A Pattern for Hand Knit Dish Towels

It’s finally spring and I am so, so excited after our very long winters and, of course, the pandemic restrictions. It won’t be long until we can gather again outdoors with friends and family. In anticipation for the fun to come, I got started early with my spring cleaning and sprucing up the decor in the house. I came up with a fresh new knit dish towel pattern to make some luxurious towels to liven up the kitchen.

I hope you’ll agree that this is a fun and easy pattern for knitters of all skill levels. I always get a kick out of watching the diamond lattice pattern come to life with each completed row. There are no special knitting techniques required either – just basic knits and purls. Once you’re finished, you’ll have a towel that not only looks great in any kitchen but also livens up the place a bit. I designed these kitchen towels to be the perfect length to hang over your oven door but, feel free to customize the length for however long you need them to be. Whether you’re drying your hands, or the dishes these towels are just as functional as they are pretty.

How to Choose Yarn for Your Dish Towels: Colours & Quality

Choosing the right yarn colour for your towels can make all the difference, especially since they can either blend in or stand out in your kitchen, depending on your home decor style. If your kitchen is more of a modern or minimalist look, then I suggest opting for neutral tones like greys, whites, or blacks. These colours add a sophisticated touch without overwhelming the space. For those with a bit of a rustic or farmhouse vibe like me, earthy soft tones such as ivory, dusty browns, and muted/pastel greens or blues can complement the natural materials and warm textures.On the other hand, if your kitchen is a canvas of vibrant colours and eclectic accessories, why not go bold? Bright yellows, deep reds, or lively greens can inject a fun pop of colour and personality into your space. And for those who love a coastal or beachy feel, think about soft blues, sandy beiges, or coral pinks to mirror the calm and refreshing atmosphere of the seaside.

In the end, the goal is to choose yarn colours that reflect and enhance your personal style while making these functional art pieces a beautiful addition to your daily kitchen routine.

My yarn of choice for knitting dish towels has, and likely will always be Knit Picks Dishie Worsted Weight Yarn. This yarn is the perfect balance of quality and cost. Although I’m sure I could find cheaper dish towel yarn at the dollar store down the street, I would never waste precious time knitting with it. In my opinion, the quality of dishtowel yarn is important because I want my towels to stand the test of time and actually absorb liquids. But, life is expensive -especially with inflation as it is these days. I love how Knit Picks has kept the price of dishie low over the years. It’s definitely not the least expensive cotton yarn you’ll find, but it is the best bang for your buck. Plus they have a huge pallet of colours to choose from, which they keep up to date with modern aesthetics.

With all of that said, I cannot stress how much of a difference knitting with quality yarn like dishie makes -not only in the experience of working with it, but also in knitting a dish towel that can be repeatedly used and washed… I have hand knit towels from years ago that come out of the wash looking awesome, and soft and absorbent as ever!

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Knit Dish Towels – Free Pattern

Materials:

To make one towel, you will need the following supplies:

• US Size 7 (4.5 mm) straight knitting needles.
• 210 yards (just over 1 skein) of Knit Picks Dishie Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn.  Colours in photos are Swan and Mint.
• Scissors.
• Large Tapestry/Yarn needle to weave in ends.

Pay it Forward!

The Pattern:

Bottom Border:

Cast on 57 stitches.

The bottom border is worked over 4 rows in seed stitch as follows:

Rows 1-4: *K1, P1; repeat from * to last stitch; knit the last stitch.

Continue to Body of Towel.

Top Border:

The top border is worked over 4 rows in seed stitch as follows:

Rows 1-4: *K1, P1; repeat from * to last stitch; knit the last stitch.

Cast off in pattern and weave in all loose ends.

More Knit Dish Towel Patterns From Leelee Knits

Rustic Kitchen Towels

Have you even been invited over to someone’s home and wondered what kind of gift to bring for the hostess? This rustic chic dishcloth would be the perfect solution to that problem. Dishcloths are quick and rewarding projects that are also inexpensive since they are smaller and do not require too much yarn. An added bonus is that this dishcloth is perfect for beginner knitters and a great way to practice your knitting skills.

Farmhouse Dish Towels

These beginner friendly dish towels are not only stunning to have on display in your kitchen, but they give off a cozy, inviting vibe that would make any guest feel welcome. And needless to say, they are an environmentally friendly alternative to paper towels. So you can knit these up and feel good for doing your part to save our beautiful planet!