Opal Stitch Washcloth

    -This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.-   

It has been a while since I have shared a dishcloth or washcloth on here, but they are one of my favorite crochet projects to make, especially when I either just want a quick project to make, or when I want to try out a new stitch. This particular washcloth pattern hit both of those reasons. I actually made it a few moths ago and I am just finally getting around to actually posting it.

A few months ago I went on a trip that had a short plane ride and I wanted something I could work on if I wanted to crochet on the plane. I wanted something small that would easily fit in my bag, no have lots of little pieces, and just be something simple to pass the time. A small ball of cotton yarn to make a little washcloth seemed like the perfect thing.

I chose to use a stitch for this dishcloth that I had never used before, the opal stitch. I really liked how this stitch worked up. It uses the mini bean stitch, which I have heard of many times but surprisingly I don't think I have ever used it before. The Elizabeth Stitch is a stitch made by just repeating the mini bean stitch over and over, the Opal Stitch uses the mini bean stitch but alternates it with single crochet stitches. This creates a subtle bumpy texture on just one side. I think it turned out really pretty. 

The yarn I used for this washcloth is no longer available, but there are lots of very similar yarns you can use. It is kind of sad because I think the yarn was really perfect for the stitch because it was a pastel rainbow color way that reminds me of the iridescent colors you see in an opal. But is was a Big Twist brand cotton yarn that I bought at JoAnn before they went out of business. I looked for some replacement options and found a pastel rainbow yarn made by Loops & Threads and another by Premier, both in their kitchen/classic cotton yarns, but both are just a little bit darker/different colors at least in the pictures online. 

I made my washcloth about 9" square. It is just rows of opal stitch for the washcloth, finished off with a simple round of single crochet for a border. 

How to Crochet an Opal Stitch Washcloth

Finished size: about 9" square

You will need:

• 1 ball of cotton yarn (Sample used Big Twist Favorite Cotton which is no longer available other similar options include Loops & Threads Classic Cotton in Pastel Ombre, or Premier Home Cotton in Pastel Multi)
• I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
• yarn needle

Instructions:

Special Stitch

Mini Bean Stitch: Insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over, insert your hook into the same stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through all four loops on your hook

You can adjust the size by adjusting the beginning chain, more stitches for a bigger cloth, less stitches for a smaller cloth. Always begin with an even number of chain stitches. 

Opal Stitch Washcloth

Start with the rainbow yarn

ch 30
Row 1, sc in second ch from the hook and each ch to the end (29 sc)

Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc in first st, [mini bean st in next st, sc in next st] repeat to the end (15 sc, 14 mini bean sts)
Row 3: ch 1, turn, sc in each st (29 sc)

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have the desired height. I made a total of 33 rows

When you finish the last row continue with the border by chaining 1, turning 90 degrees and sc evenly down the side, work 3 sc in the corner, sc in each st across the bottom, 3 sc in the corner, sc evenly up the other side, 3 sc in the corner, sc in each st across the top and finishing off with 2 more sc in the corner where you started, sl st to the first sc, cut yarn and weave in end