Preferred size for knit/crochet washcloths?

[monkeys4mama]

What's your favorite size for knit/crocheted dishcloths/washcloths?

I've been on a washcloth/dishcloth kick recently. They're a great portable summer project, small, fast, nice to work with cotton in the heat, etc.

I'm finding that most patterns make a cloth 8"-9" square. When you wash them, they shrink up a little too. These cloths are smaller than the typical store-bought terry cloths that I am used to.

Any reason why the knit/crochet ones are smaller? Is it better for some reason to make them smaller when you use yarn (like b/c of bulk or something?) Or is it just so you can get one whole cloth out of the standard sized ball of "kitchen cotton" type yarn?

I'm thinking of making mine bigger, like 10" or so. What do you mamas prefer? I'm pretty new to making and using these type of cloths so I haven't used them enough to develop much opinion other than that they look smallish. I do know already that I like knit better than crochet, since they're not so bulky and stiff. But I'd like to get some opinions on optimum size.

TIA

[lilyka]

I prefer smaller ones. I think mine come out about 7". They are thicker than regular wash cloths. I also like mine knit tight.

[monkeys4mama]

Originally Posted by lilyka

I prefer smaller ones. I think mine come out about 7". They are thicker than regular wash cloths. I also like mine knit tight.

Thanks. So you like smaller b/c the cloths are bulkier then? I was wondering about that. I wondered about the tightness of the stitches too. I have one loose knit and one tighter knit, one loose crochet and one tight crochet. The loose knit is stretchy and that's kinda nice. The tighter knit seems more substantial. The tight crochet is so bulky it doesn't dry very fast. The loose crochet is OK. I don't think I really prefer crochet though. I think I like knit.

I love the idea of making these, even though it seems a bit frivolous to spend hours knitting something I can buy for a buck and will scrub dirty stuff with. But hey, it's fun and there's something cool about seeing those things you make yourself being used in your home.

[Indigo73]

I tend to make mine in the 8 -10 inch range. I find that I use them for so many different tasks and it's nicer to have bigger and smaller ones.

[Twinklefae]

I've been making them about 9" square and tight knit. I tried it out on bigger needles, and didn't like how floppy it was, so went back to smaller and tighter.

I also like that the smaller ones fit in the drawer better.

[captivatedlife]

I like knit and crochet washcloths for different things. I like knit ones for the soft luxurious feel. I like crochet ones for the scrubbyness. When I use a face mask, I like a crochet. If I'm taking a shower and I washed up the night before, I want a soft knit one. Cottons also make a BIG difference. I have super soft and super scrubby cottons. It's all about finding what works for you.

[Kodachrome]

I find that I stick to an 8x8 size using an H hook.

[monkeys4mama]

When you guys make crochet cloths, what pattern do you like? I did basketweave ones which looked great, but were so bulky/heavy. I also did a half-double-crochet one that was plain, but I liked it OK. It was stitched in the back loops only, so it was sortof like a washboard texture.