Tea Rose Striped Shell Stitch Cotton Crochet Dishcloth Pattern Free (8 Inch Square)

Staggered 5-double-crochet shell stitch isn’t just pretty—its raised fan crests and single-crochet valleys create natural scrubbing ridges that hold dish soap and rinse clean in seconds. The Striped Shell Stitch Cotton Crochet Dishcloth pairs two-row stripes of warm Tea Rose and dusty Rose Pink in 100% cotton Lily® Sugar’n Cream™ on a Size U.S. H/8 (5.0 mm) hook, then encloses the carried side strands inside a neat single crochet perimeter border.

Why Carrying Unused Yarn Up the Side Edge Means Almost Zero Ends to Weave In

Because each stripe is exactly 2 rows tall, both Contrast A and Contrast B always finish their second row on the same side edge of the dishcloth. Instead of cutting your yarn every two rows, you simply carry the resting color loosely up the side edge and crochet your final single-crochet border right over the carried floats!

Materials & Custom Shell Cloth Size Table

• Yarn: 1 ball each of Lily® Sugar’n Cream™ in Contrast A (Tea Rose 00042) and Contrast B (Rose Pink 00046).
• Crochet Hook: Size U.S. H/8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook.
• Notions: Blunt tapestry needle and scissors.

Abbreviations (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
• Sl st = Slip stitch
• Sp(s) = Space(s)
• St(s) = Stitch(es)

Step-by-Step Crochet Instructions

Part 1: Crocheting the 4-Row Striped Shell Repeat

1. Foundation Chain: With Contrast A (Tea Rose), ch 26 (multiple of 6 ch + 2).
2. Row 1 (RS – With A, 4 Full Shells): 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 * across to the end of the chain. Turn. (4 full 5-dc shells and 5 sc)
3. Row 2 (WS – With A, 3 Full Shells + 2 Half-Shells): Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc). Work 2 dc in same first sc as ch-3 (beginning half-shell made). *Skip next 2 dc. Work 1 sc in next (center/3rd) dc of shell. Skip next 2 dc. Work 5 dc in next sc. Repeat from * to the last 6 sts. Skip next 2 dc, work 1 sc in next (center) dc, skip next 2 dc, work 3 dc in last sc (ending half-shell made), joining Contrast B (Rose Pink) on the final stitch. Turn.
4. Row 3 (RS – With B, 4 Full Shells): 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 (center) dc. Repeat from * across to the end of the row. Turn.
5. Row 4 (WS – With B, 3 Full Shells + 2 Half-Shells): Ch 3 (counts as 1 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 the last 6 sts. Skip next 2 dc, work 1 sc in next dc, skip next 2 dc, work 3 dc in last sc, joining Contrast A (Tea Rose) on the final stitch. Turn. (First 4 rows of Stripe Pattern complete.)
6. Repeat for Square Body: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 for the Shell Pattern while alternating 2 rows of A and 2 rows of B until the dishcloth measures approximately 7.5″ [19 cm] from the beginning, ending on a Row 4. Fasten off Contrast B.

Part 2: Single Crochet Perimeter Edging

1. Round 1 (RS – With Contrast A): Join Contrast A with a sl st in any corner space. Ch 1, work 3 sc in same corner space. (Work sc evenly spaced across side edge to next corner, working over any carried yarn floats; work 5 sc in corner) 3 times. Work sc evenly across the last side edge, work 2 sc in first corner space (completing the 5-sc corner), join with a sl st to first sc, and fasten off.