Single Crochet Sampler Washcloth

Single Crochet Sampler Washcloth Pattern: An Easy Crochet Pattern for Beginners

You’ll be washing up in style if you decide to make yourself some chic-but-simple crocheted washcloths using this free pattern.

You can also share the washcloth love; these make delightful additions to home-spa-themed gift baskets.

What makes this washcloth unique:

You’ll crochet it using single crochet stitch variations, resulting in abundant interesting texture. (You also have the yarn to thank for that, but the yarn doesn’t do all the work in that regard.)
The washcloth is soft enough to use on a baby, but it also works for people of any age.

An Eco-Friendly Yarn Option

I originally recommended Nature’s Choice organic cotton by Lion Brand as the suggested yarn for this pattern. However, that yarn is now hard to find; if you can’t find it, I suggest using Knitpicks Simply Cotton Worsted, or any worsted weight organic cotton yarn, instead. My opinion is that organic cotton is a better choice than conventionally grown cotton for a number of reasons.

Ordinary cotton is responsible for disgusting amounts of pesticides being dumped into the environment. Blechhkk! Not good.

It’s delightful to have the option for a cleaner organic cotton to use, and I’m grateful to Knitpicks for making this yarn available.

Of course, the yarn you use in your projects is your choice. I’ve recommended this yarn, but it’s really up to you to pick the yarn you want to use. Perhaps you have an even better choice in mind, and if so, please feel free to use that if you prefer.

Skill Level: Very easy

Materials You’ll Need for Crocheting This Washcloth:

Yarn:

I crocheted the sample washcloth using Lion Brand Nature’s Choice organic cotton yarn in the “Blueberry” color. This is a lovely shade of pale blue that would be suitable for using when you crochet a baby washcloth — but the color and design of this washcloth are ideal for use by people of any age.

While Nature’s Choice organic cotton yarn is technically a medium weight, in some ways it looks and behaves a bit like a bulkier yarn would. Take that into account if you want to make substitutions.

I used approximately 1 oz of yarn to make the sample washcloth.

Crochet Hooks:

I used a J hook and an H hook to crochet the sample washcloth. If there are other hook sizes you’d prefer to use, or if you have to size up or down to get gauge, please feel free to make the adjustments.

Other:

A tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge:

3 sts = approximately 1″; row gauge is unimportant.

A washcloth will turn out fine no matter what size you make it, so gauge is not critically important for achieving good results with this pattern.

Finished Size:

My sample washcloth measures 6 3/4″ square.

Crochet Abbreviations Used in This Pattern:

Washcloth Crochet Instructions:

Ch 15 loosely using the larger hook.

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in every ch st after that, all the way across the row. (14 sc total)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. (Sc in front loop of next sc st, sc in BLO of next sc stitch.) Rep sequence in parentheses all the way across the row for a total of 14 sc.

Row 3: Rep row 2.

Continue repeating row 2 until the piece is a square. Do not end off yet.

My piece measured about 4 3/4″ at this point.

Due to discrepancies in gauge between the two variations of single crochet stitch, I changed to a size H hook before crocheting the edging. If you want your washcloth to be square, I recommend going down a hook size or two, to prevent the work from “ruffling.” I went down 2 hook sizes. In hindsight, I think one hook size down would have been fine as well.

Crochet the Washcloth Edging:

The edging will be worked in rounds around the outer edge of the piece you just crocheted.

Edging Round 1: Begin working down the left-hand side of the piece. Crochet 14 evenly spaced sl sts. Then work another 14 evenly spaced sl sts into the foundation chain. Then work another 14 evenly spaced sl sts up the other side of the piece. Then crochet another 14 sl sts across the last row of sc sts worked.

Edging Round 2: Ch 1, then sc in BLO of the sl sts worked in the previous round. When you get to a corner, ch 2 and then continue working sc in each sl st, all the way around. At the end of the round, work a sl st to join the last sc to the first sc in the round.

Rep round 2 as many times as desired to create the washcloth size you want. I worked 4 rounds total (the sl st round plus 3 sc rounds) to create the sample.

End off and weave in loose ends.

Soft Organic Cotton Washcloth — Multicolored Version

Single Crochet Sampler Washcloth (Multicolored Version): Free Crochet Pattern. This Soft Organic Washcloth Is Green in More Ways Than One; the Earth-Friendly Organic Cotton Yarn Was Grown Without Pesticides or Chemicals.

This washcloth is made using the same basic pattern as the solid version of the washcloth; the only difference is the colors.

I made this version using 3 different colors of Nature’s Choice organic cotton yarn by Lion Brand. This project is a great way to use up leftover yarns; in fact, these yarns were left over when I crocheted a scarf using the same yarn.

To Make This Washcloth as Shown:

Use Olive (the lovely green color) to crochet the center of the washcloth.
Use Spice (the burnt orange color) to crochet the first round of the washcloth edging, which is the slip stitch round.
Use Pecan (the warm earthy brown color) to crochet the remainder of the washcloth edging.

Feel free to experiment with other colors or yarns.