If you want your hand-made dishcloths to be durable and reusable it’s important to choose a yarn that
- can withstand repeated rubbing and washings
- absorbs water
- doesn’t stretch
To help you make the best choice, I’ve put together a guide to the best yarn for dishcloths. At the end of this post, I’ll also provide a list of suitable yarns for dishcloths!
1. Best Materials for a Dishcloth
The two best options are bamboo and cotton.
- Cotton matches all of the characteristics I’ve listed above: it’s durable, doesn’t stretch and absorbs water well. So I think it’s the best fiber for this use case.
- Bamboo is a good choice especially if blended with cotton. It’s actually more absorbent than cotton, but not as durable and also a little bit more expensive.
- Polyester is also an ok option if the yarn construction is suitable (more of that below).
The following materials I would avoid:
- Acrylic is not as absorbent as cotton or bamboo. It’s also made of plastic and melts at high temperatures so I wouldn’t use it even though some people do.
- Wool does not withstand repeated rubbing and washing.
2. Yarn construction
The thicker the yarn, the more durable it will be.
The best dishcloth yarns are those that are tightly plied and have a tight twist. This helps the yarn withstand repeated washings and rubbing.
Thinner, single-ply, or loosely plied yarns are not as strong and thus not suitable for dishcloths.
3. Color
The lighter the color the more it shows stains and spills so that’s why I prefer darker colors.
4. Care
I prefer washing my dishcloths at high temperatures 140F (60°) so that I get them properly cleaned but 104F (40°) is good enough.
5. Best Yarns for Dishcloth
If the yarn is OEKO-TEX® certified it means that it has been manufactured with respect for the environment – completely without the use of chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers etc.
KnitPicks Dishie
This yarn is a hardworking worsted weight 100% cotton yarn with a tight spin and high absorbency. This makes Dishie not only easy to knit with but extremely durable as well.
Here’s a free dishcloth pattern for this yarn.
- Weight: Worsted
- Fiber Content: 100% Cotton
- Care: Machine Wash Cold
- Certification: OEKO-TEX®
Hobbii Rainbow Bamboo
This is a glossy and soft yarn made of 100% natural materials. The yarn consists of high quality cotton and bamboo fibers, making it extra strong.
Here’s a free dishcloth pattern for this yarn.
- Weight: Sport
- Fiber Content: 60% Bamboo Viscose, 40% Cotton
- Care: Machine Wash 60°C (140°F)
- Certification: OEKO-TEX®
Red Heart Scrubby Cotton
The cotton version of this yarn is more absorbent than the original Scrubby that was 100% polyester.
The yarn gets softer when it is wet so it is perfect for washcloths as well.
- Weight: Heavy Worsted
- Fiber Content: 100% Cotton
- Care: Machine Wash and Dry
