Ever since designing my very first character Christmas towel in 2019, (the Snowman Kitchen Towel), I've wanted to design other character towels to celebrate all of the holidays. The Leprechaun Crochet Hand Towel was designed to add a little fun, crochet decor to your home for St. Paddy's Day. You can find the free crochet pattern for the Leprechaun Kitchen 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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Crochet Character Keyhole Towels
Since designing my first crochet Christmas towel, I've received requests for all sorts of characters for the different holidays. The following are the character keyhole 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
- Kitty Cat Kitchen Towel
- Turkey Kitchen Towel
- Snowman Kitchen Towel
- Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel
- Santa Kitchen Towel
- Mrs. Claus Kitchen Towel
- Reindeer Kitchen Towel
- Elf Kitchen Towel
- Buffalo Plaid Moose Kitchen Towel
- Leprechaun Kitchen Towel - in this blog post below!
- Easter Bunny Towel & Washcloth Set
Non-Character Crochet Stay Put / Keyhole Towels
I've also designed several other crochet kitchen towels that are not characters.
You'll find a variety of styles to match your home. Styles range from buffalo plaid to farmhouse to basic keyhole towel patterns that you can customize to match your home's decor.
You can find all non-character keyhole towel patterns 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 all of the colors I needed for this project within the same yarn line.
LEPRECHAUN KITCHEN TOWEL – FREE CROCHET HAND 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: 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 )
- Dark Pine: 150 yards
- Black: 20 yards
- Bright Orange: 15 yards
- Soft Ecru: 25 yards
- White: 15 yards
- Sage / Light Green: 1.5 yards
- Gold: 2 yards
- Crochet Hooks: H/8/5.00mm; E/3.50mm; J/10/6.00mm (my favorite hooks are Clover Amour Hooks, I’ve never had an ache in my hand since switching)
- Measuring Tape
- (2) 18mm Black Safety Eyes - Optional (instructions included for yarn eyes)
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
Many of the materials are available for purchase through our affiliates:
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch(s): chain
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sl st(s): slip stitch(es)
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- Join with a standing sc: (click here for tutorial)
- Join with a standing hdc: (click here for tutorial)
- RS: right side / WS: wrong side
- Rep: repeat
- yo: yarn over
Gauge
- In sc with a 5.00 mm hook: 8 sts = 2″; 8 rows = 2″
- In pattern stitch (sc in next, dc in next): 9 sts = 3.125″; 7 rows = 3″
Size
- One Size: 9" W x 18-½" L (not including the head)
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:
- Dark Pine: 150 yards
- Black: 20 yards
- Bright Orange: 15 yards
- Soft Ecru: 25 yards
- White: 15 yards
- Sage / Light Green: 1.5 yards
- Gold: 2 yards
- This hand 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 details.
Special Stitches
- Join with a standing sc: When instructed to "Join with a standing sc", begin with a slip knot on your hook. Insert your hook into the stitch or space indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo and draw thru both loops on your hook. (click here for tutorial)
- Join with a standing hdc: When instructed to "Join with a standing sc", begin with a slip knot on your hook, yo. Insert your hook into the stitch or space indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo and draw thru all loops on your hook. (click here for tutorial)
Leprechaun Hand Towel Instructions
Head
Row 1 (RS): With soft ecru 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)
Fasten off soft ecru yarn. Continue on to the Hair. Approximate width of head at this point is 6.5″.
Hair
Row 1 (RS): With orange yarn & a 5.00 mm crochet hook, join yarn with a standing sc in the first st of the previous row, sc in each remaining st across. Turn. (23 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.
Do not fasten off. Continue on to the Body of Towel.
Body of Towel
Row 1 (RS): Continuing with orange yarn & 5.00mm crochet hook, ch 20, skip 22 sts, join with sl st in the 23rd st. Turn. (20 chs) See photo below, right.
Row 2: 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) Fasten off orange yarn. Switch to pine green yarn.
Row 3: With pine green yarn & a 6.00 mm crochet hook, join yarn with a standing sc in the first st, dc in the same st, (sc, dc) in the next st, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st) 9 times, (sc, dc) in each of the last 2 sts. Turn. (26 sts)
Row 4: Ch 1, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st) rep across. Turn. (26 sts)
Rows 5 - 35: Rep Row 4. Your towel will measure approximately 12" from Row 1 of Body of Towel at this point. Important: If you gauge height is off and you want to adjust the number of rows you've worked to this point, make sure to end with an odd numbered row before moving on to the next section.
Do not fasten off. Continue on to the Belt & Remainder of Body.
Belt & Remainder of Body
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the first st, sc in each st across. Turn. (26 sts) *Fasten off pine green. Switch to black.
Row 2 (RS): With black yarn, join yarn with a standing sc in the first st, sc in each st across. Turn.
Rows 3 - 5: Ch 1, sc in the first st, sc in each st across. Turn. *At the end of Row 5, fasten off black. Switch to pine green.
Row 6: With pine green yarn, join yarn with a standing sc in the first st, sc in each st across. Turn.
Row 7: 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.
Rows 8 - 14: Rep Row 7.
Row 15: Ch 1, sc in the first st, sc in each st across. Turn. *At the end of Row 15, fasten off pine green. Switch to white.
Row 16: With white yarn, join yarn with a standing sc in the first st, sc in each st across. Turn.
Rows 17 - 19: Ch 1, sc in the first st, sc in each st across. Turn. *At the end of Row 19, fasten off white. Switch to black.
Row 20: With black yarn, join yarn with a standing hdc in the first st, hdc in each st across. Turn.
Row 21: Ch 1, hdc in the first st, hdc in each st across. Turn
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to the Green Striped Socks Details. Approximate length of body of towel is 18-½".
Green Striped Sock Details
Tip! An easy way to find the RS of the towel is to lay it in front of you as shown below with the RS of the head facing you. Then fold the towel up. After folding the towel up like shown below, the side facing you is the RS of the Body of Towel.
Row 1 (RS): With a 6.00 mm hook and pine green (or sage/light green) yarn, add a row of surface crochet on top of the stitches from Rows 18 & 19 of Belt & Remainder of Body section (this is the section of white). Click HERE for photo tutorial.
Weave in ends. Continue on to the Belt Buckle.
Note: The photos above are of the Reindeer Kitchen Towel, but the technique is the same for this towel.
Belt Buckle
Set-up: With a 5.00 mm crochet hook and gold yarn, ch 12. Being careful not to twist the ch, join with a sl st to the first ch.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, working into the back humps of the ch, sc in the first ch, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the next ch, sc in each of the next 3 chs, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the next ch, sc in the next ch, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the next ch, sc in each of the next 3 chs, (sc, ch 1, sc) in the next ch. Join with a sl st to the 1st st. (16 sc + 4 ch-1's)
Fasten off leaving a 10" long tail for sewing. Continue on to the Leprechaun's Beard.
Leprechaun's Beard
Row 1: With a 5.00 mm crochet hook and orange yarn, ch 8, working into the back hump of the ch, sl st in the 2nd ch from your hook, sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, sl st in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, sc in the next ch, sl st in the next ch, ch 8, rotate so that you can sl st in the bottom of the ch where you worked the very first sl st (see orange stitch marker in photo below). Turn. (7 sts + 8 chs)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each ch across. Turn. (8 sts)
Rows 3 - 5: Ch 1, sc in the first st, dc in the next st, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st) 3 times. Turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st) 2 times, sc2tog. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 7: Ch 1, sc2tog, dc in the next st, sc in the next st, sc2tog. Turn. (4 sts)
Row 8: Ch 1, sc2tog twice. (2 sts)
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to the Eyebrows.
Eyebrows (Make 2)
Row 1: With orange yarn and a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 5, working into the back hump of the ch, hdc in the 3rd ch from your hook, sc in the next ch, sl st in the last ch. (3 sts)
Fasten off leaving a 8" tail of yarn for sewing. Make the second eyebrow then continue on to the Leprechaun's Hat.
Leprechaun's Hat
Row 1: With pine green yarn and a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 11, working into the back hump of the ch, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook, sc in each ch across. Do not turn. (10 sts) *Place a stitch marker in the 3rd stitch.
Fasten off pine green yarn. Weave in ends.
Row 2: Join black yarn with a standing sc in the st marked with a stitch marker, sc in each of the next 5 sts. Change colors to pine green. Turn. (6 sts)
Rows 3 - 4: With pine green yarn, ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 5: Ch 1, 2 sc in the first st, sc in each of the next 4 sts, 2 sc in the last st. Turn. (8 sts)
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in each st across.
Fasten off leaving a 12” tail for sewing. Weave in all other ends. Continue on to Adding a Faux Buckle to the Hat.
Adding a Faux Buckle to the Hat
With a yarn needle and 6" piece of gold yarn, weave yarn back and forth 3 times horizontally in the center of the black belt on the Leprechaun's Hat.
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to the Four Leaf Clover.
Four Leaf Clover
Prepare Yarn: Cut a 1.5 yard length of sage or light green yarn. The yarn I use is a 4 ply yarn. Separate the plies of yarn into 2 sections, each section should now have 2 plies. You will only use 1 section.
Row 1: With 2 plies of sage/ light green yarn and a 3.50 mm crochet hook, ch 2, hdc in the 1st ch, ch 1, sl st in the 1st ch, (ch 1, hdc in the 1st ch, ch 1, sl st in the 1st ch) 3 times, ch 3.
Fasten off leaving a tail to sew the clover onto the hat. Continue on to either crocheting the Eyes, or if using black plastic safety eyes, continue on to Adding Details.
Optional: Yarn Eyes (Make 2)
Rnd 1: With black yarn and a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 6 hdc 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 .75″ in diameter.
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. I placed them 1.25" apart from the center of one eye to the center of the next. The space between the eyes is approximately ⅝" (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 Leprechaun's Hat as shown in the photo below. Weave in ends.
Step 3: Use a yarn needle and tail of yarn to attach the four leaf clover to the Leprechaun's Hat as shown in the photo below. Start with the stem of the clover and position it so it looks like it is coming out of the black belt on the hat.
Step 4: Use a yarn needle and tail of yarn to attach the Belt Buckle as shown in the photo below. Weave in ends.
Step 5: Use a yarn needle and 12" piece of orange yarn to attach the Leprechaun's Beard as shown in the photo below. Weave in ends.
Step 6: Use a yarn needle and tail of yarn to attach the eyebrows to the face as shown in the photo below. Position the eyebrows somewhat close to the black eyes.
Now that I've completed my Leprechaun Kitchen Towel, how do I hang it up?
The photos below are of the Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel, but the steps are the same.
Step 1 (photo A): With the leprechaun 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.
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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- Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Towel - A Crocheted Simplicity
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- Buffalo Plaid Moose Kitchen Towel
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- Santa Claus Kitchen Towel
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- Snowman Kitchen Towel
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- Floral Blooms Hand 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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Alexandra
I enjoy seeing new designs being added to this series!