How to Crochet Cotton Washcloths: Materials and Instructions
Materials
78 – 85 Yards of Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn – I used Lily Sugar n Cream in the Hot Orange colorway, and I am not sure on the other as it has been sitting in my stash for a few years, and without a wrapper, and I did not see online.
H8/5mm Crochet Hook
Tapestry Needle for Weaving in Ends
Optional, Jewelry Pliers
Material Notes
Yarn Alternatives: Bernat Handicrafter, Red Heart’s Smoothie, Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran, Rico Creative Cotton Aran, Crafter’s Secret Cotton (with I9/5.5mm hook).
Cotton yarn can be tough to weave ends through. A pair of jewelry pliers work wonders to help pull tapestry needle through. Do so carefully not to break the needle eye in the process.
Time Spent
I worked the small up in an hour, and the medium one up in just under an hour and a half.
Measurements
The small one is an 8.5″ square, and the medium one measures 8.5″ wide by 10.5″ in length.
Gauge
16 HDC by 10 Rows = 4″
Abbreviations
DC – Double Crochet
SC – Single Crochet
Pattern Notes
Beginning chain 2 counts as a double crochet.
A box is comprised of four double crochets.
The “space under the same chain joined to” is defined as the space between the last two double crochets of the previous row's box.
Working the final double crochet into the top of the chain from the previous row helps to keep the edge more even. After completing the first box, your edge may look a little wonky, but no need to stress or straighten as the border will cover this up.
Typically in corner to corner, when working a box that begins with a turn (versus a chain 6), there is not a beginning chain, but in these washcloths I added one because there was no give with the cotton yarn. If using anything but cotton yarn, don’t chain here.
In the Border, the chain 1 does not count as a stitch, and join to the first stitch.
The border adds half an inch.
Patterns
Both Sizes:
Chain 6. DC into the 4th chain, and into each of the next 2. (1 Box)
R2: Chain 6, and turn. DC into the 4th chain, and into each of the next 2, slip stitch into the top of the next chain 2. Chain 2, work 2 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, DC into the top of the last stitch. (2 Boxes)
R3: (I) Chain 6, and turn. DC into the 4th chain, and into each of the next 2, slip stitch into the top of the next chain 2;
(II) Chain 2, work 3 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the next chain;
(III) Chain 2, work 2 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, DC into the top of the last stitch. (3 Boxes)
R4 – 11: Using Row 3 as a base, you will continue working in the same manner, repeating (II) one extra time each row to increase the number of boxes by one each row. At the end of Row 11, you will have 11 Boxes.
Medium Size Only:
R12: Chain 1, and turn. Slip stitch into the 2nd stitch, and each of the next 2. Chain 2, work 3 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the next chain;
(Chain 2, work 3 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the next chain) 9x;
Chain 2, work 2 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, DC into the top of the last stitch. (11 Boxes)
R13: Chain 6, and turn. DC into the 4th chain, and into each of the next 2, slip stitch into the top of the next chain 2;
(Chain 2, work 3 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the next chain) 9x;
Chain 2, work 2 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, DC into the top of the last stitch. (11 Boxes)
R14: Repeat Row 12.
Both Sizes, Small Given with Medium in Parenthesis:
R12 – 21 (15 – 24): Chain 1, and turn. Slip stitch into the 2nd stitch, and each of the next 2. Chain 2, work 3 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the next chain:
(IV) (Chain 2, work 3 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the next chain) 8x;
Chain 2, work 2 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the last stitch. (10 Boxes)
R13 – 19 (16 – 22): Using Row 12 (15) as a base, you will continue working in the same manner repeating (IV) one less time each row to decrease the number of boxes by one each row. At the end of Row 19 (22), you will have 3 boxes.
Final Rows:
R20 (23): Chain 1, and turn. Slip stitch into the 2nd stitch, and each of the next 2. Chain 2, work 3 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the next chain, chain 2, work 2 DC into the space under the same chain joined to, skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the last stitch. (2 Boxes)
R21 (24): Chain 1, and turn. Slip stitch into the 2nd stitch, and each of the next 2. Chain 2, work 3 DC into the space under the same chain joined to. Skip the next 3 DC, slip stitch into the top of the last stitch. (1 Box)
Border
Small:
Chain 1. SC into the space between the boxes just under your current place, chain 2, (SC into the space in between the next 2 boxes, chain 2) 8x, SC into the corner stitch, chain 2, [(SC into the space in between the next 2 boxes, chain 2) 10x, SC into the corner stitch, chain 2] 3x. Join.
Medium:
Chain 1. SC into the space between the boxes just under your current place, chain 2, (SC into the space in between the next 2 boxes, chain 2) 8x, SC into the corner stitch, chain 2, (SC into the space in between the next 2 boxes, chain 2) 12x, SC into the corner stitch, chain 2, (SC into the space in between the next 2 boxes, chain 2) 10x, SC into the corner stitch, chain 2, (SC into the space in between the next 2 boxes, chain 2) 12x, SC into the corner stitch, chain 2. Join.
Fasten Off, and Weave in Ends.
