Striped Shell Stitch Cotton Crochet Dishcloth Pattern Free: Two-Tone Washcloth

Classic shell stitch isn’t just for baby blankets—when worked in sturdy 100% American-grown cotton, staggered 5-double-crochet fans create scalloped scrubbing ridges that look gorgeous hanging over your kitchen faucet or stacked in a spa gift basket. This Striped Shell Stitch Cotton Crochet Dishcloth alternates 2-row stripes of Tea Rose and Rose Pink in Lily® Sugar’n Cream® on a 5.0 mm (US H/8) hook, carrying the unused color neatly up the side edge so the final single crochet perimeter border hides every carry strand automatically.

How Staggered Two-Row Shell Stripes Create Wave Texture

When you work 2 rows of each color in solid shell stitch, every odd-numbered row begins and ends with a single crochet and works 4 full 5-dc shells across the row. Every even-numbered row offsets the shells by starting with a 3-dc half-shell (`ch 3, 2 dc in first sc`), anchoring with a 1 sc into the center (3rd) dc of each shell below, and finishing with a 3-dc half-shell in the final sc. Because each color is worked for 2 rows, both colors always wait at the exact same side edge—making it effortless to carry the unused strand up the side without cutting your yarn!

Materials & Custom Shell Stitch Size Chart

Because two standard 2.5 oz balls of Lily® Sugar’n Cream® contain 240 yards combined—and one 8″ dishcloth uses only 64.5 yards total—you can make a matching set of 3 dishcloths from just two balls! Use the multiple of 6 ch + 2 to customize the size:

Abbreviations & Shell Stitch Guide (US Crochet Terms)

• Approx = Approximately
• Beg = Beginning
• Ch = Chain(s)
• Cont = Continue
• Dc = Double crochet
• Pat = Pattern
• Rep = Repeat
• Rnd(s) = Round(s)
• RS = Right side
• Sc = Single crochet
• Shell = 5 dc worked all into the same stitch or chain.
• Sl st = Slip stitch
• Sp(s) = Space(s)
• St(s) = Stitch(es)

Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions

Stripe Pattern Formula: Work 2 rows with Contrast A (Tea Rose), then 2 rows with Contrast B (Rose Pink). Carry the color not in use loosely along the side edge of the work.

Part 1: Crocheting the Striped Shell Stitch Square

1. Foundation Chain: With Contrast A (Tea Rose), ch 26.
2. Row 1 (RS – Contrast A): Work 1 sc in 2nd ch from hook. *Skip next 2 ch. Work 5 dc in next ch (shell made). Skip next 2 ch. Work 1 sc in next ch. Repeat from * to the end of the chain. Turn. (4 full 5-dc shells and 5 sc)
3. Row 2 (WS – Contrast A): Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Work 2 dc in the same first sc as the ch-3 (beginning half-shell made). *Skip next 2 dc. Work 1 sc in next dc (center dc of shell). Skip next 2 dc. Work 5 dc in next sc. Repeat from * across to the last 6 stitches. Skip next 2 dc. Work 1 sc in next dc. Skip next 2 dc. Work 3 dc in last sc (ending half-shell made), joining Contrast B (Rose Pink) on the final yarn-over of the last dc. Turn. (3 full shells + 2 half-shells)
4. Row 3 (RS – Contrast B): With Contrast B, ch 1. Work 1 sc in first dc. *Skip next 2 dc. Work 5 dc in next sc. Skip next 2 dc. Work 1 sc in next dc (center dc of shell). Repeat from * across to the end of the row (working the final sc into the top of the turning ch-3). Turn. (4 full shells and 5 sc)
5. Row 4 (WS – Contrast B): Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work 2 dc in same first sc as ch-3. *Skip next 2 dc. Work 1 sc in next dc. Skip next 2 dc. Work 5 dc in next sc. Repeat from * to last 6 stitches. Skip next 2 dc. Work 1 sc in next dc. Skip next 2 dc. Work 3 dc in last sc, joining Contrast A on the final yarn-over. Turn. (First 4 rows of Stripe Pattern are complete!)
6. Repeat for Dishcloth Body: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 for the Shell Pattern while continuing the 4-row Stripe Pattern until the dishcloth measures approximately 7½” [19 cm] from the beginning, ending on a 4th row (Contrast B WS row). Fasten off Contrast B.

Part 2: Single Crochet Perimeter Edging

1. Round 1 (RS): With Right Side facing, join Contrast A (Tea Rose) with a sl st to any corner. Ch 1. Work 3 sc in the same corner space as the sl st.
2. (Work sc evenly across the side edge to the next corner, working over the carried side yarn strands to conceal them; work 5 sc in the corner) 3 times.
3. Work sc evenly across the final side edge. Work 2 sc in the same first corner space as the starting sl st (completing the 5-sc starting corner). Join with a sl st to the first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.