The Naming Of Washcloths

The Winter Doldrums Swap is off to an exciting start this weekend. Our first topic starts by addressing the debate among knitters: Just what do you call these things?



Weekly Topic: Dishrag. Dishcloth. Face cloth. I've seen folks get all fired up in forums when someone refers to their knit or crochet creation as a dishrag, as that's somehow offensive to them! When you're working on yours, what do you call them? Also, is there a difference between a dishrag and a dishcloth? How bout a facecloth? Are they all really the same thing?

Oh my. I am so glad this came up because there are some misconceptions that obviously need to be cleared up right now. To begin with...are some people so lacking in a real life that they get their panties in a wedgie about perceived insults to their dainty creations? They really need to GOTS (Get Over ThemSelves). I mean really.

Although it does make me curious to know the demographics on these delicate souls - are any of them from the Deep South? Because I am venturing to say that the differences in what these humble cotton squares are known by may be geographically influenced. Growing up in New Orleans, everyone I knew referred to the things they washed dishes with as "dishrags" and the things they washed faces with as "washrags".

You would NEVER confuse the two, because dishrags cleaned the plates and utensils that we ate with, while washrags cleaned the unmentionables and HEAVEN FORBID that cross contamination could occur. They were not even to be washed together at the same time in the washing machine. (At least that was the rule in my mother's OCD household. Makes sense to me!) And when I lived in Mississippi and Texas, I heard them referred to that way as well. But I've never heard anyone say "dishrag" on the prairie.

BUT...the names changed when company was around, as in "Could you please hand me that dishcloth?" and "I laid out your towel and washcloth in the guest bath." So all are correct, it's just that we call 'em rags when among family and close friends, but call them by their fancypants "cloth" names when with folks we are trying to impress.

I hope this provides the definitive answer to this debate. Now, would you like an explanation for the lunch/dinner/supper confusion?

The proper usage:
"Would you please hand me that wet dishrag so I can whack your father upside his head?"

After you've dried your hands, you can hop on over to visit Jessi - it's her first blogiversary and she's having a contest. I poked around her site and she has an Etsy shop with some really pretty yarns and stitch markers. With 2 swaps going on, I'll have to go shopping there!