Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel - Free Crochet Towel Pattern

After receiving lots of love for my Farmhouse Striped Kitchen Towel and Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Towel, I knew I just had to make a few fun, festive towels for the upcoming holiday season. The Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel is the first in this series of crochet kitchen towels for the holidays and I’m smitten. You can find the free crochet towel pattern in this post below, or an ad-free print friendly version on Love Crafts here, Ravelry here, or on Etsy here.

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This fall, I’ve been making new crochet kitchen towels, but I wanted them to be a little less traditional in style. Having to constantly pick up the towels off the floor and wash them because they’ve slipped off the oven handle yet again, gets old in a quick hurry. I love the way the Farmhouse Striped & Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Towels hang, but wanted something a little different for the Christmas crochet towels. I hope you love the simplicity of these towels and are excited to add a little fun to your Christmas kitchen decor.

You’ll find the new Snowman Kitchen Towel here.

THE YARN

Cotton is the go-to fiber for crochet dish cloths and dish towels as it’s the most absorbent. There are several cotton yarns out there that would be perfect for this project, but I chose to use Lily Sugar n’ Cream 100% worsted weight cotton yarn. Lily Sugar n’ Cream is available in 39 colors so I was able to find all of the colors I needed for this project within the same yarn line. Gingerbread brown isn’t easy to find so this yarn was the perfect choice for this project!

Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel – FREE CROCHET TOWEL PATTERN

The free pattern is below, but if you love to work offline, or need to order your yarn, I’ve got a couple other great options for you.

Purchase the ad-free, printable PDF that includes all photo tutorials, on Love Crafts here, Ravelry here, or Etsy here.

Save this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.

Pin it for later here.

This post contains affiliate links.

MATERIALS

Yarn: Lily Sugar n’ Cream / Worsted Weight / 4 / Cotton Yarn
- Jute (brown): 140 yards
- White: 4 yards
- Red: 5 yards
Crochet Hooks: J/10/6.00mm, H/8/5.00mm (My favorite crochet hooks are the Clover Amour Hooks, I’ve never had an ache in my hand since switching)
Scissors
Yarn Needle
15mm Black Safety Eyes (2) – optional

Many of these materials are available for purchase through our affiliates below:

Gauge

In sc with a 5.00 mm hook: 8 sts = 2″; 8 rows = 2″
In body of towel with a 6.00 mm hook: 12 sts = 4″; 5 rows = 2″

Size

One Size: 8″ W x 17.5″ L (not including the head)

Abbreviations (US Terms)

ch(s): chain(s)
st(s): stitch(es)
sl st(s): slip stitch(es)
sc: single crochet
hdc: half double crochet
dc: double crochet
sp: space
RS: Right Side
Rep: repeat
Alt-dc: alternate double crochet – click HERE for the tutorial
standing sc: click HERE for the tutorial
standing dc: click HERE for the tutorial

Notes

Turning chains are not included in stitch count unless noted otherwise.
Yarn Notes: Lily Sugar n’ Cream worsted weight cotton yarn was used for the sample, 100% Cotton (120 yards / 109 m / 71 g / 2.5 oz).
Yardage:
- Jute (brown): 140 yards
- White: 4 yards
- Red: 5 yards
This dish towel is constructed by first making a half circle for the head. You’ll then work the body of the towel from top down. Lastly, you’ll add facial features and buttons. I chose to use black plastic safety eyes for my towel, but have included instructions for crochet eyes, if you prefer them instead.

Gingerbread Man Dish Towel Instructions

Head

Row 1 (RS): With brown yarn & a 5.00 mm hook, ch 2, work 4 sc in the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not join. Turn. (4 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each st across. Turn. (8 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next st, * 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st, rep from * across. Turn. (12 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each of the next 2 sts, * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * across. Turn. (16 sts)

Row 5: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each of the next 3 sts, * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * across. Turn. (20 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each of the next 4 sts, * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 4 sts, rep from * across. Turn. (24 sts)

Row 7: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each of the next 5 sts, * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 5 sts, rep from * across. Turn. (28 sts)

Row 8: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each of the next 6 sts, * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 6 sts, rep from * across. Turn. (32 sts)

Row 9: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each of the next 7 sts, * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * across. Turn. (36 sts)

Row 10: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each of the net 8 sts, * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 8 sts, rep from * across. Turn. (40 sts)

Row 11: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each of the next 9 sts, * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 9 sts, rep from * across. Do not Turn. (44 sts)

Do not fasten off. Continue on to Body of Towel. Approximate width of head at this point is 5.75″.

Body of Towel

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, work 1 sc into the side of each row across half circle, also add 1 sc in the center ch. Turn. (23 sts)

Row 2: Ch 20, skip 22 sts, join with sl st in the 23rd st. Turn. (20 chs) See photo below, right.

Row 3: Switch to a 6.00 mm crochet hook, ch 1, working into the back hump of the ch, work 2 sc in the first ch, sc in each of next 18 chs, 2 sc in last ch. Turn. (22 sts)

Row 4: Ch 1, (sc, dc) in the first st, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st) 10 times, (sc, dc) in the last st. Turn. (24 sts)

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in the first st, dc in the next st, * sc in the next st, dc in the next st, rep from * across. Turn.

Rep Row 5 until your towel measures 15” from Row 1 of Body of Towel.

Do not fasten off. Continue on to Ric Rac Trim.

Ric Rac Trim

Row 1 (RS): Alt-dc in the first st (click here for the tutorial), * skip the next st, 2 dc in the next st, rep from * across to the last st, dc in the last st. Turn. (24 sts) * Change colors to white yarn. Fasten off brown yarn.

Row 2: Alt-dc in the first st, * work 2 dc in sp of next 2-dc cluster from previous row, rep from * across to last st, dc in last st. Turn. (24 sts) *Change colors to brown yarn. Fasten off white yarn.

Row 3: Join brown yarn with a standing dc in the first st (click here for the tutorial), * work 2 dc in sp of next 2 dc cluster from previous row, rep from * across to last st, dc in last st. Turn. (24 sts)

Rows 4 – 5: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to Gingerbread Head Edging. Approximate length of body of towel is 17.5″.

Gingerbread Head Edging

Row 1: With a 5.00mm crochet hook, join brown yarn with a standing sc in the bottom of the st of Row 3 of Body of Towel (see pic below) (click here for standing sc tutorial), sc in each st around the head, work 1 last sc in the bottom of the st at the opposite end of Row 3 of Body of Towel. (46 sts)

Fasten off. weave in ends. Continue on to Head Edging. Approximate width of head is now 6.25″.

Head Edging

With a 5.00 mm crochet hook, join white yarn with sl st in st #2 of Gingerbread Head Edging, sl st in each of the next 45 sts. (46 sts) *See photo above, right.

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to Cheeks, Eyes, & Mouth.

Cheeks (Make 2)

Rnd 1: With red yarn and a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 8 sc in the 2nd ch from your hook. Join with a sl st to the first st. (8 sts)

Fasten off leaving a 10” tail for sewing. Weave in beginning tail end. Cheeks are approximately .75″ in diameter. Continue on to Buttons.

Buttons (Make 3)

Rnd 1: With red yarn and a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 8 hdc in the 2nd ch from your hook. Join. (8 sts)

Fasten off leaving a 10” tail for sewing. Weave in beginning tail end. Buttons are approximately 1″ in diameter. Continue on to either making the Eyes, or if using plastic craft eyes, continue on to Adding Details.

Eyes (Make 2)

Rnd 1: With black yarn and a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 6 sc in the 2nd ch from your hook. Join with a sl st to the first st. (6 sts)

Fasten off leaving a 10” tail for sewing. Weave in beginning tail end. Eyes are approximately .5″ in diameter. Continue on to Adding Details.

Adding Details

Step 1: Attach the black craft eyes or sew on the black crocheted eyes using a yarn needle. I attached mine between rows 3 & 4 of the head. And placed them 1.25″ apart from center of one eye to the center of the next. The space between the eyes is approximately 5/8″ (approximately 3 sts in row 3). Weave in ends if you made crocheted eyes.

Step 2: Use a yarn needle and tail of yarn to attach the cheeks. I placed mine between rows 7 – 9 with about 7 sts between them in row 8. Weave in ends.

Step 3: Using a yarn needle and a 12″ length of white yarn, create the mouth. I added my mouth in the tops of the stitches from row 9 so it appears as if the mouth is between rows 9 & 10. I started by inserting my needle under the edge of the cheek on the right and work up and down through every stitch until I reach the cheek on the left. Weave in ends once you’ve completed your mouth. Mouth is approximately 2.5″ L.

Step 4: Use a yarn needle and tail of yarn to attach the buttons. Because of the way the towel hangs, make sure to attach the buttons on the side opposite the facial features. I attached the bottom button first. Position it so that the center of it is 3-3/4″ from the bottom edge of the towel. I then added the middle button and left about 1/4″ space between the bottom and middle buttons. Repeat with the top button leaving 1/4″ space between the middle and top buttons. Weave in ends.

Now that I’ve completed my Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel, how do I hang it up?

Step 1 (photo A): With the gingerbread man looking at you, insert your hand behind his head and through the hole. Bring the bottom edge of the towel, up and over the oven door handle from behind it. The buttons should now be A facing you.

Step 2 (photo B): Grab the bottom edge of the towel and pull it through the hole.

Step 3 (photo C): Pull the body of the towel all the way down to secure it. Step back and enjoy your talents!

I COULDN’T RESIST THE URGE TO BE A LITTLE CHEESY.

If you love Snowmen, my friend Sonya, from Blackstone Designs, has a couple of super cute snowman patterns: Gingerbread Man Belly Pot Holder & Gingerbread Man Belly Flatware Holder. Click HERE for the Free Crochet Pot Holder Pattern and click HERE for the Free Crochet Flatware Holder Pattern.

MORE FREE CROCHET PATTERNS FROM A CROCHETED SIMPLICITY

If you enjoy this crochet pattern for your home, you may enjoy these other projects as well. And if you just want to browse, you can find all of our free crochet patterns HERE.

: Snowman Kitchen Towel

: Farmhouse Striped Kitchen Towel

: Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Towel

: Retro Christmas Tree Towel

: The Sun’s Out! Dish Scrubby

: Moroccan Grocery Bag Holder

Are you intimidated by knit-look crochet? Would you love to learn my tips & tricks? Take an Annies Video Class with me and let me ease your fears and help you increase your skills! Click on the photo below to watch a free preview. You can also see the other 4 video classes I have available!

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