Making quick hostess gifts out of crochet is one of my favorite things to do! I love to bring something crocheted for a Fourth of July picnic. I just think it is a nice touch.
These dishcloths are quick to make and are perfect for this summer. I used 100% Lily Sugar N’ Cream yarn that I had on hand. If you shop at Walmart, you can find the yarn labeled as Peaches N’ Cream. It is the same 100% cotton.
I used the same stitch pattern I created for the Cottage Lace Baby Blanket I made earlier this year. I love the vintage look and thought it might make a great, subtle interpretation of the US Flag.
The only difference when using the Cottage Lace pattern is that I start with red instead of white. In the baby blanket, I started with the cream. So it does have a slightly different look because the colors are reversed.
I also chose to finish the border with a simple slip stitch and chain 3 combination that gives a nice ruffle edge. I wanted something simple and quick to finish the project so I could make more!
Materials
Lily Sugar N’ Cream (tap name of yarn for details on Yarnspirations.com)
1 ball each in red, white and blue
Size H, 5.0mm hook, tapestry needle, scissors
Size
Finished size: approximately 7 x 9 inches
guage: 4 inches = 15 sts and 16 rows (taken from dishcloth)
Stitches
Slip Stitch (SL ST): Insert your hook, YO, pull up a loop and pull directly through loop on hook.
Single Crochet (SC): Insert your hook, yarn over (YO) and pull up a loop, YO and pull through two loops on hook.
Double Crochet (DC): YO, insert your hook, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through two loops, YO and pull through remaining two loops.
Pattern
With red, chain 30 or any even number to make it another size.
Row 1: Begin in the second chain from the hook with SC. SC into each chain across the row. On the last SC, pull through with white, do not cut the red. CH 1 and turn. (29)
Row 2: Work SC and DC into the first stitch. *Skip the next st, work SC and DC into the next st. Repeat from * across the row. When you have 2 sts left, skip one and SC in the last st. CH 1 and turn.
Row 3: Work SC into each stitch across the row. On the final SC, pull through with red, drop white, but do not cut. CH 1 and turn.
Row 4: Work 1 SC into the first st. SL ST across the row. On the final stitch, work 1 SC. CH 1 and turn.
Row 5: Work 1 SC into the first st made with red. Work SC into each of the next sts made with white. On the final stitch, work SC into the final SC in red and pull through white. CH 1 and turn.
Tip:The first and last stitches of row 5 are worked into the SC made red. The rest are worked into the SC row made with white.
Repeat rows 2 through 5 until you have 3 stripes of red and 3 stripes of white.
On the fourth stripe of red, on row 4 instructions, drop red on the 16th st (15th sl st) and pull through with navy blue. Work the final 13 sts with 12 SL STs and 1 final SC. CH 1 and turn.
On Row 5 instructions, switch back to red on the 13th stitch, cut blue, finish the row with red.
Continue repeating the pattern until you have 4 stripes of blue. The last row worked will be row 5 instructions. Tie off and weave in all the ends.
Border
Round 1: With white, pull up a loop in the upper right-hand corner, ch 1, SC into the same stitch. SC into each stitch across the top and bottom; work 3 SC into each corner; work SC evenly down the sides. Join with a SL ST to the first SC. CH 3, do not turn.
Round 2: *Skip next SC, SL ST into next. CH 3, repeat from * around. Join with a SL ST to first st. Tie off and weave in the ends.
Below is what the dishcloth looks like with out changing colors. (also worked an extra row to make it more square.)
Video tutorial:
Happy Fourth of July!
XO, Tiffany
(PDF printable version coming soon, please check back)