Turkey Kitchen Towel Free Crochet Pattern for Thanksgiving

Whether you’re preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, hosting family and friends, or simply love decorating your kitchen for the holidays, this cute turkey towel is sure to bring a smile to your face. It’s also a wonderful handmade gift idea for the host or hostess in your life!

About the Turkey Kitchen Towel Crochet Pattern

If you’re looking for a fun and functional Thanksgiving crochet project, this Turkey Kitchen Towel is a great addition to your seasonal crochet list.

Unlike traditional kitchen towels that can easily slip off oven handles, this towel features a convenient keyhole-style design that helps keep it securely in place. No more picking your kitchen towel up off the floor! Just slide it over your oven door handle and enjoy a festive kitchen accessory that’s ready whenever you need it.

Not only is it practical, but it’s festive too! Display it in your kitchen throughout November, use it while preparing your Thanksgiving meal, or add it to your seasonal kitchen decor.

This free crochet pattern is a fun way to add a handmade touch to your holiday home without committing to a large or time-consuming project.

A Fun Handmade Gift for Thanksgiving

Looking for a thoughtful Thanksgiving hostess gift? Pair this crocheted turkey kitchen towel with a coordinating dishcloth, a pretty kitchen accessory, or a favorite baking mix for a charming handmade gift basket.

Its practical keyhole design makes it especially useful, while the adorable turkey details make it a festive addition to any kitchen.

It’s also a fun project to crochet ahead of the holidays for friends, family members, teachers, or anyone who enjoys festive kitchen decor. Make sure to check out all of my crochet dishtowels.

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. Turkey brown isn’t easy to find so this yarn was the perfect choice for this project!

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Materials

• Yarn: Lily Sugar n’ Cream / Worsted Weight / 4 / Cotton Yarn
  • Jute (brown): 140 yards
  • White: 2 yards
  • Yellow: 4 yards
  • Red: 4 yards
  • Orange: 3 yards
• Crochet Hooks: J/10/6.00mm, H/8/5.00mm
• Scissors
• Yarn Needle
• 15mm Black Safety Eyes (2) – optional

Gauge

• In sc with a 5.00mm hook: 8 sts = 2″; 8 rows = 2″
• In body of towel (griddle stitch) with a 6.00mm 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
• Rnd: round
• Rep: repeat
• Alt-dc: alternate double crochet
• Join yarn with a standing sc
• Join yarn with a standing dc

Pattern 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).
• Colors & Yardage:
  • Jute (brown): 140 yards
  • White: 2 yards
  • Yellow: 4 yards
  • Red: 4 yards
  • Orange: 3 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 black plastic safety eyes on top of crocheted whites for my towel, but have included instructions for black crochet eyes, if you prefer that instead.

Turkey Crochet Kitchen Towel Written Pattern

Turkey Head

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, * 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)   * Fasten off brown yarn. Change colors to yellow yarn.

Row 2: Join yellow yarn with a standing 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)  * Fasten off yellow yarn. Change colors to orange yarn.

Row 3: Join orange yarn with a standing 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)  * Fasten off orange yarn. Change colors to red yarn.

Row 4: Join red yarn with a standing 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)

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

Turkey 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), 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 Eyes, Beak & Snood. Approximate width of head is now 6.25″.

Whites of Eyes (Make 2)

Rnd 1 (RS): With white yarn and a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 2, work 8 hdc 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. Whites of eyes are approximately 1″ in diameter. Continue on to Pupils if you’re not using black safety eyes, or continue on to Beak if you are using safety eyes.

Pupils (Make 2)

Rnd 1 (RS): 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 Beak.

Beak

Snood

Row 1 (RS): With red yarn and a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 6, working into the back hump of the chain, sc in the 2nd ch from your hook, sl st in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, dc in the next ch, hdc in the last ch.  (5 sts)

Fasten off leaving a 10″ tail for sewing. Weave in beginning tail end. Snood is approximately 1.25″ L. Continue on to Adding Details.

Adding Details

Step 1: Insert the black craft eyes through the center of the whites of eyes, or sew the black crocheted pupils to the center of the whites of eyes using a yarn needle. Next, attach them to the head. I attached mine between rows 3 & 4 of the head. And placed them 1.125″ apart from center of one eye to the center of the next. The whites of the eyes will be almost touching. Weave in ends.

Step 2: Use a yarn needle and tail of yarn to attach the snood. See photos below for placement. Weave in ends.

Step 3: Use a yarn needle and tail of yarn to attach the beak. The right edge of the beak will be covering the top edge of the snood a little bit. See photos below. Weave in ends.