The Lemon Peel Stitch has such beautiful texture, especially when when worked on the diagonal! Keep on reading below for all of the details on working up this fun C2C Lemon Peel Stitch Dishcloth!
This Lemon Peel Stitch Dishcloth is worked in back-and-forth rows, but for an extra neat effect and texture, it is worked on the bias, or on the diagonal! The technique is called corner to corner or C2C crochet.
To make this square dishcloth, we will start at one corner of the project and work in increasing back and forth rows on the diagonal until the widest point of the dishcloth is reached. Then we will work in decreasing rows until we reach the other corner. Lastly, we will add on a border for a finishing touch. I hope you enjoy working up this C2C Lemon Peel Dishcloth!
The C2C Lemon Peel Dishcloth is a great crochet pattern to learn and practice this beautiful stitch and corner-to-corner technique. Afterwards, you can apply this stitch and technique to your other crochet projects, like blanket squares, c2c projects, etc.
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Materials:
- Worsted weight cotton yarn (#4 weight) – You can use any worsted-weight cotton yarn for this project. You will need approx. 45g or 85 yds of yarn to make one dishcloth (this could vary for the yarn you choose). For the striping effect, you will need at least 2 colors. One main color for the larger sections and an accent color to put in between. You can use up to 5 colors for the larger stripes and then one complimentary accent color for the thinner stripes and the border.
- I used WeCrochet Dishie yarn for this crochet project. The colorways I used for my green and coral dishcloth are Verdigris, Conch, and White. For the pink and blue dishcloth, I used Begonia, Azure, and Swan colorways.
- 4.5 mm crochet hook – you can go up or down a hook size depending on your tension and how tight or loose you would like your stitches in your dishcloth to be.
- Yarn needle for weaving in ends.
Stitches Used:
- Ch – chain
- Sl St – slip stitch
- SC – single crochet
- DC – double crochet
- SC DEC –single crochet decrease: Worked over two stitches. Insert hook into first stitch, pull up a loop, then insert your hook into the next stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on your hook. There are many video tutorials of the SC decrease on YouTube, if needed.
- DC DEC – double crochet decrease: Worked over two stitches. Yarn over, insert hook into first stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through all 3 remaining loops on your hook. There are many tutorials of the DC DEC on YouTube, if needed.
Finished Size:
- When finished, your dishcloth will measure approx. 8” square.
Gauge:
- 2 inches square = approx. 7 rows of 8 stitches.
Important Notes:
- This pattern is worked in back and forth turned rows of the Lemon Peel Stitch, but it is worked on the diagonal (Corner to Corner). You will start in one corner and end in the opposite corner. After each row, you will chain 1 or 2 and turn your work to start the next row. Chain stitches do not count towards the stitch count of each row.
- The Lemon Peel Stitch is created by alternating single and double crochet stitches. As the rows work up and stack on top of each other, SC stitches will be worked into DC stitches from the previous row and DC stitches will be worked in SC stitches from the previous row. This creates an interesting and pretty texture.
- Increases – For the first half of the pattern, increases will be worked in the first and last stitch of each row. Note that some increases will be done in SC and others in DC. In increase rows, the stitch count will increase by two stitches with each row.
- Decreases – For the second half of the pattern. All rows leading back down to the other corner of the dishcloth square will have a decrease worked in the first two and last two stitches. For each decrease row, the stitch count will decrease by 2 stitches in each row. Note that all decreases in this pattern are done in single crochet.
- Color Changes – When working color changes, I like to use this method: Work the last stitch of the row as you would normally right up until the last yarn over. Then yarn over in the new color and complete the stitch. Then chain 1 or 2, turn your work, and continue in the new color until your next color change. Make sure you work over the yarn tails for a few stitches so they are secure. You can also weave them in later.
Video Tutorial
You can find a full video tutorial for the C2C Lemon Peel Dishcloth pattern on this page, or right HERE on my YouTube Channel. Watching the video will be super helpful for working the C2C technique and seeing how the SC and DC stitches work for the Lemon Peel Stitch. I recommend you give it a watch or work along with it.
The Pattern – C2C Lemon Peel Stitch Dishcloth
*Rows 1-20 are increase rows as we start at one corner and work in back-and-forth rows until the middle of the square, getting wider each row . An increase will be placed at the start and end of each row by working 2 stitches into the first and last stitch of each row. The stitch count will grow by 2 stitches each row.
Row 1: In main color (or one of the main colors),ch 2, SC and DC in the 2nd (farthest) chain from hook, ch 2, turn (2)
Row 2: [DC, SC] in each st, ch 1, turn (4)
*from here on in the pattern, you will be alternating SC and DC stitches. Each SC will be placed in a DC stitch from the previous row. Each DC will be placed in a SC stitch from the previous row. The only exception to this will be in the first and last stitch of each row when working the increases. You will start and end each row with the same type of stitch.
Row 3: [SC, DC] in first st, *SC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from *across until last st, [SC, DC] in last st, ch 2, turn (6)
Row 4: [DC, SC] in first st, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last st, [DC,SC] in last st, ch 1, turn (8)
Row 5: [SC, DC] in first st, *SC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from *across until last st, [SC, DC] in last st, ch 2, turn (10)
Row 6: [DC, SC] in first st, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last st, [DC,SC] in last st, change to accent color, ch 1, turn (12)
Row 7: [SC, DC] in first st, *SC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from *across until last st, [SC, DC] in last st, ch 2, turn (14)
Row 8: [DC, SC] in first st, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last st, [DC,SC] in last st, change to main color for next stripe section, ch 1, turn (16)
Row 9: [SC, DC] in first st, *SC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from *across until last st, [SC, DC] in last st, ch 2, turn (18)
Row 10: [DC, SC] in first st, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last st, [DC,SC] in last st, ch 1, turn (20)
Row 11: [SC, DC] in first st, *SC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from *across until last st, [SC, DC] in last st, ch 2, turn (22)
Row 12: [DC, SC] in first st, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last st, [DC,SC] in last st, ch 1, turn (24)
Row 13: [SC, DC] in first st, *SC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from *across until last st, [SC, DC] in last st, ch 2, turn (26)
Row 14: [DC, SC] in first st, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last st, [DC,SC] in last st, change to accent color, ch 1, turn (28)
Row 15: [SC, DC] in first st, *SC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from *across until last st, [SC, DC] in last st, ch 2, turn (30)
Row 16: [DC, SC] in first st, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last st, [DC,SC] in last st, change to main color for next stripe section, ch 1, turn (32)
Row 17: [SC, DC] in first st, *SC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from *across until last st, [SC, DC] in last st, ch 2, turn (34)
Row 18: [DC, SC] in first st, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last st, [DC,SC] in last st, ch 1, turn (36)
Row 19: [SC, DC] in first st, *SC in next st, DC in next st. Repeat from *across until last st, [SC, DC] in last st, ch 2, turn (38)
Row 20: [DC, SC] in first st, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last st, [DC,SC] in last st, ch 1, turn (40)
*Row 20 is the widest/longest row of the pattern. This is the middle of your square. From row 21 until the end, you will be decreasing at the start and end of each row by joining the first 2 and last 2 stitches of each row together with a SC DEC. All decreases in this pattern are worked in single crochet. The stitch count will decrease by 2 stitches each row.
*Remember, except for the SC DEC at the start and end of each row, each SC should line up in the top of a DC stitch from the previous row. Each DC should line up in a SC stitch from the previous row.
Row 21: SC DEC, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (38)
Row 22: SC DEC, *SC in next, DC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (36)
Row 23: SC DEC, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, change to accent color, ch 1, turn (34)
Row 24: SC DEC, *SC in next, DC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (32)
Row 25: SC DEC, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, change to main color for next stripe section, ch 1, turn (30)
Row 26: SC DEC, *SC in next, DC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (28)
Row 27: SC DEC, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (26)
Row 28: SC DEC, *SC in next, DC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (24)
Row 29: SC DEC, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (22)
Row 30: SC DEC, *SC in next, DC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (20)
Row 31: SC DEC, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, change to accent color, ch 1, turn (18)
Row 32: SC DEC, *SC in next, DC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (16)
Row 33: SC DEC, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, change to main color for next stripe section, ch 1, turn (14)
Row 34: SC DEC, *SC in next, DC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (12)
Row 35: SC DEC, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (10)
Row 36: SC DEC, *SC in next, DC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (8)
Row 37: SC DEC, *DC in next, SC in next. Repeat from *across until last 2 sts, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (6)
Row 38: SC DEC, SC in next, DC in next, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (4)
Row 39: SC DEC, SC DEC, ch 1, turn (2)
Row 40: SC DEC (1)
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Border
To add a border around your square, choose a stitch a few stitches away from one of the corners of your dishcloth. Join your yarn into the stitch and chain 1. SC in each stitch around the dishcloth, placing 3 SC in each corner stitch. Join to the top of the first stitch with a slip stitch.
If you would like to add another round of the border in the same or a different color, you will SC in each stitch just as you did in the first round of the border. For each corner, work 3 SC into the middle stitch in the 3 SC stitches you placed in each corner stitch in the first round of the border.
That’s it! You are all finished your C2C Lemon Peel Stitch Dishcloth! I hope you enjoyed making it!
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