Bloom Blossom Hand Towel · Free Crochet Pattern

Let’s be honest, one of the best ways to use up leftover yarn is by making hand towels or washcloths, right? If you’re anything like me and have a mountain of cotton yarn that never seems to shrink, a quick towel or cloth project is the perfect fix. Not only is it a great stashbuster, but it’s also a fun way to play with colour, try out new stitches, and create something that’s beautiful, useful, and eco-friendly all at once.

For this pattern, I used one of my all-time favourite stitches: half double crochet separated by a chain. It creates a gorgeous, airy texture that looks a bit like the Spider Stitch but without any of the fiddly bits, plus you can see your stitches a lot easier whichb is always a bonus!

The finished towel has lovely texture and simple stripes that make it pop. I went for a mix of muted and hot pink for a bold, maximalist vibe, but honestly, this pattern is super versatile. Try it in a solid shade for a minimalist look, or use a variegated cotton for effortless colour changes without any weaving in of ends.

Designer tip: want to make sure your ends never come loose? Here’s a quick trick! When working with cotton yarn, split the plies in half evenly. Thread one half through your yarn needle and weave it into a nearby stitch. Then, tie the two halves together twice to form a tiny double knot. Trim the ends close to the knot and that’s it! Your ends will stay put forever, perfect for items like washcloths and towels that get washed a fair bit.

Materials & Tools

Yarn:
For this pattern, I used one skein each of Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/8 in Oatmilk (COLOUR ONE) and Candyfloss (COLOUR TWO). When making towels or washcloths, always choose plant-based yarns like cotton, bamboo, or linen, as acrylics and wools aren’t suitable for projects that get wet or need frequent washing.

Hooks & Notions:

• 3.00 mm and 4.00 mm crochet hooks
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• Blocking tools (foam mat and pins, blocking board, or similar setup)

Stitches Used:
Slip stitch (sl st), half double crochet (hdc), chain stitch (ch), single crochet (sc).

Chart:

Size: 35 x 26 cm

Pattern:

Ch 48.

Row 1 (Colour 1):
In 4th ch from hook, work [1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc].
Skip next ch, [1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc] in next ch; repeat from * to last 2 ch, skip next ch, 1 hdc in last ch. Turn.

Row 2 (Colour 1):
Ch 2, skip next 2 sts, [1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc] in next ch sp; repeat from * to last hdc, skip next st, 1 hdc in top of tch. Turn.

Repeat Row 2 for Rows 3–31, alternating colours every two rows (2 rows in Colour 1, 2 rows in Colour 2, repeating).

Row 32 (Colour 2 and hanging loop):
Ch 2, skip next 2 sts, [1 hdc, ch 1, 1 hdc] in next ch sp; repeat from * across the row until the final V-stitch.

In the final V-stitch space, work 1 hdc, ch 1, then switch to a 3.00 mm hook.
Instead of completing the final hdc, ch 15 to form the hanging loop, and sl st into the same space where the final hdc would have gone. Fasten off Colour 2. Sew into your work to form a hanging loop, keeping it neat and secure.

Border (using 3.00 mm hook and Colour 1)

1. Join Colour 1 in any corner.
2. Corner setup: Ch 1 (counts as first sc), 1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc all in the same corner st.
3. Top edge: Work 1 sc in each stitch and ch-space across (approximately 60–65 sc).
   • When you reach the hanging loop, work 18–20 sc evenly around the chain loop to cover it neatly.
4. Corner: (1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc) in the corner st.
5. Side edge: Work 1 sc evenly along the side of each row (approximately 32 sc).
6. Corner: (1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc) in the corner st.
7. Foundation edge: 1 sc in each chain across (around 60–65 sc).
8. Corner: (1 sc, ch 1, 1 sc) in the corner st.
9. Final side: 1 sc evenly along each row edge (around 32 sc).
10. Join with a slip st to the first sc. Fasten off and weave in ends neatly.

Finishing Tip:
Wet block your towel to straighten the edges and help the texture and border sit flat.

If you loved this pattern and want to help me carry on offering you even more fantastic free projects, it’s be lovely if you could donate to me on Ko-fi! Thank you so much and happy crocheting…