Crocheting creative dishcloths to motivate kids to help out around the house

The title of this post might surprise some of you a bit...

But I often ask myself how I can best and most sustainably motivate my kids to help out around the house. And maybe you feel the same way sometimes... although you’re of course also welcome to read this blog post if you just want to know how my test of dishcloth yarn turned out.

My conclusion is that it’s a fantastic idea to crochet fun, beautiful, or creative dishcloths, where the kids can contribute ideas, and the dishcloths come together quickly since they aren't particularly large.

So, I sat down with my oldest—who, by the way, loves to use everything in our kitchen in his play kitchen 😉—and we brainstormed what designs and shapes he would like. We came up with animal motifs, colorful patterns, or even sponges that fit certain holidays—and I found that particularly fitting. On one hand, because the little sponges make for a fun gift idea, but also because when I think of crocheting with dishcloth yarn, I immediately think of tinsel (more on that later).

Once you've gathered enough ideas, you can grab your crochet hooks and start crocheting the sponges based on your children's suggestions. While you crochet, you can explain how the process works and involve them in the decisions—I hope that one of my kids will share my hobby later on.

One more quick note from me: For crocheting dishcloths, in addition to the special dishcloth yarn we’re discussing today, certain other yarns also work well since they are both functional and durable. These include cotton yarns, blends of cotton and synthetic fibers (like polyester), and even recycled yarns. So feel free to also try the patterns with these yarns.

Now, let's get to the test and my experiences:

When I first picked up the yarn, I immediately felt like I was about to decorate a Christmas tree. I've never seen a yarn that reminded me more of tinsel than this one. (Psst... that's why I think it's a fun idea to hang the little crocheted creations—especially if, like me, you end up making so many that you can't or don't want to use them all in the household—on the Christmas tree as decoration).

Make sure to choose a crochet hook that matches the thickness of your yarn. Often, a slightly smaller hook is beneficial for achieving a dense structure and improving dirt absorption. This is especially important with this yarn, as the stitches can quickly become too large and lose density. For this reason, I believe that single crochet or (half) double crochet stitches are the best options for creating a sturdy and dense dishcloth. You should also keep in mind that a tight crochet will make the sponge more durable and effective.

It's very important for me with the little cute sponges that you remember to crochet a row of single crochets around the edge to reinforce the edges. This helps stabilize the sponge's shape and increases its durability. In my initial attempts, I skipped this step and was quite disappointed at how quickly they stopped looking nice.

Now, let's talk about the difficulties I encountered:

The yarn can easily tangle or knot due to its structure. However, if you keep the yarn taut while crocheting and make sure to store it properly to avoid tangles, this shouldn't be an issue.

I found that the yarn sometimes felt a bit scratchy. However, once I got used to it, it actually felt quite fun in the end. But that's definitely a personal preference.

I also felt that the yarn provides more resistance while crocheting, which can make it a bit tiring—especially if you don't have a lot of experience. My tip here is to make sure to take regular breaks to relax your hands and to use an ergonomic crochet hook to enhance your comfort.

And finally, here are three suggestions for crocheting small dishcloths suitable for the (pre-)Christmas season:

Little Star

The star is the smallest sponge, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. At the same time, it’s quick and easy to crochet. I find it useful to crochet two of them and then sew them together, as this helps to close the holes a bit better.

For the pattern, you need to crochet in rounds:

1. Round 1:In a magic ring, crochet three chain stitches and 14 double crochets, then close the round with a slip stitch.

2. Round 2: crochet six chain stitches, then make a single crochet into the third chain stitch from the hook. Next, crochet a half double crochet, a double crochet, and a treble crochet into each of the next chain stitches. This creates a point of the star. Now, you need to connect the piece to the center. To do this, skip two double crochets from the previous round and make a slip stitch into the next double crochet.

It should look like this:

Now, you need to repeat this for each point of the star, so do it four more times.

Round 3:To make the star more stable, I then crocheted single crochets around each stitch, where you crochet one single crochet, one double crochet, and another single crochet at each point of the star.

If you’ve crocheted it twice, you can either sew the two pieces together or crochet around them again with single crochets. However, I definitely recommend securing the points with a few extra stitches, as they are only attached at two points and can come loose quickly while washing.

The Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is also easy to crochet, but you should have at least some experience with increases and decreases, as this yarn is not great for practicing those techniques. 😉

One more tip: If you want to keep the tree relatively small, you can definitely crochet it using single crochets instead of double crochets.

You crochet the tree from the top down in rows, replacing the first double crochet with three chain stitches after turning, as follows:

Row 1: Crochet four chain stitches and make a double crochet into the fourth chain stitch from the hook.

Row 2: Double each stitch (so you’ll have a total of two double crochets).

Rows 3-6: Double the first and last stitch in each row (so you’ll increase by two double crochets each time).

Row 7: Crochet slip stitches over the first four double crochets to skip them, then make two double crochets in the next stitch, one double crochet in each of the next two stitches, and again two double crochets in the following stitch (the last four stitches remain unworked).

Rows 8-11: In each row, double the first and last stitch (so you’ll increase by a total of two double crochets each time).

The Heart

As a final idea, I’ve brought you the heart. You may have noticed that hearts appear quite frequently in patterns, fitting with our label name. I think if we're making festive dishcloths, the heart is a perfect addition. For the heart, you first crochet the "body" and then the two "loops." Here's how to do it:

Round 1: In a magic ring, crochet three chain stitches and 19 double crochets, then close the round with a slip stitch.

Round 2: Make one chain stitch, then continue as follows:

   - Two single crochets in one stitch
   - One double crochet in the next stitch
   - Two double crochets in the next stitch
   - Alternate between one double crochet in one stitch and two double crochets in the next, until you reach the second to last stitch with a double crochet
   - In the last stitch, crochet two single crochets
   - Close the round with a slip stitch.

Round 3: Make one chain stitch and continue as follows:

   - Two single crochets in one stitch
   - One double crochet in the next stitch
   - Four times: *two double crochets in the next stitch*
   - One double crochet in the next stitch
   - Five single crochets
   - Two times: *two double crochets in the next stitch*
   - Crochet one double crochet, one treble crochet, and one double crochet together in one stitch (the top of the heart)
   - Two times: *two double crochets in the next stitch*
   - Five single crochets
   - One double crochet in the next stitch
   - Four times: *two double crochets in the next stitch*
   - One double crochet in the next stitch
   - Two single crochets in the last stitch and close the round with a slip stitch.

Round 4: Now, after one chain stitch, crochet around with single crochets again, making three single crochets in the tip (the 24th stitch, counting the chain stitch).

Once the dishcloths are finished—having been lovingly crafted—show your children how they can be used around the house. Explain that their creative ideas now have a practical application. My kids actually enjoy helping out when they see us using these fun sponges.