basket weave knit dishcloth pattern uses alternating groups of knit and purl stitches to create a classic woven texture. It’s an easy way to practice both basic stitches while making something colorful and useful for your kitchen.
The dishcloth is worked flat with worsted-weight cotton yarn and measures approximately 8 in. (20.5 cm) square. The first stitch of each row is slipped to create a neat finished edge.
I originally designed this dishcloth along with my Textured Knit Dishcloth Pattern, shown beside it below. Make one of each for a coordinating set, or knit several basket weave dishcloths in your favorite kitchen colors!
Rather crochet? Browse all my free crochet dishcloth patterns here.
Basket Weave Dishcloth Knitting Pattern
Pattern Details
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted-weight cotton yarn
- Yardage: Less than 100 yd (91 m)
- Needles: 4.5 mm (US 7)
- Finished size: Approximately 8 × 8 in. (20.5 × 20.5 cm)
- Construction: Worked flat in rows
- Techniques: Knit, purl, slipped stitches, and bind off
Materials
- Less than 100 yd (91 m) worsted-weight cotton yarn, shown in Knit Picks Dishie in Clementine
- 4.5 mm (US 7) knitting needles
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
Helpful Knitting Resources
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Knitting Abbreviations, Complete Beginner’s Guide to Knitting, and Easy Crochet Hook Bind Off.
Abbreviations
- k: knit
- p: purl
- rep: repeat
- sl: slip
- st(s): stitch(es)
Pattern Notes
- The dishcloth is worked flat from the bottom up.
- Slip the first stitch of each row as directed to create a neat finished edge.
- Rows 4–11 form the basket weave stitch pattern.
- Block the finished dishcloth to shape if desired.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry library.
Basket Weave Knit Dishcloth Instructions
Cast on 36 sts using the long-tail cast-on method or your preferred cast-on.
Row 1: Sl first st knitwise, knit across.
Row 2: Sl first st knitwise, knit across.
Row 3: Sl first st knitwise, knit 2, purl until 3 sts remain, knit 3.
Row 4: Sl first st purlwise, purl 2, knit 5, *purl 4, knit 4; rep from * until 4 sts remain, knit 1, purl 3.
Row 5: Sl first st knitwise, knit 2, purl 5, *knit 4, purl 4; rep from * until 4 sts remain, purl 1, knit 3.
Row 6: Rep Row 4.
Row 7: Rep Row 5.
Row 8: Sl first st purlwise, purl 2, knit 1, purl 4, *knit 4, purl 4; rep from * until 4 sts remain, knit 1, purl 3.
Row 9: Sl first st knitwise, knit 2, purl 1, knit 4, *purl 4, knit 4; rep from * until 4 sts remain, purl 1, knit 3.
Row 10: Rep Row 8.
Row 11: Rep Row 9.
Rows 12–43: Rep Rows 4–11 four more times.
Row 44: Sl first st purlwise, purl 2, knit until 3 sts remain, purl 3.
Row 45: Sl first st knitwise, knit across.
Row 46: Sl first st knitwise, knit across.
Bind off and weave in ends. You can use a standard bind off or try my easy crochet hook bind-off method.
Block to shape if desired. See How to Block Knit and Crochet Items for help.
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Thank you so much for the quick and easy dishcloth patterns. The instructions are so easy to understand. I love, love, love your crochet bind off, I had never used or heard of it before and it is wonderful. x
I’m so glad you like them!
I would very much like the pattern for your basket weave dishcloth
I would like your knit pattern for basket weave dishcloth
Rows 12 through 43: Repeat Rows 4 through 11. Sorry I am all so a bit new at this, a. Could you please explain this ste
p to me
I am sorry … which part are you having trouble with?
Rows 4 to 11 form the pattern, so when you have knitted row 12, for the next row, follow instructions for row 4, and so on to Row 11. Repeat those 8 rows that make up the basket pattern until you have actually knitted 43 rows altogether.
I do hope this helps.
Rachel in the UK
I’m always on the lookout for good dishcloth patterns. I’m dying to try this one!! Maybe for my mom for mother’s day?? She’d LOVE!!
That’s a great idea! I hope you (and your mom) love it as much as I do 🙂
What a gorgeous dish cloth!
Thank you, Marilyn!
having trouble finding the directions for the light green one shown with the basket weave.
Hi Carol 🙂 That one will be up next week.
So cute 🙂 I pinned these to my “When I Learn to Knit” board – hehe.
Hope you get to use it soon 🙂
I need help please. I am a beginner at knitting and An advanced Crocheter so I am sure I can make this pattern except for one set of terms that has me baffled. At the beginning of each row it says to slip one stitch knit wise. What does this mean? Should I just move the first stitch to the right needle wwwithout doing a yarn over? Love this pattern and the 3 color one too. Time to start making dishcloths I need a lot to put into the church Xmas food baskets plus gifts and even some to sell. Thank you for sharing!
Put your right needle into the stitch as if you were going to knit it and just slide the stitch across.
Thanks so much for jumping in and helping a fellow knitter 🙂
Annette, to slip one stitch knit-wise, insert right-hand needle into the first stitch as if to knit (but don’t) and slip that stitch onto the right-hand needle. To slip one stitch purl-wise, you insert the right-hand needle as if to purl (but don’t purl) and slip it onto the right-hand needle. Hope that makes sense. :o)
Thanks so much for jumping in to help 🙂
Yes, you put the right needle into the first loop as if you were intending to knit a stitch, but then just move it to the right needle as you say, without putting the yarn over.
Wish I could crochet but can only do a simple chain. When get to the loops, it ends with a very peculiar shape!
Thanks for helping 🙂
Hi Annette 🙂 What a great idea to add to church food baskets!! It warms my heart like nothing else to know that readers are using my patterns for such good works! It looks like the other ladies already jumped in to answer your question. Let me know if you need anything else 🙂
I also love making dishcloths. I am sure I wouldn’t be able to count all the dishcloths I’ve made over the years. At the moment I have a drawer full of them! But all that I’ve made have been crocheted. Thanks for sharing this knit pattern. It will be a good way to improve on my knitting skills! I’m looking forward to giving it a try.
I love them too, Linda 🙂