I've been designing crochet keyhole towels for the past few years. Each year I try to add to my home and holiday crochet towel collections. A few weeks ago I added our newest Christmas character, the Elf Kitchen Towel, and today I am adding our newest non-character towel, the O' Christmas Tree Towel, a free crochet keyhole towel pattern.
Although I originally designed this crochet keyhole towel for the holiday season, if you leave the small star off the Christmas tree, you'll have a great woodsy design. Or leave both the Christmas Tree and star topper off for a great year round crochet buffalo plaid towel.
You can find the free crochet keyhole towel pattern for the O' Christmas Tree 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
- Reindeer Kitchen Towel
- Elf Kitchen Towel
- Buffalo Plaid Moose Kitchen Towel
- Leprechaun Kitchen Towel
- Easter Bunny Towel & Washcloth Set
I've also designed several other crochet kitchen towels that are not characters, you can find them all here: Free Crochet Kitchen Towel Patterns
The O' Christmas Tree Towel is my contribution to the 2022 Giftstravaganza Crochet Along and Blog Hop hosted by Marie from Underground Crafter. Marie has gathered 30 amazing crochet bloggers who’ll dazzle you with their patterns for holiday gift ideas throughout November and into the first days of December! Find out how to join the Giftsravaganza and enter to win several great prizes in Marie's blog post HERE.
For a Limited Time Only, download a FREE PDF of my O' Christmas Tree Towel!
If you’re reading this post before 6 am Eastern time on November 5, 2022, you’re in luck! My pattern is the featured design for November 4, 2022. Use coupon code GIFTS to download the PDF pattern for free on Ravelry until 6am EST on November 5, 2022. Be sure that your cart is set to $0 before checking out as there will be no refunds for accidental purchases. Click HERE for the Ravelry listing.
THE YARN & CHOOSING COLORS
Substitution: If you do not have access to a DK/3 weight cotton yarn, you can use a sport weight/2 or worsted weight/4 weight cotton yarn instead. Your dish towel may come out a little smaller or larger than mine, if you choose to use a different weight yarn, but it’s a crochet dish towel and not a garment that will be worn. So, if it comes out a little smaller or bigger, it will still work great!
Tip for Choosing Colors: The buffalo check (gingham check) pattern looks great in just about any color combination, but keep the following in mind when you’re choosing colors. You’ll need to choose a total of 3 colors. Of those 3 colors, you’ll have a dark, medium, and light color. You’ll use the medium color the most as it’s used in every single row. The colors that alternate are the lightest and darkest colors. For this particular pattern, you’ll work 2 rows alternating MC & CC1, then 2 rows alternating MC & CC2.
O' CHRISTMAS TREE TOWEL – FREE CROCHET KEYHOLE 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 & the buffalo plaid color chart, 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: Knit Picks CotLin / DK / 3 Weight Cotton Yarn – 3 colors / 1 ball of each (for buffalo plaid) / 2 balls of 1 color (for a solid color towel)
- Yardages in DK weight yarn:
- MC: Cream/Swan (180 yards)
- CC1: Light Green/Sprout (30 yards)
- CC2: Dark Green/Ivy (30 yards)
- Yellow for Star: (1 yard) (optional)
- You can also substitute a sport weight / 2 cotton yarn or worsted weight / 4 cotton yarn. See Yarn note above.
- Yardages in DK weight yarn:
- Crochet Hook: G/6/4.00mm (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(s)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sc: single crochet
- dc: double crochet
- RS: Right Side
- Rep: repeat
- MC: Cream (Swan)
- CC1: Light Green (Sprout)
- CC2: Dark Green (Ivy)
Gauge
- In pattern stitch (sc in next, dc in next): 18 sts = 4″; 14 rows = 3″
Size
- One Size: 10" W x 28" 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: Knit Picks CotLin was used for the sample. Another comparable DK/3 weight yarn may be used as long as gauge is met.
- Knit Picks CotLin, 70% Tanguis Cotton / 30% Linen (123 yards / 50 g ).
- Yardage:
- MC: Cream (180 yards)
- CC1: Light Green (30 yards)
- CC2: Dark Green (30 yards)
- Yellow for Star: (1 yard) (optional)
- This hand towel is constructed in rows from one short edge to the other. You'll create a keyhole mid-way through. The keyhole is how the towel is secured when hanging. A Christmas tree is then embroidered on and small crochet star attached.
O' Christmas Tree Towel Instructions
Changing Colors: For all color changes, you'll change colors on the last pull through of the last stitch of the row.
Set-Up: With a 4.00mm crochet hook & MC yarn, ch 46.
Row 1: Working into the back hump of the foundation chain, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook and in each ch across. Turn. (45 sts)
Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc in the first st, dc in the next st, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st), rep from ( to ) across to the last st, sc in the last st. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, dc in the first st, sc in the next st, (dc in the next st, sc in the next st), rep from ( to ) across to the last st, dc in the last st. Turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in the first st, dc in the next st, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st), rep from ( to ) across to the last st, sc in the last st. Turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.
Rep Rows 2 - 5, ending with a Row 5 Rep, until work measures approximately 12".
Do not fasten off. Continue on to Creating the Keyhole.
Creating the Keyhole
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the first st, dc in the next st, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st) 5 times, sc in the next st, ch 19, skip each of the next 19 sts, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st) 6 times, sc in the last st. Turn. (26 sts + 19 chs)
Note: The photos above and below are not of this same exact towel, but the process of creating the keyhole is the same.
Row 2: Ch 1, dc in the first st, sc in the next st, (dc in the next st, sc the next st) 5 times, dc in the next st, (sc in the next ch, dc in the next ch) 9 times, sc in the next ch, (dc in the next st, sc in the next st) 6 times, dc in the last st. Turn. (45 sts)
Do not fasten off. Continue on to the Remainder of Towel.
Remainder of Towel
Row 1: Ch 1, sc in the first st, dc in the next st, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st), rep from ( to ) across to the last st, sc in the last st. Turn. (45 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc in the first st, dc in the next st, (sc in the next st, dc in the next st), rep from ( to ) across to the last st, sc in the last st. Turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, dc in the first st, sc in the next st, (dc in the next st, sc in the next st), rep from ( to ) across to the last st, dc in the last st. Turn.
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 ( to ) across to the last st, sc in the last st. Turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.
Rep Rows 3 - 6, ending with a Row 6 Rep, until work measures approximately 13.5" from the keyhole opening.
Do not fasten off. Continue on to the Buffalo Plaid Section.
Buffalo Plaid Section
Buffalo Check Color Pattern - See Color Chart Above
- Pattern Stitch: (sc in the next st, dc in the next st)
- Color Pattern for Rows 1-2 & 5-6 : 3 sts MC, (3 sts CC1, 3 sts MC) 7 times.
- Color Pattern for Rows 3-4 & 7-8: 3 sts CC1, (3 sts CC2, 3 sts CC1) 7 times.
Changing Colors: For all color changes, you'll change colors on the last pull through of the last stitch in each colored section.
Row 1 (RS): With MC, ch 1, sc in the first st, dc in the next st, sc in the next st, * switch to CC1, dc in the next st, sc in the next st, dc in the next st, switch to MC, sc in the next st, dc in the next st, sc in the next st, rep from * across. Turn. (45 sts)
Row 2: With MC, ch 1, dc in the first st, sc in the next st, dc in the next st, * switch to CC1 sc in the next st, dc in the next st, sc in the next st, switch to MC dc in the next st, sc in the next st, dc in the next st, rep from * across. Turn.
Fasten off MC.
Row 3: With CC1, ch 1, sc in the first st, dc in the next st, sc in the next st, * switch to CC2, dc in the next st, sc in the next st, dc in the next st, switch to CC1, sc in the next st, dc in the next st, sc in the next st, rep from * across. Turn.
Row 4: With CC1, ch 1, dc in the first st, sc in the next st, dc in the next st, * switch to CC2 sc in the next st, dc in the next st, sc in the next st, switch to CC1 dc in the next st, sc in the next st, dc in the next st, rep from * across. Turn.
Fasten off CC2.
Rows 5 - 8: Rep Rows 1 - 4. *At the end of Row 8, do not fasten off CC2.
Row 9: With CC2, ch 1, sc in each st across.
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to Embroider Christmas Tree, if desired.
Embroider Christmas Tree
Step 1: Use a yarn needle and scrap of yarn (I used dark green) to stitch a straight vertical line. I began my line in the center of my towel, between the 2nd & 3rd row above the plaid section and stitched it approximately 4" tall. This line is only to give you a visual center for your tree. You will remove it later.
Step 2: Using a yarn needle and 2 strands of light green yarn held together as 1 strand, embroider zig zags across the center vertical line you just stitched. I started my zig zags on the lower right and worked up the tree. I worked 10 zig zags total. See final picture below.
Step 3: Use the instructions below to crochet a tiny star, then use a yarn needle and tail of yarn to attach the tiny star to the towel as shown in the photo.
Tiny Star
Rnd 1: With yellow yarn and a 4.00mm crochet hook, begin with a magic ring, sl st in the magic ring, (ch 3, sl st in the magic ring) 5 times.
Fasten off leaving a tail of yarn for sewing. Attach tiny star to the towel.
Now that I've finished, how do I hang it up?
Step 1: Drape the towel over the towel bar with the longest part of the towel in the back and the right side facing you (you should see the Christmas Tree design).
Step 2: Reach behind and grab the bottom edge of the towel and pull it through the keyhole. Line up the short ends of the towel.
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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- Santa Claus Kitchen Towel
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- Snowman Kitchen Towel
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- Reindeer Kitchen Towel
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- Elf Kitchen Towel
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- Buffalo Plaid Moose Kitchen Towel
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- Farmhouse Keyhole 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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Noel
Thank you so much love this pattern! I've saved a number of others for Christmas gift ideas. Thanks again
Peace
These are all so cute! I can't wait to try and make some Thank you