BEST Yarn For Crochet & Knit Dishcloths (2024)

Crochet dishcloths are a staple in many households. I love crocheting dishcloths, but it can be tricky to figure out what materials are best when you are just getting started. In this post I want to break down the best yarn for dishcloths so you can make an educated choice!

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I just have to start this post with a story.

I started crocheting when I was about 10 years old. After I’d gotten some experience under my belt, I decided I wanted to crochet a dishcloth for my grandma for her birthday. I was SO excited.

So I got out my red heart super saver yarn (which works for everything, right?!) found a pattern, and worked up a cute little dishcloth.

Before giving it away, I tested it out…and much to my disappointment, it didn’t work right at all.

The “dishcloth” would barely absorb any water. And if it couldn’t absorb water, how could it be used as a dishcloth? Disappointed, I put the project away.

Can you use any yarn for dishcloths?

As you can see, it is NOT a good idea to use just “any” yarn to crochet or knit a dishcloth. It simply doesn’t work.

There are specific things that need to be there in order for the yarn to work. Hint: red heart super saver does NOT have those things! 😝

So before we get into the list of MY favorite dishcloth yarns, let’s talk about what those qualities are.

Things to Look for In Dishcloth Yarn

There are actually quite a few things you want to keep in mind when buying yarn to crochet or knit dishcloths. All of these qualities are very important, but make sure to pay special attention when you get to number 4 – as this is why the dishcloth in my story failed!

1. Durability and Sturdiness

Dishcloths get used, a lot, and for a variety of tasks. They will get worn down. This is why it is important to choose a yarn that is durable and sturdy. It needs to stand the test of time.

I don’t think any crocheter or knitter would want to make a dishcloth that only lasted a few weeks!

2. Absorbency

Another key quality of a good washcloth yarn is absorbency. That is, how well does the yarn absorb water? It needs to absorb it well.

With some yarns, water will just kind of roll off of the project. We DON’T want that. Instead, we want a dishcloth that can absorb lots of water to wash our dishes, counter, etc.

3. Stretch

Thirdly, you’ll want to keep in mind how much a yarn stretches before making a dishcloth.

Basically, you will want to make sure that it doesn’t stretch too much. Think about it – if you use a super stretchy yarn, the dishcloth will get all out of shape everytime you use it. It will be better if it is made from a firmer yarn.

4. Fiber Content

Here it is, folks, the MOST important thing about dishcloth yarn: the fiber content. This means, the materials that the yarn is made out of. If it is made from certain fibers, your dishcloth will function beautifully…or vice versa. So let’s take a look at some common fiber contents that WILL work and some that WON’T work.

Cotton

As a general rule, dishcloths need to be made out of cotton yarn. If you find a yarn that is 100% cotton, there’s a good chance it will work wonderfully for a dishcloth!

Why? Well, cotton matches all of the first 3 characteristics we talked about above. It is very durable. Dishcloths made from cotton hold up for a long time, despite lots of everyday use.

It is very absorbent—you’ll have no trouble with water “rolling” off! And the stretch is just about right with cotton yarn. Dishcloths will stretch a bit, especially depending on the stitch you use, but it won’t be any crazy amount.

Polyester and Nylon

Another fiber possibility that works well is polyester! However, not just any polyester or nylon. If you want to use this fiber, make sure you get a scrubby yarn that is specifically designed for dishcloths.

One of the yarns I will show you later is actually 100% polyester, and it is made for the purpose of crocheted scrubbies/dishcloths. These yarns generally work great!

Just make sure you stay away from other yarns with these fibers that aren’t designed for this purpose. For example, if you have a hank of hand-dyed yarn that is 25% nylon, that doesn’t mean you should use it for a dishcloth! I guarantee you that wouldn’t work well.

Acrylic

Now, for the elephant in the room…acrylic. I have to be honest – I have never seen an instance where acrylic works well for dishcloths.

As you might’ve guessed, red heart super saver, the yarn I used in my story, is made from acrylic. And yes, that is the reason why the dishcloth failed.

Acrylic is simply not absorbent enough. This is the fiber that water rolls off of! I guess it kind of makes sense, because acrylic yarn is made from a type of plastic (whereas cotton is plant-based!)

5. Care Instructions

So, by now we’ve established that cotton yarn is best for dishcloths, with some cases of polyester and nylon being acceptable too. But now let’s narrow down those categories even more.

Once you are looking at a specific cotton yarn, another consideration before buying is the care instructions. You are generally going to want to buy a yarn that is machine washable and dryable.

I’m sure you know that dishcloths are bound to get very dirty over time, so this is pretty much a necessity. Thankfully, most cotton yarns fit this description!

6. Color

Next, does your possible dishcloth yarn have the colors you like? Some yarns come in a wide variety of colors, while others do not.

Of course, this is very subjective. Only you know which colors are your favorite. So just make sure not to settle! You don’t want to buy a yarn just because it is good for dishcloths and end up unhappy with it because of the color.

If you are crocheting dishcloths for a craft show (like I am this year) this would also make colors very important! You’ll want to choose colors that go along with your color palette. For example, I am doing a spring craft fair soon with a sunflower + turqoise theme. So I’ll be choosing the following colors: yellow, brown, green, teal, etc.

7. Price and Overall Value

Lastly (but not least!) you’ll definitely want to take a look at the price and overall value of the yarn. Be careful here – because just because the ball of yarn is cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean it has more value!

Make sure to take a look at the yardage in each ball. How much do you get for the price? And more importantly, how many dishcloths can you make from one ball?

This will help you determine which yarn is best, and also how many balls you need.

The Best Yarn for Dishcloths – the List!

All right, so with those things in mind we are finally ready to take a look at some of the very best dishcloth yarns! I just love all these yarns for dishcloths and I’m excited to share them with you.