Puff Stitch Leaf Motif Crochet Dishcloth Free Pattern
Puff Stitch Leaf Motif Crochet Dishcloth Free Pattern
Introduction
This beginner-friendly dishcloth is a lovely little project for anyone who wants a sturdy, textured cloth that looks as good as it works. A dusty rose leaf motif made of puff stitches sits on a soft grey background, so the design reads clearly even in simple single crochet. Worked in 3 mm cotton macrame cord, the fabric comes out dense, absorbent, and pleasantly scrubby for everyday kitchen use. The dusty rose border finishes the edges neatly, making it a sweet handmade gift or a cheerful upgrade for your own sink.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Macrame cord, 3 mm, cotton. Color A (dusty rose): 50 yards. Color B (grey): 100 yards.
- Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8).
- Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, stitch marker (optional, for the first stitch of each row).
- Finished size: 8 inches wide x 9 inches long.
Abbreviations
- ch – chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
- sc – single crochet: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
- puff st – puff stitch: yarn over, insert hook in stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook); repeat 2 more times in the same stitch (7 loops on hook); yarn over and pull through all loops at once; ch 1 to close.
- sl st – slip stitch: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
- st(s) – stitch(es).
- R – row. Rnd – round.
Gauge
12 sts x 12 rows = 4 inches in single crochet. Work a small swatch in single crochet and measure a 4-inch square; adjust your hook size if you have more or fewer stitches than 12 per 4 inches.
Tips Before You Start
- Macrame cord has little stretch, so keep your tension relaxed and even; a slightly loose single crochet makes the puff stitches easier to work.
- Change colors on the last yarn over of the stitch before the new color, so the color change sits cleanly at the edge of the motif.
- Count your stitches at the end of every row — each row stays at 24 stitches, which keeps the rectangle square.
- Puff stitches are worked into a single stitch and closed with a ch 1; that chain does not count as a stitch, so always work the next sc into the following stitch.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Base and Body (Colors B and A)
Base: With B, ch 25.
R1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (24 sc).
R2–4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (24 sc).
R5: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 8 sts, change to A, [puff st in next st, sc in next st] 4 times, change to B, sc in last 8 sts (24 sts).
R6: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 8 sts, change to A, sc in next 8 sts, change to B, sc in last 8 sts (24 sc).
R7: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 7 sts, change to A, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, sc in next 2 sts, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, change to B, sc in last 7 sts (24 sts).
R8: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 7 sts, change to A, sc in next 10 sts, change to B, sc in last 7 sts (24 sc).
R9: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 6 sts, change to A, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, sc in next 4 sts, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, change to B, sc in last 6 sts (24 sts).
R10: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 6 sts, change to A, sc in next 12 sts, change to B, sc in last 6 sts (24 sc).
R11: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 5 sts, change to A, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, sc in next 6 sts, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, change to B, sc in last 5 sts (24 sts).
R12: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 5 sts, change to A, sc in next 14 sts, change to B, sc in last 5 sts (24 sc).
R13: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 4 sts, change to A, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, sc in next 8 sts, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, change to B, sc in last 4 sts (24 sts).
R14: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 4 sts, change to A, sc in next 16 sts, change to B, sc in last 4 sts (24 sc).
R15: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 sts, change to A, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, sc in next 10 sts, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, change to B, sc in last 3 sts (24 sts).
R16: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 sts, change to A, sc in next 18 sts, change to B, sc in last 3 sts (24 sc).
R17: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 2 sts, change to A, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, sc in next 12 sts, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, change to B, sc in last 2 sts (24 sts).
R18: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 2 sts, change to A, sc in next 20 sts, change to B, sc in last 2 sts (24 sc).
R19: Ch 1, turn, sc in first st, change to A, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, sc in next 14 sts, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, change to B, sc in last st (24 sts).
R20: Ch 1, turn, sc in first st, change to A, sc in next 22 sts, change to B, sc in last st (24 sc).
R21: Ch 1, turn, change to A, puff st in first st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, sc in next 16 sts, puff st in next st, sc in next st, puff st in next st, change to B, sc in last st (24 sts).
R22: Ch 1, turn, change to A, sc in first 24 sts, change to B (24 sc).
R23–26: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (24 sc).
Border (Color A)
Setup: Join A with a sl st in a corner.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire piece, working 3 sc in each corner, join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Assembly and Finishing
This dishcloth is worked in one piece, so no seaming is needed. Weave in all ends on the wrong side with the tapestry needle, threading each tail through several stitches in its own color so it stays hidden. Block the cloth by misting it lightly with water and pinning it to an 8 x 9 inch rectangle on a towel or blocking mat; let it dry completely so the puff stitches pop and the edges lie flat.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the dusty rose and grey for any two contrasting cotton colors to match your kitchen.
- Add a hanging loop by chaining 10 at one corner of the border and joining with a sl st before fastening off.
- For a softer, quicker cloth, work the same motif in worsted weight cotton with a 5.0 mm hook, accepting a slightly smaller finished size.
