The Best Yarn for Dishcloths and Washcloths
The following article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase from these links, I may receive affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend yarns which I believe are truly sustainable and the companies who make them are following ethical textile and social practices.
You will often hear that the best yarn for dishcloths and washcloths is cotton yarn in DK or worsted weight. However, I’m going to throw a spanner in the works and say, it depends.
I’ve been crocheting my own dishcloths and washcloths since 2016. It’s one of my favourite things to do when I need some down time and it’s a great project for when you’re just starting out or if you want to test a specific stitch before making a big project.
I’ve used various sustainable yarns and weights and hooks and feel that I can give an educated guide on the best yarns to use if you’re not sure. But first let’s clarify a few things.
Textured dishcloth crochet pattern available in the shop.
Are You Making a Dishcloth or a Washcloth?
This is important. Will you be making a cloth for cleaning your dishes, wiping down your kitchen surfaces, cleaning your sinks or washing your body?
Deciding what you will be using it for makes a big difference to the yarn you will need to use.
Do You Want it Scrubby or Soft?
Once you’ve decided what you’re making it for, you then need to decide whether you want something soft or scrubby. Often the first decision decides the second.
If you want it for cleaning your sinks then it’s best if it is a bit scrubby. However, if you’re making a washcloth for your body, then it is personal preference whether you want it to be gently exfoliating or soft against your skin.
Which Yarns to Avoid
Consider the Fibre Content
Some yarns really don’t suit dishcloths and washcloths. Not only that but we need to consider the use of the item and how it is disposed of at the end of its life.
With a dishcloth or washcloth, they will both be used with water and the water will end up down the drain so we definitely want to avoid anything synthetic like acrylic, nylon, polyester, microfibre etc. All these yarns will shed micro plastics into the water system and we don’t want that.
Be aware of and avoid yarns marketed as suitable for dishcloths and scrubbies that are 100% polyester. They might be ok functionally but they are damaging to the environment which defeats the whole point.
Make sure you check the labels.
Think About the Dyes
Another thing to consider is the dyes. Have they been dyed with synthetic, toxic dyes? These will also enter the water system which isn’t great for us and for the environment.
Don’t worry, if it’s colour you want then there are plenty of options that have been dyed with non toxic dyes to choose from.
I’ve created an extensive list of all the yarns I think are suitable for dishcloths and washcloths below, mentioning where the company is based, the price and yardage of each skein and a link to where you can buy them from. I really hope the list is useful.
The Best Yarn for Dishcloths & Washcloths
So to recap, are you making a dishcloth or washcloth? Do you need it to be scrubby / exfoliating or soft / absorbent?
For Scrubbiness or Exfoliation
To make a dishcloth that is scrubby or a washcloth that is gently exfoliating, you need a yarn that is a bit stiffer, something like hemp or linen. These work up realIy well and give great texture. Here are some options to choose from that I have personally used and love and are sustainable options.
Where to Buy Hemp Yarn
byGoldenberry Shop (Cyprus)
from €8.80 for 273 yards
The hemp yarn I stock is completely natural so there’s no worries about toxic dyes or micro plastics. I’ve been using this hemp yarn to make my own dishcloths for years and I love it. The best weight of hemp yarn for dishcloths is sport weight.
Lanaknits - (Has various stockists, mainly US and Canada)
from $9.00 CAD for 165 yards
A leading hemp yarn company that focuses on hemp yarn for knitters, crocheters, weavers, and any other fiber artists. Their high quality hemp yarn can be found in shops throughout North America and in a few international locations.
Natissea - Pernelle, Damya, Merlin (France)
from €15.50 for 207 yards
A small yarn company based in France that make beautifully dyed hemp, hemp and linen mix and hemp and organic cotton mix yarns using vegan dyes that are certified by GOTS and Oeko-Tex®.
Where to Buy Linen Yarn
byGoldenberry Shop (Cyprus)
from €39.80 for 393 yards
A completely natural, undyed, unwaxed linen yarn is a available in my shop and is perfect for a bit of scrubbiness but not as scrubby as hemp.
Lion Brand - Linen Cone (US)
$37.25 1,750 yards per pound
100% linen yarn in superfine weight in a range of colours. Great for summer garments, accessories or lightweight dishcloths.
Natissea - Linea (France)
from €15.95 for 207 yards
This small business also creates a really lovely linen and organic cotton mix yarn that is 95% French linen and 5% Turkish cotton. In a range of gorgeous colours that are certified by GOTS and Oeko-Tex®.
For Softness or Absorbtion
If you have decided that you want to make a dishcloth that is really absorbent to wipe up spills or a washcloth that is soft against your skin then I would opt for a cotton yarn.
To make sure it is sustainable, choose a recycled or organic cotton. Read more about why standard cotton yarn is not that sustainable in my blog post about the difference between linen, cotton and hemp.
Where to buy Cotton Yarns
LoveCrafts - PaintBox Recycled Cotton (UK)
£3.50 for 170 yards
This would be my first choice. A recycled cotton yarn in worsted weight certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100. These make lovely, soft dishcloths and it’s available in a range of beautiful colours.
GANXXET - Zero Waste Recycled Cotton (US)
from $7.95 for 76 yards
GANXXET have a big range of 100% recycled cotton yarns in various weights and colours. The yarns are not dyed but have their original colours which I love! They are also certified by The Global Recycled Standard, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and REACH.
GANXXET - Organic Combed Cotton (US)
from $18.95 for 437 yards
A super soft, 100% organic cotton that is delicate and shinny. Certified by OEKO-TEX and GOTS. Their 2mm diameter yarn is perfect for dishcloths and washcloths.
LoveCrafts - Debbie Bliss Eco Baby Organic Cotton (UK)
£5.50 for 137 yards
Another super soft 100% organic cotton yarn available in a range of pastel colours that are certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and GOTS.
Knitpicks - Simply Cotton Organic (US)
$6.99 for 164 yards
This is great if you want a soft organic cotton yarn that is not dyed and completely natural. Knitpicks have fingering, sport. and worsted weights available. Certified by GOTS.
Ice Yarns - Organic Baby Cotton (Turkey)
€1.65 for 125 yards
A worsted weight yarn that has GOTS certificates and is available in a huge range of colours.
I really hope this list has been helpful. If you’ve tried any of the yarns mentioned above, please let me and others know what you think of them in the comments.
