A crochet hand towel is a small, useful project that looks lovely hanging in a kitchen or bathroom. Most are simple rectangles in cotton, and many have a strap or keyhole so they hang on an oven door or towel bar without falling off.
This list is for beginners who have made a dishcloth or two and want something a little bigger. You’ll find hanging towels with buttons, keyhole towels, textured moss stitch towels, and a few fun color patterns. Every pattern below is free to read on the designer’s site.
Crochet Hand Towel Free Patterns
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What You’ll Need
- 100% cotton worsted yarn, like Lily Sugar ‘n Cream or Dishie
- 5 mm (H) crochet hook
- 5.5 mm (I) crochet hook
- Wooden or plastic buttons, about 1 to 1.5 inches
- Yarn needle
- Stitch markers
- Sharp scissors
1. Crochet Hand Towel (Two Cluster Stitch)
Photo: Crochet ‘n’ Create
A hanging towel with a button strap, made in a soft two cluster stitch. It’s written in both UK and US terms. The finished size is about 19 x 12 with the button closed. Hang it on a cupboard handle or towel bar and it stays put.
- Designer: Crochet ‘n’ Create
- Skill level: See pattern
- Yarn: DK / light worsted (#3) cotton
- Hook: 5 mm
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. Crochet Hand Towel with Puff Stitch
Photo: Janne Kleivset / Joy of Motion Crochet
This quick towel is mostly front loop single crochet with a few puff stitch rows for texture. It has a hanging loop opening and can be made from leftover cotton. It’s about 13.8 x 16.1 inches, unblocked. The designer calls it beginner-friendly.
- Designer: Janne Kleivset / Joy of Motion Crochet
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: DK (#3) cotton; worsted (#4) also works
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I-9)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. Kitchen Hand Towel
Photo: Jade / Sweet Softies
A two-color towel with a buttoned strap, about 18 x 13 inches. You can make it taller or shorter by adding or taking away rows. The designer recommends 100% cotton so it soaks up water and holds its shape. Some readers had trouble with the first row count, so count carefully.
- Designer: Jade / Sweet Softies
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 6 mm
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. Hello Sunshine Hand Towel
Photo: Jennifer Renaud / A Crocheted Simplicity
A keyhole towel with a crocheted sun at the top. You slip the bottom through the keyhole to hang it over a handle. The body is linen stitch with stripes, and it’s 10.5 x 17 inches. Bright and happy for a summer kitchen.
- Designer: Jennifer Renaud / A Crocheted Simplicity
- Skill level: See pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8) and 6 mm (J-10)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Spring Gingham Hand Towel
Photo: Megan Meyer / Left in Knots
A colorful gingham towel with a button closure, about 17 x 8.5 inches. It uses double and single crochet plus a color-change trick to get the check pattern, and there are videos for the color changes. It matches the designer’s gingham dishcloths.
- Designer: Megan Meyer / Left in Knots
- Skill level: See pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton, about 135 yards
- Hook: 5 mm (I)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. Raspberry Lemonade Hand Towel
Photo: Heidi Yates / Snappy Tots
A simple hanging towel in a pink and yellow ombre cotton. It’s narrow at the top where it folds over the bar and widens to 12 inches at the bottom. It uses only basic stitches. You just need to be able to read a pattern.
- Designer: Heidi Yates / Snappy Tots
- Skill level: Basic skills
- Yarn: Cotton, about 150 yards
- Hook: H (5 mm)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Floral Hand Towel
Photo: Carolyn Calderon / The Purple Poncho
A towel worked in rows with color changes and a pretty edging, 8.75 x 17 inches. Close it with a button, a bow, or fringe. The designer says it looks good in variegated, solid, or mixed colors. It uses some hdc decreases, so it’s a nice step up.
- Designer: Carolyn Calderon / The Purple Poncho
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5 mm (H)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Ocean Waves Towel
Photo: Erica Fedor / Highland Hickory Designs
A navy towel with a wavy texture from single crochet and 4-dc clusters. There are no increases or decreases, so it’s easy to keep straight. Two hanging tabs button over the bar. It matches the designer’s Ocean Waves washcloth if you want a set.
- Designer: Erica Fedor / Highland Hickory Designs
- Skill level: Beginner-friendly
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.25 mm (I-9)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
9. Harbor Crochet Hand Towel
Photo: Jessica Underwood / Stitching Together
A larger towel, 14.5 x 23 inches, worked lengthwise in half double crochet. You switch between front loops and back loops, which makes a texture that looks the same on both sides. Only one stitch to learn, so it’s a calm, easy make.
- Designer: Jessica Underwood / Stitching Together
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
10. The Trevi Hand Towel
Photo: Amelia / Amelia Makes
Mostly single crochet for a tight, woven texture, with a few rows of simple lace. It’s about 10 x 24 inches, a nice long bathroom towel. The marble look gave it its name. The designer says it’s suitable for beginners.
- Designer: Amelia / Amelia Makes
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: Aran / heavy worsted (#4) cotton, about 160 yards
- Hook: 5 mm (H)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
11. Landon Hand Towel
Photo: Alexandra / EyeLoveKnots
A moss stitch towel (single crochet and chain-1) with a woven look that’s great in stripes. It’s a generous 15.25 x 26.5 inches. The stitch is a two-row repeat, so once you get going you hardly need to look at the pattern.
- Designer: Alexandra / EyeLoveKnots
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton, about 460 yards
- Hook: 5 mm (H-8) and 4.25 mm (G-6)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
12. Easy Crochet Kitchen Towel
Photo: Nikki / The Knotted Nest
A striped moss stitch towel made with two strands of cotton held together, so it’s thick and absorbent. It’s 22.5 x 13.5 inches. You only need single crochet and chain, though you should be comfortable reading a pattern.
- Designer: Nikki / The Knotted Nest
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton, held double
- Hook: 5.5 mm (I)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
13. Ripple Dish Towel
Photo: Alex / You Should Craft
A soft wave pattern in double crochet with skinny single crochet stripes. It’s 20.5 x 14.5 inches and part of the designer’s beginner series, with a video. A good first try at ripples, which use simple increases and decreases.
- Designer: Alex / You Should Craft
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton, 280 to 300 yards
- Hook: 6 mm (J)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
14. Frosty Days Hand Towel
Photo: Olga Vogel / My Crochet Space
A blue and white winter towel worked lengthwise, with herringbone half double crochet in the middle and moss stitch on the sides. The colors change every two rows. It’s 10.5 x 15 inches, a festive touch for a holiday kitchen.
- Designer: Olga Vogel / My Crochet Space
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 4.5 mm
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
15. Chevron Kitchen Towel
Photo: Brittany / B.Hooked Crochet
A big chevron towel, about 21 x 23 inches, made with just single crochet and chain. It’s a one-row repeat, and later rows use the back loop for texture. Make it in one color or stripes. A great dish-drying towel.
- Designer: Brittany / B.Hooked Crochet
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) cotton, about 438 yards
- Hook: 5.5 mm
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
- First towel ever? Start with #9 or #11. One easy stitch, repeated.
- Want it to hang on the oven door? #1, #3, and #8 have button straps. #4 has a keyhole.
- Want a thick, thirsty towel? #12 holds two strands of cotton together.
- Ready for color? Try #5 for gingham or #13 for ripples.
- Making a holiday gift? #14 is festive, and #8 pairs with a matching washcloth.
FAQ
What yarn is best for a crochet hand towel?
Use 100% cotton. It soaks up water, washes well, and holds its shape. Worsted weight (#4) cotton like Lily Sugar ‘n Cream or Dishie is easy to find and easy to work with. Avoid acrylic for towels because it pushes water around instead of absorbing it.
How big is a crochet hand towel?
Most hanging hand towels are about 8 to 15 inches wide and 15 to 24 inches long. Kitchen and dish towels are often a little bigger, around 20 inches square. You can make any rectangle pattern longer by adding rows.
Can you put crochet towels in the washer?
Yes, if you use cotton. Wash in warm water and dry on low, or lay flat to dry so the towel keeps its shape. Cotton may shrink a little the first time, so some crocheters wash their yarn or a swatch first.
Pick one, grab some cotton, and you’ll have a handmade towel hanging by the weekend.
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