Meet your new festive favorite: a squishy, diagonal garter dishcloth with candy-cane stripes—perfect for gifting, decorating your kitchen, or pairing with holiday cookies and easy dinners.

Worked corner-to-corner (C2C) with simple increases and decreases, this project is beginner-friendly, portable, and quick to knit with two colors of yarn.

Before You Get Started

Here are a few things to know before you begin:

This pattern is worked in garter stitch (every row is knit) from one corner to the other—no purl rows required.
Stripe plan = 2 rows Red, 2 rows White, carrying yarn neatly up the side (no extra ends!).
Use US 7 (4.5 mm) or US 8 (5 mm) needles—both work well with worsted weight yarn (cotton yarn + relevant needle sizes).
For tidy edges, slip the first stitch wyif (with yarn in front) every row, then knit the rest.
Gauge isn’t critical for dishcloths or washcloths, but a sample is provided if you like to check.

Tools/Materials Needed

Yarn: Worsted cotton (e.g., Lily Sugar’n Cream or Rico Creative Cotton Aran) — 40–50g Color A (Red), 40–50g Color B (White)
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) or US 8 (5 mm), straight or circular
Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure.

Pattern At A Glance

Finished Size: ~8–10″ square
Gauge (garter): ~18 sts & 24 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in garter stitch (not crucial)
Skill Level: Basic (beginner)

Abbreviations

K – knit
K2tog – knit 2 together
YO – yarn over
Rep – repeat
sl 1 – slip one stitch
wyif – with yarn in front

Candy cane C2C dishcloth knitting pattern

How The C2C Garter Dishcloth Works

You’ll start at one corner and increase each right-side pass until the diagonal width is reached.

Then you’ll decrease each pass to the opposite corner.

The simple YO creates the bias growth; paired K2tog on the way down keeps the edges straight.

Step-By-Step Instructions (Candy Cane C2C Dishcloth)

1) Cast on & begin corner increases

Cast on 5 sts.
Row 1: K all sts.
Row 2: K3, YO, K2. (6 sts)
Row 3: K3, YO, K3. (7 sts)
Row 4 (Increase Row): K3, YO, K to end of row.
Rep Row 4 until you have 54 sts (or until work measures ~10″ across the diagonal).

Edge Tidy Tip: On every row, sl1 wyif, then knit the rest. This gives a neat chain edge that makes finishing easy.

2) Stripe plan (No ends!)

Work 2 garter rows per color, switching every 2 rows:
Red ×2 rows → White ×2 rows → repeat.
Carry the unused color up the same side: at each color change, twist the two strands together once to anchor (prevents a gap).

3) Decrease to the final corner

Decrease Row: K2, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K to end.
Rep Decrease Row until 7 sts remain.
Next Row: K2tog, K2tog, K2tog, K1.
Bind off knitwise.

Optional Hanging Loop

With a hook, chain 12–15, slip-stitch to the corner, fasten off; or
Knit a short i-cord and stitch to a corner.

Finish

Weave in any loose ends.
With your long tail, skim stitch along the edge if desired for a subtle, tidy border.
Block to finish and create an even square shape.

FAQs & Tips

Do I need to swatch?

No—gauge isn’t crucial for a dishcloth/washcloth, but if your fabric feels too loose, drop to US 7 (4.5 mm).

How do I keep the carried color neat?

Always twist the two strands together at the color change on the same edge.

Keep an even, gentle tension so the carried strand doesn’t pucker.

Can I make it larger or smaller?

Yes. Work the increase section to your desired diagonal width, then start the decrease section.

What if I prefer a solid color?

Work the same instructions in one color—still beautiful texture!

Why is it called C2C if it’s all knit?

Corner-to-corner (C2C) describes the direction of construction.

In this garter version, you knit every row (no purl rows).

Is there a video tutorial?

Yes, there is a similar pattern (with no color changes); you can watch that on my YouTube channel here to help you get started.

Free Printable

To make this project even easier, I’ve created a free printable version of the candy cane dishcloth pattern.

You can keep it handy while you work—no need to keep checking your phone or scrolling through the blog.

It’s perfect for printing out or saving to your tablet for easy access anytime.

Just click the print button below to grab your free copy!

Yield: Candy Cane Stripe Dishcloth

Candy Cane Dishcloth Knitting Pattern

A quick, beginner-friendly C2C garter dishcloth with classic red-and-white candy cane stripes.

Knit every row (no purl), carry the yarn up the edge—no ends to weave!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Active Time 1 hour

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Difficulty Basic/Beginner

Estimated Cost $10

Materials

Yarn: Worsted cotton (e.g., Lily Sugar’n Cream) — 40–50g Color A (Red), 40–50g Color B (White)
Or Rico Creative Cotton Aran

Tools

Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) or US 8 (5 mm), straight or circular
Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure.