Basic Garter Border Washcloth Free Knitting Pattern for Beginners

Inside: Free basic garter border washcloth pattern that includes video tutorial from my How to Knit for Complete Beginners series.

Even a beginner can knit this Basic Garter Border Washcloth. This easy pattern gives you two size options to choose from: Super Bulky yarn for a soft face cloth or Medium weight yarn for a traditional-style cotton dishcloth.

Basic Garter Border Washcloth

By Kristen Mangus

A downloadable PDF of this pattern is available in my Etsy store and from Ravelry at the links below:

MATERIALS

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Yarn
Option 1: #6 super bulky weight yarn
Bernat Softee Chunky (108 yds./ 3.5 oz. (99 m/ 100 g))
Colors White and Limelight (28005) used in samples.
Option 2: #4 medium weight yarn
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (186 yds./3.5 oz. (170 m / 100g))
Color Green (172) used in sample.

Needles
Option 1: US 15 (10 mm) straight or circular needles.
Clover Takumi Bamboo straight needles used in sample.
Option 2: US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or circular needles.
Knitter’s Pride Karbonz circular needle used in sample. (NOTE: For cotton yarn I prefer metal needles so the yarn slides ore easily.)

Tapestry needle
3 Stitch markers – 2 to place on needles, 1 locking marker to mark right side of knitting

ABBREVIATIONS
Rep = Repeat
RS = Right side
St(s) = Stitch(es)
WS = Wrong side

GAUGE
Option 1: 9 sts x 13 rows in 4” in stockinette stitch
Option 2: 20 sts x 28 rows in 4” in stockinette stitch

SKILL LEVEL Easy

MEASUREMENTS
Option 1: Approx. 7” x 7” (17.8 cm x 17.8 cm)
Option 2: Approx. 6.5” x 6.5” (16.5 cm x 16.5 cm)

NOTES

Cast On: I recommend the long tail cast on for this project. However, you may use another cast on, if you prefer. I show both the long tail cast on and the thumb cast on in the tutorial video.

Yarn: I know typically washcloths are made using cotton yarn. I included a medium weight cotton for Option 2. I also opted to include a super bulky acrylic version of the pattern for Option 1. Acrylic has much more stretch to it than cotton and is often easier to work with than cotton for a beginner knitter.

Needles: In Option 1, I used a US 15 needle to create a larger stitch and softer face cloth. If you desire a more dense kitchen cloth use either US 11 (8 mm) or US 13 (9 mm). Each decrease in needle size makes the washcloth about ½-1” (1-2 cm) smaller.

Sizing: This pattern can be sized up or down. If sizing up to knit a blanket, for example, remember to adjust the size of the garter border as well. Add more repeats of the garter rows at the beginning and end as well as include more stitches in the border along the sides.

INSTRUCTIONS