Since designing the Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel, I’ve had many ask me to design other crochet keyhole towels for all other holidays and for year-round use. Add a little Fourth of July, red, white & blue, crochet decor to your space with the Stars & Stripes Hand Towel, my latest crochet keyhole towel design. You can find the free crochet pattern for the Stars & Stripes 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 crochet 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
- 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.
STARS & STRIPES 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.
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 )
- White (MC): 150 yards
- Red (CC1): 40 yards
- Bright Navy (CC2): 40 yards
- 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
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- Alt-ch3: click here for tutorial
- sp: space
- RS: right side
- Rnd: round
- Rep: repeat
- yo: yarn over
- MC: Main Color
- CC1: Contrasting Color 1
- CC2: Contrasting Color 2
Gauge
- Stars: 3" across (tip to tip)
- Towel in linen stitch with a 6.00mm hook: (sc in next, ch 1, skip next): 12 sts = 3.25″; 10.5 rows = 3″
Size
- One Size: 11.25" W x 17" L (not including the stars)
Notes
- I tend to crochet on the tighter side. You may find yourself needing to go down a hook size (or two) to properly meet gauge, but gauge isn't critical for this project.
- Turning chains are not counted as a stitch or included in stitch count, unless stated otherwise.
- 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): 150 yards
- Red (CC1): 40 yards
- Bright Navy (CC2): 40 yards
- Construction: First, you'll crochet and complete 3 stars. Then, you'll connect the 3 stars. Next, you'll crochet the body of the towel. Lastly, you'll connect the stars to the towel to create the keyhole opening.
Stars & Stripes Keyhole Hand Towel Instructions
Star Instructions
Note: The star 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.
Stars
Each star is made with 2 identical pieces joined together.
First, make Piece 1: Work rounds 1 - 3. Fasten off.
Next, make Piece 2: Work rounds 1 - 3. Do NOT fasten off. Continue on to Joining Star Pieces.
Rnd 1 (RS): With MC, CC1 or CC2 yarn & a 5.00mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 5 sc into the 2nd ch from your hook. Do not
join. (5 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (10 sts)
Rnd 3: * sl st in the next st, (hdc, dc, ch 2, sl st in 2nd ch, dc, hdc) in the next st, rep from * around. Do not join. (5 star points)
Joining Star Pieces
Rnd 1: Lay Piece #2 on top of Piece #1 (make sure to line up the first and last stitches of Rnd 3), join the 2 stars by crocheting through both layers into the stitches from Rnd 3: * sl st into the next sl st, sc in each of the next 2 sts, 3 sc in tip of next star point, sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around. Do not join.
Photos Above: Lay Piece #2 directly on top of Piece #1. Begin the joining round in the first sl st of Rnd 3. Work through both layers.
Fasten off leaving a 6" tail of yarn. Use a yarn needle and sew the tail of yarn into the beginning sl st of the round. Weave in ends. Make 3 Stars: 1 Red, 1 White & 1 Blue. After you've finished all 3 stars, continue on to Join the 3 Stars Together.
Join the 3 Stars Together
Layout your stars as shown in the photo below.
Slightly overlap the left point of the white star on top of the right point of the red star. Use a yarn needle and piece of white yarn to attach the white star to the red star. Weave in ends.
Slightly overlap the left point of the blue star on top of the right point of the white star. Use a yarn needle and piece of blue yarn to attach the blue star to the white star. Weave in ends.
Continue on to the 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: With MC yarn and a 5.00mm crochet hook, ch 33, working into the back hump of the foundation chain and beginning in the 2nd ch from your hook, (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)
Row 2: 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 3: 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.
Repeat Rows 2 - 3, ending with a row 3 repeat, until your Body of Towel measures 15" (from Row 1). *Switch colors to CC1 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 (WS) (CC1): With CC1, ch 3 (counts as a st), dc in the same st as ch 3, (skip each of the next 2 sts, 3 dc in the next st) work from ( to ) 11 times, skip each of the next 3 sts, 3 dc in the next st, skip each of the next 2 sts, 2 dc in the last st. *Switch colors to MC. (40 sts)
Row 2 (MC): With MC, ch 3 (counts as a st), turn, 3 dc in each of the next 13 sps, dc in the top of ch 3. *Switch colors to CC2. (41 sts)
Row 3 (CC2): With CC2, Alt-ch3 (click here for tutorial), dc in the same sp, 3 dc in each of the next 12 sps, 2 dc in the last sp. *Switch colors to MC. Turn. (40 sts)
Row 4 (RS) (MC): Ch 1, sc in each st across. (40 sts)
Fasten off. Weave in ends. Continue on to Attaching the Stars / Creating the Keyhole.
Attaching the Stars / Creating the Keyhole
Photo Above: With the right side of the bottom edge of the towel facing up, fold your towel in half and lay it on a surface in front of you, as shown in the photo to the right.
Cut an 8" piece of each red and blue yarn.
Photo Above: With a yarn needle and blue yarn, sew the right point of the blue star to the first stitch of Row 1 of the Body of Towel. Weave in ends.
With a yarn needle and red yarn, sew the left point of the red star to the last stitch of Row 1 of the Body of Towel. Weave in ends.
NOW THAT I’VE COMPLETED MY STARS & STRIPES HAND TOWEL, HOW DO I HANG IT UP?
Step 1 (photo above left): With the RS of the Stars facing you, insert your hand behind the stars and through the keyhole. Bring the bottom edge of the towel, up and over the towel bar, from behind the bar.
Step 2 (photo above center): Grab the bottom edge of the towel and pull it through the keyhole.
Step 3 (photo above right): 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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- Hello Sunshine Hand Towel
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- Floral Blooms Hand Towel
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- Buffalo Plaid Moose 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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