Knit and Crocheted Sponges

48 hours ago I posted a pattern on Ravelry for Knit and Crocheted Sponges. They are very basic - very quick - very easy. I almost didn't post the pattern because there really is nothing to them. You make a rectangle (or 2) fold/sew to make it double thickness and call it a day.

Since I posted the pattern over 100 people have downloaded it. I guess people really do want simple ideas.

I've been using mine for over a year and throwing them in the wash weekly. They hold up well and save a lot of paper towels.

One thing I discovered this weekend taking the pictures was how terrible the deck looks. I really need to get it painted before fall. But - back to the sponges. You may notice the rust yarn. It's from the last ball of 20 year old Sugar N' Cream that I made the Rust Goes Green market bag from.
The blue ones are from a while ago. There's no pattern for the cloth, I just started knitting and let a pattern appear as it felt like it.

This time around when finishing the sponges I did a simple whip stitch around pieces instead of the chain stitch (crochet) and 3 needle bind off (knit) I did around the entire sponge the first time around.

The sponge hiding behind the orange/pink one was made with multiple yarns. The front is rust and orange/pink while the back is rust and blue/white. Hey - it's just a sponge. It doesn't have to match!

Knit Sponges

The past week at work was unbelievable. I don't want to repeat it again so to forget about the week I spend part of today knitting cotton sponges. A while back I found a crocheted sponge patterns and decided it would be easy to make a knit version. They work great. I made one at the beginning of the summer to test out and it has been through the washing machine many times. Still look great.

If you'd like to give it a try and use a few less paper towels - here's my simple little pattern.

Knit Sponge - 2 finishing versions

Worsted weight cotton such as Sugar N Cream.
size 8 needles (or whatever is around and close after all this doesn't have to be a specific size)
tapestry needle
scissors
crochet hook size F or G

Cast on 20 sts.
Work 24 ridges of garter st (48 rows).

Finish version 1
Bind off.
Fold in half along a garter ridge.
Work single crochet around all 4 sides.

Finish version 2
Fold in half around a garter ridge.
Work 3 needle bind off across cast on and last row.
Turn and pick up and work 3 needle bind off on the garter st edges.
Turn and work bind off on the folded edge.
Turn and repeat garter st edge bind off. End.