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I can’t come up with a name for this circular washcloth knitting pattern that makes it sound as interesting, fun and useful as it is.
This washcloth is actually two in one, with a scrubby side and a smooth side. It’s constructed in two pieces worked from the center out and sewn together, and it’s such a quick and easy project you can make in any size. It’s great for using up leftovers of cotton yarn.
Materials
My circular washcloth is 5 inches/12.7 cm across, and it weighs 24 grams. I think I used about 27 yards of Lily Sugar’n Cream and around 10 yards of Red Heart Scrubby. Any little bits of leftovers you have are totally fine for this, and you can just go until you run out of whichever yarn you have less of. (Or make a single layer washcloth with whichever type of yarn you have.)
I used three size 7 US/4.5 mm double pointed knitting needles for this circular washcloth knitting pattern, but using four is fine, too. I just find starting with three to be easier and I never changed to four because this project goes so fast.
You’ll also need a pair of scissors and a yarn needle.
Gauge
Gauge is not critical but I got about 6 stitches and 6 rows per inch/2.5 cm in the smooth yarn.
Size
My washcloth is 5 inches/12.7 cm across, but you can make yours any size you like by knitting less than I did or continuing to increase at the same rate to make yours bigger (more on that below).
Circular Washcloth Knitting Pattern
I started with the Scrubby yarn, but it doesn’t actually matter. To make a double sided circular washcloth like mine, you’ll need to make two of these, one in scrubby yarn and one in smooth. Or make them both smooth, just different colors. Or work in stripes. Whatever you want.
There are no rules here, other than the rules behind knitting a flat circle.
Cast on 6 stitches and divide onto 2 or 3 double pointed knitting needles.
Join for working in the round and knit 1 round. If you like you can add a stitch marker, but I just use the tail end of the yarn to show me where the end of the round is.
Knit in the front and back of each stitch. You now have 12 stitches.
Knit 2 rounds.
Next, knit in the front and back of each stitch again. You now have 24 stitches.
Then knit 3 rounds. (Are you seeing the pattern?)
Knit in the front and back of each stitch. There are now 48 stitches.
Knit 4 rounds.
Knit in the front and back of each stitch one more time for 96 stitches total.
Finally, knit 1 more round and bind off. I used my basic stretchy bind off, but any bind off you like is fine. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail to weave in.
Knit another circular washcloth the same way. On the smooth washcloth I left a long tail for sewing, but you can also join new yarn for that. This looks a little wild but I promise it worked out.
Adjusting Your Washcloth Size
If you want your washcloth to be smaller, or you’re just running out of yarn, you can bind off at any time.
To make your washcloth bigger, keep increasing at the same rate. So you’d knit 4 more rounds (for 5 total) and increase in every stitch again, then knit 6 rounds and increase again and so on. If you’re making it bigger you’ll definitely need a fourth DPN or even a circular needle that will fit all the stitches more easily.
Finishing Your Circular Knit Washcloth
Weave in your yarn ends on the scrubby side and the center yarn end from the smooth side (as well as the outside tail if you didn’t leave enough for sewing).
Use the long tail from the smooth side of the washcloth (or another piece of yarn you’ve woven into the back side of the knitting a few stitches to secure) to sew the washcloths together. I sewed straight stitches under the cast on edges, but you could also whip stitch or blanket stitch the edge if you’d rather.
If you’re having trouble keeping your pieces together you can use pins or sewing clips if you have some handy.
When the sewing is done, bury the yarn end in the inside of the washcloth and trim the excess.
Mine was looking a bit wobbly when I finished, so I got it wet and stretched it a little to make it more circular.
And there you have it: a circular washcloth knitting pattern you can use again and again. Make single sided ones if you’d rather, but I love the scrubby/smooth combo for exfoliation or washing dishes. Enjoy!
