Want to get back to basics? This simple knitting pattern for sustainable chunky cotton face wipes is a great way of using up scraps of chunky cotton yarn in a flash. Make a stack for yourself or as a gift for a beauty-product loving friend! This pattern is fun for both beginners and more advanced knitters who want a quick afternoon project.
Why You’ll Love Making This
Why this one is on my needles…
After battling a nasty bug and a proper bout of creative burnout, I wanted to strip things right back to basics with a simple, satisfying project. These chunky cotton face wipes are born from that desire for a quick, mindful make that is genuinely useful. They create a lovely textured stack for your dressing table while keeping things zero-waste.
Using just a single ball of super chunky cotton, you can whip up a whole stack of seed stitch or sand stitch wipes in an evening.
Overcoming Creative Burnout
Staying inspired is hard when you’re a creative person. As a crafter, I have weeks where I can’t stop the ideas and inspiration from flooding into my head, which can get pretty overwhelming. But the very next week, I’ll find it nearly impossible to conjure up even the slightest bit of motivation.
Lately, life hasn’t helped. Between work and a string of illnesses, finding the time to sit down and think about complex projects has been nearly impossible. When I do have time to work on my designs (normally after bedtime when the little one is asleep), I am so tired that I simply can’t be arsed to pick up any kind of hook or needle! The absolute horror…
In a moment of sheer frustration while in bed with gastroenteritis, I decided to strip things completely back to basics.
I asked myself these questions:
- Why did I start knitting in the first place? * What is the true ethos behind Emmaknitty? * Why do I spend so much of my free time crafting? Sometimes it’s easy to lose track of these things and forget why our hobbies are so important to our wellbeing. The main reason I started knitting was to find a way of relaxing and being creative at the same time. The core ethos behind Emmaknitty was (and always will be) to create a simple knitting pattern catalog that doesn’t intimidate beginner knitters. I spend time crafting because it genuinely makes me happy.
So, I decided to create a small, easy-as-heck pattern designed to represent all those things I believe in as a maker. These chunky cotton face wipes are reusable, perfect for removing makeup, and look very pretty all stacked up on a dressing table! They also minimize waste (yay for eco-friendliness), which is something we should all be mindful of.
Materials and Project Notes · Chunky Cotton Face Wipes · Knitting Pattern
One single ball of DMC Natura XL Cotton makes a whole load of these wipes, or you can easily dive into your stash and use any super chunky yarn leftovers you have lying around.
What You’ll Need:
- Yarn: 100g of DMC Natura XL (I used shades 83 and 41) or another Super Chunky 100% cotton yarn. (Huge thanks to LoveKnitting for sending me this yarn to try!)
- Needles: A pair of 5.5mm knitting needles.
- Tools: Scissors and a sturdy yarn/darning needle to weave in your ends.
Skills Required:
To tackle this simple knitting pattern, you will need to know how to:
- Cast on (using the long-tail or thumb method)
- Slip a stitch purlwise (
sl1p) - Knit (
k) and Purl (p) - Cast/bind off
Simple Knitting Pattern Instructions
I’ve put together two gorgeous, textured variations for you to try. Pick your favorite texture, or mix and match to create a beautiful gift set!
Version One: The Seed Stitch Wipe
The seed stitch creates a wonderfully bumpy, exfoliating texture that is brilliant for skincare routines.
- Cast On: Cast on 11 stitches.
- Row 1–13: Slip the first stitch purlwise, then
*p1, k1*repeat from*to the end of the row. - Finish: Bind off all stitches in pattern and weave in your ends.
Version Two: The Sand Stitch Wipe
The sand stitch gives you a slightly smoother, flatter drape on one side with delicate, sand-like bumps on the other.
- Cast On: Cast on 11 stitches.
- Row 1: Slip the first stitch purlwise, then
*p1, k1*repeat from*to the end of the row. - Row 2: Knit every stitch across to the end.
- Row 1–13: Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have completed 13 rows total.
- Finish: Bind off all stitches knitwise.
💡 Finishing Tip: Weaving in ends with thick, chunky cotton yarn can sometimes be a bit of a pain. To keep your wipes looking neat and seamless, I highly recommend using the cotton weaving method popularized by VeryPink Knits on YouTube!
Enjoy your quick, cozy making session! If you knit a stack of these sustainable face wipes, please tag me on Instagram @emmaknitty so I can see your lovely colors. Have a wonderfully creative, relaxing day!
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