Homemade ’sponge’ recipe, free knit design

In going through my stash this weekend, I found a bunch of 100% cotton yarn leftover small pieces from former projects. I found a truly useful project to use them in and wanted to share with you. Jami’s Knitted ‘Sponge’.

I don’t like the way sponges get sour and need to run through the dishwasher only to come out possibly sanitized but never that clean brand-new look again. Plus they are “throwaway” and I am trying to be more sustainable in my home plus I do love to make it myself. I find I don’t like using a dishcloth so much…just something about the shape I don’t like and the “floppiness” of them. I like something thicker. So….design time!

Janelle at Dancing Ewe Yarn store came up with a simple dish scrubbie pattern using 100% cotton yarn. It’s a free pattern with purchase of this very reasonably priced yarn called Peaches and Cream, 100% cotton. It’s $2.59 a ball and one ball makes 2+ scrubbies.

Here’s a picture (right) of the scrubbie and an adaptation into a sponge shape that I did.I’m not going to step on Janelle’s toes by copying her pattern as I like her scrubbie a lot and she deserves the kudos for it.

Here is my idea for a kitchen sponge pattern:  a quick and easy project that you will use for a long time…and when it wears out, you can whip up another one. Make 2 if you can, one will be in use and the other can be in the wash at all times to keep fresh. They are machine wash and dry and really do a nice job of wiping down counters, washing dishes and are just the right size! So much better than a sponge and very absorbent too. And you can find cotton yarn in lots of fun colors to match your kitchen or if you’re like me, just use up scraps and make them work.

So here’s my recipe for a kitchen sponge you make yourself and they make great gifts too.  Refer to the above picture and have fun!  One is wet and has no crocheted edge and the other is just off the needles with a crochet edge which I think I am liking the best so far.

So, we have two layers of knitting to make this a sponge and not a dishcloth…that’s the difference! It’s quite simple.

Homemade Knitted “Sponge”

Cast on 18-20 stitches of 100% cotton yarn onto No. 7 needles (I used double-pointed ones but you can use anything).

Knit every row to end up with a garter stitch until the piece measures 12″ long and bind off.

Folding in half, bring the the 2 short ends together (the bind off edge and the cast on edge) and choose a finish method below.

For crochet edge: With contrast thread and a crochet hook of the appropriate size, join a new yarn into a corner section catching both front and back sections together treating it like one stitch and repeat this around the outside edges making sure to catch the front and back sections with each single crochet.  On the folded edge, just stitch into one small stitch in the fold to keep the look uniform making sure to keep catching stitches from the same row to keep it straight across so the sponge won’t twist. At the corners you can add a chain stitch between the single crochet to make the corner turn nicely. As you work around, weave in the loose threads from the knitting and tuck inside the sponge as you crochet. They won’t ever show being in between the 2 layers of knit. Cut yarn, weave in last end and you’re done! Enjoy.

For a knit edge: Well, it’s not really a knit edge but rather, after binding off, leave a long tail and thread this through a large-eyed knitting needle and just do the same using a whipstitch through both front and back edge stitches on 3 sides of the piece. You don’t have to do the folded edge like the crochet-edge one. It holds it shape well and you won’t see the stitches much if you use the same colored yarn.

That’s it! Enjoy