Ever since designing the Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel, I’ve had many ask if I could design towels that hang in a similar way for year-round use. The Floral Blooms Hand Towel was the first in a fun, new series of crochet towels and the Hello Sunshine Hand Towel is the latest. You can find the free crochet pattern for the Hello Sunshine Keyhole Hand Towel 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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Since designing my first character towel, I've received requests for all sorts of characters for the different holidays. The following are the character towels I've designed to date. They can all be found on my blog by clicking the links below:
- Ghost Kitchen Towel
- Frankenstein's Monster Kitchen Towel
- Turkey Kitchen Towel
- Snowman Kitchen Towel
- Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel
- Santa Kitchen Towel
- Mrs. Claus Kitchen Towel - COMING SOON!
- Reindeer Kitchen Towel
- Elf Kitchen Towel - COMING SOON!
- Buffalo Plaid Moose Kitchen Towel
- Leprechaun Kitchen Towel
- Easter Bunny Towel & Washcloth Set
I've also designed several other crochet keyhole towels that are not characters, you can find them all here: Free Crochet Kitchen Towel Patterns
YARN
Cotton is the go-to fiber for crochet dish cloths, dish towels, and hand 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 the perfect colors I needed for this project within the same yarn line.
HELLO SUNSHINE KEYHOLE HAND 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.
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Materials
- Yarn: Yarn I used for my sample is Lily Sugar n' Cream; 4 / Worsted Weight Cotton Yarn; (100% cotton / 120 yards / 70.9 g / 109 m / 2.5 oz )
- White (MC): 140 yards
- Bright Yellow (CC): 60 yard
- Crochet Hooks: H/8/5.0mm; J/10/6.00mm (my favorite hooks are Clover Amour Hooks, I’ve never had an ache in my hand since switching)
- Measuring Tape
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
Many of the materials are available for purchase through our affiliates:
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch(s): chain
- sl st(s): slip stitch(es)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sp: space
- RS: right side
- Rnd: round
- Rep: repeat
- yo: yarn over
- MC: Main Color
- CC: Contrasting Color
Gauge
- Sun: 5" across (flame tip to flame tip)
- Towel in linen stitch with a 6.00mm hook: (sc in next, ch 1, skip next): 12 sts = 3″; 11 rows = 3″
Size
- One Size: 10.5" W x 17" L
Notes
- Turning chains are not counted as a stitch or included in stitch count.
- The first stitch of each row is worked into the same stitch as the turning chain, unless stated 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
- White (MC): 140 yards
- Bright Yellow (CC): 60 yards
- This hand towel is constructed by first crocheting the sun. You'll then create a keyhole and begin working the body of towel in rows. The keyhole is how the towel is secured when hanging.
Hello Sunshine Keyhole Hand Towel Instructions
Sun
Note: The sun is worked in continuous rounds to keep from having an unsightly seam. Do not join at the end of each round, instead use a scrap piece of yarn to keep track of the beginning of each round. Move the scrap of yarn up as you complete each round.
Center of the Sun (Make 2)
Rnd 1 (RS): With CC yarn & a 5.00mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 6 sc into the 2nd ch from your hook. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: * 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st, rep from * around. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: * 2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * around. (30 sts)
First Center of Sun: Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to make Center of Sun #2.
Second Center of Sun: Do not fasten off. Continue on to Joining the Centers.
Joining the Centers
Rnd 1: Lay Center #2 on top of Center #1, join the 2 centers by working into the stitches from Rnd 5 from both Center of Suns, work the following: *2 sc in the next st, sc in each of the next 4 sts, rep from * around. (36 sts)
Do not fasten off. Continue on to Flames.
Flames
Rnd 1: (ch 2, dc in the next st, ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from your hook, dc in the next st, ch 1, sl st in the same st as the dc you just worked**, sl st in the next st), work from ( to ) 11 times, then ch 2, dc in the next st, ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from your hook, dc in the next st, ch 1, sl st in the same st as the dc you just worked. (12 flames)
Do not fasten off. Continue on to Body of Towel.
Body of Towel
Changing Colors: For all color changes, you'll change colors on the last pull through of the last stitch of the row.
Row 1: Continuing on from the Flames, with CC yarn and a 5.00mm crochet hook, ch 32, skip 5 flames from the sun and join yarn with a sl st in the sl st between the 5th and 6th flame from your hook. Turn. (32 chs)
Row 2 (CC): Ch 1, working into the back hump of the foundation chain, (2 sc into the next ch, sc in each of the next 3 chs) 7 times, 2 sc in the next ch, sc in each of the next 2 chs, 2 sc in the last ch. Turn. (41 sts) *Switch colors to MC.
Row 3 (MC): Switch to a 6.00mm crochet hook, ch 1, sc in the first st, (ch 1, skip the next st, sc in the next st), rep from ( to ) across. Turn.
Row 4 (MC): Ch 1, sc in the first st, sc in the next ch-1 sp, (ch 1, skip the next st, sc in the next ch-1 sp) rep from ( to ) across to the last st, sc in the last st. Turn.
With MC, repeat Rows 3 - 4, ending with a row 4 repeat, until your Body of Towel measures 14" (from Row 1). *Switch colors to CC then complete the Striped Section.
Note: If your towel bar is thicker (the towel bar in my bathroom is pretty narrow), you may want to add another 1" - 2" to the Body of Towel before you move on to the Striped Section.
Striped Section
Row 1 (CC): Ch 1, sc in the first st, (ch 1, skip the next st, sc in the next st), rep from ( to ) across. Turn. *Switch colors to MC.
Row 2 (MC): Ch 1, sc in the first st, sc in the next ch-1 sp, (ch 1, skip the next st, sc in the next ch-1 sp) rep from ( to ) across to the last st, sc in the last st. Turn.
Row 3 (MC): Rep Row 1. *Switch colors to CC.
Row 4 (CC): Rep Row 2.
Row 5 (CC): Rep Row 1.
Row 6 (CC): Rep Row 2. *Switch colors to MC.
Rows 7 - 8 (MC): Rep Rows 1 - 2. *Switch colors to CC.
Row 9 (CC): Rep Row 1. *Switch colors to MC.
Row 10 (MC): Rep Row 2.
Row 11 (MC): Rep Row 1.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Make a fun crochet dish towel & scrubby set!
You'll find the coordinating dish scrubby HERE!
NOW THAT I’VE COMPLETED MY HELLO SUNSHINE HAND TOWEL, HOW DO I HANG IT UP?
Step 1 (photo A): With the RS of the Sun facing you, insert your hand behind the sun and through the hole. Bring the bottom edge of the towel, up and over the oven door handle from behind it.
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!
MORE FREE CROCHET PATTERNS FROM A CROCHETED SIMPLICITY
If you enjoy this crochet pattern for your kitchen, 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.
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- Farmhouse Striped Kitchen Towel
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- Farmhouse Keyhole Towel
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- Floral Blooms Hand Towel
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- Buffalo Plaid Moose Kitchen Towel
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- Santa Claus Kitchen Towel
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- Snowman Kitchen Towel
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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Tricia
Hello Jennifer,
Thank you for this pattern. The sun made it such a cheery towel so I continued on and located the dish scrubby too. They make such a cute pair. This set makes a wonderful gift. Thank you for your inspiration and for sharing the patterns.