Linen stitch is one of my favorite basic knitting stitches that makes a nice solid fabric, which is just what you’d want for a dish towel. This pattern from Arianna Frasca uses linen stitch striped in two colors to make a totally classic, completely gift-worthy knit towel.
The Cilantro Tea Towel from Whileberry is another great pattern that uses basic knits and purls for a fun textured look. It’s shown in a solid color but you could also work the moss stitch section in one color and the rest of the body in another.
Cluck Cluck Boots has another easy dish towel worked in a reversible textured stitch pattern. It looks like rows of seed stitch broken up with rows of garter stitch, so it should be a pretty quick and easy project no matter your skill level.
Purl Soho’s Farmhouse Dishtowels are worked in white with a dash of color at each end for a totally classic look, though of course they can be worked in other colors if white doesn’t seem like a good choice for your lifestyle. This one is a little bit higher in skill level because for part of the pattern you are sliding the work instead of turning it so you work the same row in different colors from the same side of the work. But one you understand how to do it, it’s not really difficult.
The Stay Put Kitchen Towel from Fancy Step Knits on Etsy is perfect for hanging over the oven or dishwasher handle. It’s worked in garter stitch so it’s super easy even if you’re a newer knitter, and the keyhole used to hold the towel in place is just a bind off and cast on.