Turkey Kitchen Towel - Free Crochet Towel Pattern

After receiving lots of love for my Farmhouse Striped Kitchen Towel and Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Towel, I knew I just had to make a few fun, festive towels for the upcoming holiday season. The Gingerbread Man Kitchen Towel was the first in this new series of crochet kitchen towels for the holidays and I was smitten. He got a little lonely hanging around by himself so I made him a Snowman Kitchen Towel friend. After releasing the first 2 characters, I received requests for a turkey kitchen towel for Thanksgiving. You can find the free crochet towel pattern in this post below, or an ad-free print friendly version on Love Crafts here, Ravelry here, or on Etsy here.

>> CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP TO RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER <<

This fall, I’ve been making new crochet kitchen towels, but I wanted them to be a little less traditional in style. Having to constantly pick up the towels off the floor and wash them because they’ve slipped off the oven handle yet again, gets old in a quick hurry. I love the way the Farmhouse Striped & Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Towels hang, but wanted something a little different for the Thanksgiving & Christmas crochet towels. I hope you love the simplicity of these towels and are excited to add a little fun to your Thanksgiving kitchen decor.

THE 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!

Turkey Kitchen 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: 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 (My favorite crochet hooks are the Clover Amour Hooks, I’ve never had an ache in my hand since switching)
Scissors
Yarn Needle
15mm Black Safety Eyes (2) – optional

Many of these materials are available for purchase through our affiliates below:

Gauge

In sc with a 5.00 mm hook: 8 sts = 2″; 8 rows = 2″
In body of towel with a 6.00 mm 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 – click HERE for the tutorial
standing sc: click HERE for the tutorial
standing dc: click HERE for the tutorial

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).
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 Dish Towel Instructions

Head

Row 1 (RS): With brown 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)

Do not fasten off. Continue on to Body of Towel. Approximate width of head at this point is 5.75″.

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 (click here for the tutorial), * 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 (click here for the tutorial), * 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) (click here for standing sc tutorial), 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

Row 1 (RS): With yellow yarn and a 5.00 mm crochet hook, ch 5, working into the back hump of the chain, sl st in the 2nd ch from your hook, hdc in the next ch, dc in each of the last 2 chs. (4 sts)

Fasten off leaving a 10″ tail for sewing. Weave in beginning tail end. Beak is approximately .75″ W x 1″ L. Continue on to Snood.

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.

Now that I’ve completed my Turkey Kitchen Towel, how do I hang it up?

Step 1 (photo A): With the turkey 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!

I COULDN’T RESIST THE URGE TO BE A LITTLE CHEESY.

If you love turkeys, my friend Sonya, from Blackstone Designs, has a couple of super cute turkey patterns for your kitchen too: Turkey Belly Pot Holder & Turkey Belly Flatware Holder. Click HERE for the Free Crochet Pot Holder Pattern and click HERE for the Free Crochet Flatware Holder Pattern.

MORE FREE CROCHET PATTERNS FROM A CROCHETED SIMPLICITY

If you enjoy this crochet pattern for your home, 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.

: Snowman Kitchen Towel

: Farmhouse Striped Kitchen Towel

: Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Towel

: Retro Christmas Tree Towel

: The Sun’s Out! Dish Scrubby

: Moroccan Grocery Bag Holder

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!

Please share your finished ACS projects with us in the A Crocheted Simplicity Crochet Community Group on Facebook! Use hashtag #ACrochetedSimplicity when sharing on social media so I can find your posts!