Knitting Patterns

Cherry Red Deco Fan Knit Dishcloth Free Pattern

OEMGrid: Original Essentials, Maker Tools & Artisan Crafts • November 03, 2026

Introduction

This cherry red deco fan dishcloth is the perfect quick win for anyone who wants a handmade gift without a big time commitment. It's a simple moss-stitch square worked in super bulky cotton, so it knits up fast and feels wonderfully thick and scrubby in the hand. The real star is the little pink half-circle fan appliquéd at one corner, a mid-century motif that gives a plain kitchen cloth a bit of art deco charm. Whether you're a newer knitter looking for your first appliqué project or a seasoned maker after a fast Christmas gift, this one is a joy from start to finish.

Materials Needed

Yarn A: Super bulky (category 6) cotton, approximately 60 yd / 55 m in cherry red.
Yarn B: Super bulky (category 6) cotton, approximately 12 yd / 11 m in pink.
Knitting needles: 8.0 mm (US 11) straight needles.
Crochet hook: 6.0 mm (US J-10) for the appliqué and edging.
Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch markers (optional), scissors, blocking pins and mat.
Finished size: Approx. 8 x 8 in / 20 x 20 cm square; fan approx. 4 in / 10 cm wide x 2 in / 5 cm tall.

Abbreviations

CO – cast on
BO – bind off
k – knit
p – purl
kfb – knit into the front and back of the same stitch (makes one extra stitch)
m1 – make one stitch by lifting the bar between stitches and knitting it (makes one extra stitch)
st(s) – stitch(es)
RS – right side (the outside face of the cloth)
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip stitch
R / Rnd – row / round

Gauge

8 sts and 14 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in moss stitch, blocked. To check, knit a small moss-stitch swatch, block it, and measure a 4 in section; adjust needle size if needed.

Tips Before You Start

Moss stitch is simply alternating knit and purl, offset each row, so keep track of which row you're on to avoid losing the texture.
Super bulky cotton can stretch, so block your finished cloth to the 8 x 8 in size to set the shape.
When working the fan, the m1 increases sit just inside the edge stitches, giving a neat, even wedge.
Steam-block the fan before attaching it so it lies flat and the straight edge stays crisp.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (Yarn A)

Row 1: [k1, p1] to last st, k1 (17 sts).

Row 2: [p1, k1] to last st, p1 (17 sts).

Rows 3–end: Repeat Rows 1–2 until piece measures 8 in / 20 cm, ending after a Row 2.

Bind off: BO all sts knitwise. Weave in ends.

Fan Appliqué (Yarn B), worked flat from point up

Row 1: kfb, k1 (3 sts).

Row 2: p1, k1, p1 (3 sts).

Row 3: k1, m1, k1, m1, k1 (5 sts).

Row 4: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (5 sts).

Row 5: k1, m1, k3, m1, k1 (7 sts).

Row 6: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (7 sts).

Row 7: k1, m1, k5, m1, k1 (9 sts).

Row 8: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (9 sts).

Row 9: k1, m1, k7, m1, k1 (11 sts).

Row 10: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (11 sts).

Row 11: k1, m1, k9, m1, k1 (13 sts).

Row 12: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (13 sts).

Row 13: k1, m1, k11, m1, k1 (15 sts).

Row 14: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (15 sts).

Row 15: k1, m1, k13, m1, k1 (17 sts).

Row 16: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (17 sts).

Row 17: k1, m1, k15, m1, k1 (19 sts).

Row 18: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (19 sts).

Row 19: k1, m1, k17, m1, k1 (21 sts).

Row 20: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (21 sts).

Row 21: k1, m1, k19, m1, k1 (23 sts).

Row 22: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (23 sts).

Row 23: k1, m1, k21, m1, k1 (25 sts).

Row 24: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (25 sts).

Row 25: k1, m1, k23, m1, k1 (27 sts).

Row 26: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (27 sts).

Row 27: k1, m1, k25, m1, k1 (29 sts).

Row 28: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (29 sts).

Row 29: k1, m1, k27, m1, k1 (31 sts).

Row 30: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (31 sts).

Row 31: k1, m1, k29, m1, k1 (33 sts).

Row 32: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (33 sts).

Row 33: k1, m1, k31, m1, k1 (35 sts).

Row 34: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (35 sts).

Row 35: k1, m1, k33, m1, k1 (37 sts).

Row 36: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (37 sts).

Row 37: k1, m1, k35, m1, k1 (39 sts).

Row 38: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (39 sts).

Row 39: k1, m1, k37, m1, k1 (41 sts).

Row 40: p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1 (41 sts).

Bind off: BO all sts knitwise. Weave in ends.

Edging (Yarn B)

Rnd 1: With 6.0 mm hook, join B at any corner. Sc evenly around the entire cloth, working 3 sc in each corner, sl st to first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Assembly and Finishing

Pin the fan flat, RS up, with its straight edge at the bottom, and steam-block to 4 in / 10 cm wide x 2 in / 5 cm tall. Place the fan on the RS of the cloth with its straight edge 1 in / 2.5 cm from the bottom edge and 1 in / 2.5 cm from one side edge, fan opening toward the corner. Whipstitch the straight edge and lower curved edges to the cloth with B using the 6.0 mm hook (or a tapestry needle), leaving the upper fan edge free. Weave in all remaining ends, then block the finished cloth flat to 8 x 8 in / 20 x 20 cm.

Pro Tips and Variations

Swap the pink fan for a mustard or teal contrast to suit your kitchen colors.
Work the body in a single color for a minimalist look, or add a striped border in B.
Make a matching set in different fan colors for a quick, coordinated handmade gift.

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