How to Make a Crochet Kitchen Towel

By
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson is a professional needlecrafter with over 10 years of hands-on embroidery, sewing, and knitting experience. She is the author of “Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small." Mollie also designs and sells stitching projects, co-hosts a crafting podcast, and has taught online embroidery courses.
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Updated on 10/17/20
Hanging kitchen towel

 The Spruce Crafts / Mollie Johanson

Learning how to work pique stitch is easy with these instructions, and you'll be rewarded with a hanging kitchen towel or two in no time at all. It's a perfect way to learn a new stitch and make something useful. Keep this crochet hand towel handy in the kitchen when you hang it near your sink.

If you have crafted crochet dishcloths before, you have the skills to make these absorbent towels with the same technique. Plus, pair a handmade towel with a container of dish soap and a wooden scrub brush to make a great gift.

Tip

Any DK weight-cotton yarn works for this. Because you only need a small amount of the second ball of natural-colored yarn, if you purchase three balls, you'll have enough to make two towels.

Hanging Kitchen Towel Materials

The Spruce Crafts / Mollie Johanson

Featured Video

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • 1 size 5.5mm/H crochet hook
  • 1 tapestry needle

Materials

  • 2 50g balls of Knit Picks CotLin DK yarn in Swan/natural
  • 1 50g ball of Knit Picks CotLin DK yarn in Planetarium/navy
  • 1 50g ball of Knit Picks CotLin DK yarn in Sagebrush/teal
  • 1 50g ball of Knit Picks CotLin DK yarn in Moroccan Red/red
  • 1 1-inch button with large holes

Instructions

Design Details

Gauge

12 stitches and 14 rows = 4 inches/10 centimeters worked in the pattern (rows of pique stitch and single crochet).

Finished Size

Approximately 10 1/2 inches by 18 inches (26.5 centimeters by 46 centimeters), plus the hanging loop.

Abbreviations and Stitches Used

Note: All instructions use U.S. crochet terms. 

How to Work Pique Stitch

Before you begin making the towel, you should practice how to work pique stitch. This stitch is easy to learn and creates a nice texture.

  1. Yarn Over

    Yarn over and insert the hook into the 3rd ch from the hook or the first stitch of the row.

    Blue crochet hook using a pique stitch with white yarn.
     The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  2. Make Loops

    Yarn over and draw up a loop. You should have three loops on the hook.

    At this point, the stitch is like double crochet, but the next step is a little different.

    Blue crochet hook drawing a line with white yarn for the pique stitch.
     The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  3. Draw the Hook Through

    Yarn over and draw it through two loops. You should have two loops on the hook.

    Blue crochet hook drawing a loop through two loops.
     The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  4. Complete Pique Stitch

    Yarn over and insert the hook into the same ch or stitch as you did at the beginning. Draw up a loop. You should have four loops on the hook.

    Yarn over one more time and draw it through all four loops. You should have one loop on the hook.

    That completes the first pique stitch.

    Blue crochet hook doing a yarn over and drawing up a loop through the same stitch.
     The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

How to Make the Hand Towel With Pique Stitch

Now it's time to put the pique stitch to use as you crochet a striped hand towel.

  1. Start Your Hand Towel

    Ch 32 loosely for a starting chain.

    Note: If you struggle to make the starting chain loose enough, use a hook that's one size up for the chain.

    1. Row 1: Starting in the 3rd ch from the hook, work a pique stitch in every ch (30 sts). ch 1 for a turning chain and turn.
    2. Row 2: sc in every st. ch 2 for a turning chain and turn.
    3. Row 3: Pique st in every st. ch 1 for a turning chain and turn.
    4. Row 4: sc in every st. ch 2 for a turning chain and turn.
    5. Repeat rows 3 and 4.
    6. Change to the navy yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 two times.
    7. Change to the natural yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 one time.
    8. Change to the teal yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 two times.
    9. Change to the natural yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 one time.
    10. Change to the red yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 two times.
    11. Change to the natural yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 seven times.
    12. Change to the red yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 two times.
    13. Change to the natural yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 one time.
    14. Change to the teal yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 two times.
    15. Change to the natural yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 one time.
    16. Change to the navy yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 two times. 
    17. Change to the natural yarn, and repeat rows 3 and 4 three times.
    18. Secure the last st and trim the yarn, leaving a six-inch tail. ​Weave in all the ends.
    Blue crochet hook drawing a loop through four loops.
     The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  2. Add a Border to the Towel

    Attach the natural yarn in the upper left corner, and work a border of single crochet around the entire towel. Space the stitches as even as possible on the sides.

    If you'd rather make the edging more decorative, you can do that instead of this border.

    Blue crochet hook creating a border with white yarn along the dishtowel.
     The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  3. Make the Hanging Loop

    When you reach the upper left corner again, ch 16.

    Sl st in the 5 ch from the hook. This makes the button loop.

    Sl st in each of the remaining chs as you work back towards the towel. Sl st in the sc at the corner.

    Secure the last stitch trim the yarn with a 12-inch tail.

    Blue crochet hook using a hanging loop with white yarn.
     The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  4. Attach a Button for Hanging

    Weave the tail through the first row or two of the towel, and then use it to sew the button in place.

    Secure the yarn and weave in any remaining ends.

    Button attached to the corner of the dishtowel.
     The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  5. Finish the Hanging Kitchen Towel

    Use the hanging loop to attach the towel around an oven or cabinet handle, or simply to hang it on a hook.

    DIY Hanging Kitchen Towel
     The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

Tips as You're Working

  • Cotton yarns become more absorbent as they are washed. You should also expect some shrinkage as you wash and dry the towel.
  • Instead of changing colors, work this towel in a single color with a contrasting border.
  • Make a larger or smaller towel (or even a dishcloth) with more or fewer stitches and rows.
  • You can also change up the stripes, working them all in one color, making fewer or narrower stripes, or crocheting a rainbow.