July Creative Journal: The Simple Art of Sustainable Living

Written By Suzi Jones

Each month Refresh Online will share a simple, seasonal project—a gentle invitation to make the most of what’s already around you. Whether it’s yarn from the back of a cupboard or leftover odds and ends from our store, these small makes celebrate creativity with intention.

Our July project is the Refresh Dishcloth, a crochet make using the Alpine Stitch—a textured pattern with a nod to nature!

July’s project is made in bright Refresh orange—a pop of colour for summer days!

Check back each month for fresh ideas in sewing, mending, crafting, and creative reuse. It’s not about doing it all—it’s about doing what we can, with what we have, and finding joy in the simple art of sustainable living.


Refresh Dishcloth Pattern

Supplies: 

Yarn: any 100% cotton yarn will work. We have used dk weight. ( you can use different colours if you like!)

Crochet Hook: size depends on the yarn weight. We used size 3.5mm.

Yarn Needle: for weaving in ends 

Stitches used (UK Terms):

Beginning: beg

Stitch(s): st(s)

Repeat: rep

Wrong Side: ws

Right Side: rs

Chain(s): ch(s)

Double Crochet: dc

Treble: tr

Front Post Treble: FPtr 

(wrap the yarn once around your hook, insert your hook from front to back around the stitch indicated in the pattern. Yarn over again and pull through around the stitch – you will now have three loops on your hook.Yarn over and pull through the first two loops; yarn over once more and pull through the remaining two loops).


Foundation Chain: Stitch Multiple of 2+1

For the Refresh Dishcloth we started with 22 ch(s) +1

Row 1 (ws): dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc in each ch across.Turn

Row 2 (rs): 3 ch(s), 1 tr in each st across.Remember, that your turning chain (3 chain stitches at the beginning of the row) count as your first stitch throughout the pattern. Turn

Row 3 (ws): 1 ch (doesn’t count as a st here and throughout), dc in each st across. Remember that the last st of the row is worked in the turning chain. Turn.

Row 4 (rs): 2 ch(s), *1 FPtr around next tr of row 2, 1 tr in next st*, rep from * to last st, tr in last st. Turn

Row 5 (ws): 1 ch, dc in each st across. Turn.

Row 6 (rs): 2 ch(s), *tr in next st, FPtr around next tr of row 4, 1 tr in next st*, rep from* to last st which should be a tr. Turn

Rep Rows 3–6 until desired height.

Final Row: 1 ch, dc in each st across. Turn.

Fasten off and sew in ends!


Dont’ forget to share your project on our social media!!


Suzi Jones