I’m happy to offer you this free pattern + video tutorial, because these scrubbies feel like a secret I’ve been keeping for years. I say “World’s Best” because I believe it – this is what you’ll find at my kitchen sink! They get the job done, rinse easily, and dry quickly – meaning they never stink. To make these, we knit with tulle fabric (also called mesh or netting), cut into strips. It’s a fun project, to boot.
This pattern is a FREE RAVELRY DOWNLOAD, and includes a link to a free video tutorial (video is also available at the bottom of this post).
Size: 3” x 4”
Needles: Size 10.5 US, straights or circulars
Yarn: No yarn! We use tulle fabric (also called mesh fabric or netting fabric), cut into strips. I cut the strips from 1” to 2” wide. (In the photo above, the tan one was knit with 1” wide strips, the other two were knit with 2” wide strips.) You will need about 12 yards of cut strips per scrubbie.
Additional Materials: tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Gauge: Gauge doesn’t really matter. To get the size above, my gauge was 4.5 stitches per inch.
Note: Do not buy sparkly, glittery fabric. Unless you like vacuuming sparkles off of every surface of your home and pets. Speaking from experience here!
Be sure to check out my other video tutorials.
And the video –
Links to things you’ll see in this video:
The pink scarf I’m wearing can be found here.
(I don’t have a Ravelry page for this project – I believe I used Malabrigo lace yarn.)
The sweater on the mannequin is loosely based on this pattern.
(Again, sorry – I don’t remember the yarn I used for this.)
The needles I’m using are Crystal Palace wood DPNs.
Awww! Ike covered in sparkles? LOL!
Very good idea, I pinned to my Tips&Ideas Pinterest board. I have a leftover IKEA LILL curtain, what do you think will that be OK to knit from? http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90111980/
Great Staci! I was given a pattern for a circular scrubbie a while back that someone wanted me to make for them, but didn’t know how to knit with tulle. Watching your video has helped me.
Thank you for the squre-ish scrubby! I usually crochet mine into a flat ball. Would try it your way! Pinned
Hi I’m from Braintree,Essex UK.Got this link from my american penfriend(San Diego we met through the Monkees fan Club in 1965ish) on FB on the 10th Aug.I shall pass it onto my cousin in Feilding,New Zealand,isn’t technology wonderful! I shall definitely give it a go. We call them scourers,netting also tulle,neeedle size I can work out and we castoff, anything else I shall just wing-it. Thanks
Do you have a preference between the tulle and the netting? I’m making one with the netting and it’s pretty tedious because of the size of the mesh. But if it’s a better scrubber I don’t mind. Can you get enough “scrub” out of the tulle? I have some tulle scraps so I’m going to try that next.
can’t wait to knit some of these to use along with my knitted dishcloths – thank you, Staci !
I was knitting washcloths (because you swear by them) in my foster parenting class. Everyone ranted about how much they love them. So I made them all a couple as gifts. One lady asked me about the scrubbies and swore by them as well. I had never heard of them but thought, “I’ll have to check very pink for those.” Voila! Thanks…AGAIN!!!
Seriously? I wish I would have seen this prior to last weekend when I threw out spools of left over tulle from my wedding!!!!! 🙁
Hahahah! Thanks for the tip!!!
I enjoyed the. Veido very much. It has made me want to knit again. To make the scrubbe
Enjoyed the video . Ver y good. Makes me want to try to knit this project.
so easy!
THIS IS A GREAT PATTERN!I knit mine with plarn (plastic bag yarn) it works great!
These are also great face/body scrubbies if you make them out of tulle. The netting is pretty tough on ones skin so stick with the tulle for an exfoliate.
Hi, Staci. Thanks for this tutorial. I made two of them so far. I have a huge bolt of tulle, so am using that. The first one was okay, but not very nice looking. So I decided to try making one using some crochet thread with a gold metallic thread running through it. I good the strip of tulle and the crochet thread together, and when the strip of tulle gets short, I lay the next strip on the end of the first one and continue knitting. The tulle that sticks up can be trimmed short so it blends into the body of the scrubby. Also, the metallic crochet thread is in the middle of the tulle as it is knitted, so should be protected. I don’t know how the scrubby will last with the metallic threads, but its festive, and I am going to get more colors of tulle and thread and make them for Christmas presents. Thanks again. Donna
Hi staci.I have scratchy tulle but I don’t have what you have. Would the scratchy tulle be okay?
Yes – in the video I use both a scratchy tulle and a smoother tulle. Both work fine – the scratchier tulle will make a rougher scrubbie.
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I love you website and I just made the Dish cloth and the scrubbie. Turned out GREAT. Only wish I had thought of it for Christmas presents. Next year ..Thanks again
Merry Christmas,
Molly
Hi Staci, the scarf you are wearing in the video is orange, and you said pink is that the same scarf?
thnks
Annemarie – the scarf I’m wearing in the video might look orange-ish on different computers, but it’s fuchsia in real life. 🙂
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I consider myself an advanced beginner, maybe I am thinking too much of myself, but you don’t mention getting the tulle off of the needles…do you just cast off?
Hi Gena – yes, it’s all in the free download pattern. The scrubbie is completed by binding-off all of the stitches normally.
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yeah, I have the pattern and have watched the tutorial…maybe what I am calling casting off is what you are calling binding off? 🙂 Thanks for everything…love your tutorials!
Thank you so much…enjoyed your presentations and projects. I am very thankful for your tips. This Best Kitchen Scrubbie project is my first one.
Many blessings to you.
Hi Staci , I have just see your demo and i enjoyed thank you for this scrubbi
What size needles?
I made one scrubbie and I like making them. I wish you would explain in more detail how you made the fringe on the ends.
Margie – all you do to make a fringe is cut the fabric after each row, leaving a few inches of tail. Every time you get two ends together after working two rows, you tie a knot, and cut the ends short.
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I love it when people come together and share opinions.
Great site, continue the good work!
Thanks so much for the patterns and tutorials!! With your help I made socks and your dishcloths, and they turned out great! I can’t wait to try the scrubbies. Thank you!!!
Rebecca
I love your Scrubbie pattern and tutorial and I bought two tubes of tulle and am ready but here I set. I don’t know how to start cutting my two inch strips off the tube. When I cut three strips and cut and cut and unwind and unwind what do I do to keep them in check? I haven’t started yet because I’m afraid. Please help with such a dumb question.
Hi Marie – you just have to do your best…keep unwinding, and keep your measurements in check. You can use straight pins to mark off where you should be cutting every few feet or so. It doesn’t have to be perfect. 🙂
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I’m so excited! I have tons of tulle left over from my daughters’ weddings, and I was about to throw it away. I’m gonna make these for everybody in the world, at least in my little world.
Thanks!
Love your site. Tred the sccrubbies, so practical, but mine are turning up at ends, tried knitting on larger needles and looser, still turning up. Any suggesiions please! Love the idea.
Thank you!
Awesome idea! I went to my local hobby/fabric store and was able to find a remnant of netting so purchased just under 3 yards for less than $2. I’m afraid everyone is going to get these in their Christmas stockings next year.
I have ways used 100% cotton for dish cloths. I know you have said you don’t care for 100% and noticed the comfy cotton is 75% cotton. I was given a dish cloth that I think is all acrylic, which I don’t care for. Does the comfy cotton feel pretty much like the 100%? Thank you.
Karen – it depends on the yarn, but 100% acrylic, in my experience, is never as absorbent as cotton. The yarn that I use most often in dishcloths is Knit Picks Comfy, which is a cotton blend, and a pleasure to knit with as well as perfectly absorbent as a dishcloth.
To anyone who is reading this on my website – we are talking about dishcloths, not the tulle scrubbies on this post! Different patterns!
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Hi Staci, I’m so going to make these! Are you using “NYLON” Tulle?
KimberlyRae – sorry, I don’t remember the exact synthetic fiber in the tulle I used, but I know it was synthetic fiber. I’m sure nylon tulle is fine.
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I wrote to you before about being afraid to start with the spool and how to cut the yarn. I ended up cutting the spool into two pieces with a serrated knife, giving me three rows of tulle. I then knit them one at a time. I liked the look of the tulle but think it is too soft so I bought 5 yards of rough netting and now I am making the one with the cut edges. That was a real chore to cut that netting but I cut three inch strips. and then cut them down to 1 inch strips and I have a whole bag of rolls of netting. Thank you so much for all the help you give.
I noticed that you said to wind the tulle so that it doesn’t tangle on itself. Here’s a suggestion for the tube ‘o tulle: Leave the packaging on and use a Sharpie to mark 2″ widths on the plastic packaging. Wrap a rubber band around each of the three strips, over the plastic packaging. Use a sharp knife to cut around the netting as marked, down to the cardboard tube. When you are ready to knit, just remove one of the rubber bands and the plastic. Keeps things very neat and easy to use.
Hi Staci, first I wanted to thank you for all your wonderful videos and free patterns. I recently came back from a trip to Korea and I was delighted to see that they have polyester yarn specifically made to knit up scrubbies. It’s called “Susemi” yarn in case you’d like to check it out. It seems like it’d be easier to use then cutting up tulle. Anyway, just a fun little tidbit I thought I’d share. Thanks again for the tutorials!
hi Staci,u were right.these kitchen scrubbies are the best.i love ur knitting
Just wanted to let you know that I used the tulle rolls and used 2 rounds of 1″ painters tape to mark my width and then used a razor blade/utility knife to cut the roll into 3 parts so I ended up with 25 yard long stripes to knit with. It worked great. Thank you for you videos they have helped me greatly in my knitting.
Hi
So I went into the only fabric store with the required amount needed, 12 yards per scrubbie. The lady was so unconvinced that this could be correct I left with nothing…now Im confused. Help?
Sheri – the pattern is correct.
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Staci,
“You will need about 12 yards of cut strips per scrubbie.”…not 12 yards of tulle from the bolt. Is that what is confusing you? You need strips that total 12 yards.
Sorry, I meant “Sheri”.
I use cotton thread like I use for dish cloths and knit it together with the tulle. Just hold both “threads” and knit as if they are one. That way you can have matching dish cloths and scrubbies for gifts.
Hi Staci,
Forget questions about the scrubbi……what was the big sigh all about at the beginning of the video 🙂 Just kidding. Just ordered some tulle……thanks for another great tutorial.
Michelle