This is a soft, simple, beginner-friendly crochet scrubbie washcloth pattern—small enough to use for dishes, gentle enough for your face or baby, and easily adaptable into a dishcloth or even a towel.
Get this Crochet Washcloth
- Free pattern: Keep scrolling for the FREE version of this crochet pattern or get the ad-free PDF
- Keep track of this project by adding it to your Ravelry Queue
- Sharing is Caring: Pin this post for later
Inspiration Behind This Crochet Scrubbie Washcloth Pattern
My mother taught me how to crochet when I was about 8 years old. Through my primary and secondary school years, I would pick up my hook now and then and make this simple scrubbie washcloth.
Back then, I worked with what I had—fingering weight acrylic yarn and a metal rose hook (which I later learned was a 0.5mm crochet hook). I didn’t think much about it at the time. I was simply practising… learning… making.
Sometimes I made it smaller for washing dishes. Other times, I made it a bit bigger to wipe down kitchen surfaces.
Looking back, I realise this little cloth became one of the most versatile things I knew how to make.
And now, I’m sharing it with you.
It’s simple, yes—but it carries years of learning, practice, and a quiet kind of love passed from one pair of hands to another.
About This Easy Crochet Scrubbie Washcloth Pattern
Although I first learned this pattern using a tiny hook and fingering-weight acrylic yarn, I’ve adapted this version to be a little more practical for everyday use.
For this easy crochet scrubbie washcloth pattern, I’ve used cotton DK yarn and a 3.5 mm crochet hook to create a fabric that is soft, durable, and absorbent—making it especially suitable for kitchen use, gentle cleansing, or everyday cleaning.
The stitches are simple and beginner-friendly, making this a lovely pattern to return to again and again. And just like the original, it remains beautifully versatile.
You can easily adjust the size depending on how you’d like to use it:
- Keep it small as a scrubbie for dishes
- Make it slightly larger for a face or baby washcloth
- Or extend it into a full dishcloth or towel
At its heart, this is still the same pattern I learned as a child—only now, shaped for the rhythm of everyday life.
With just a few simple materials, you can create your own version of this timeless little cloth.
What You’ll Love About This Beginner Crochet Washcloth
- Beginner-friendly and easy to memorise
- Works up quickly (perfect for practice or gifting)
- Soft with a gentle scrubbie texture
- Easily adjustable in size
- Can be used as a dishcloth, face cloth, or baby washcloth
Materials for This Crochet Scrubbie Washcloth Pattern
- DK weight cotton yarn
- 3.5 mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Tip:
- Use cotton yarn for kitchen use (dishcloths, scrubbing)
- Use soft acrylic or cotton blends for face or baby cloths
Gauge:
20 stitches & 11 rows = 4” x 4” in stitch pattern
Finished Size:
Approx. 5 x 6 inches (adjustable)
Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- st- stitch
- sl st- slip stitch
- sc- single crochet
- dc- double crochet
- rpt- repeat
- BLO- back loop only
- sc cluster- (sc, ch2, sc) in the same st
If you’re new to crochet, start here:
- Getting Started Guide that contains a tutorial for all the stitches used in this pattern:
Pattern Notes:
- This crochet scrubbie washcloth is worked in rows
- Turn your work at the end of each row
- The size is easily adjustable by chaining more or fewer stitches
- Keep your tension relaxed for a softer fabric
Easy Crochet Scrubbie Washcloth Pattern
Ch 32
Row 1: dc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across
Row 2: Ch 2 and turn.
Dc in the space between the first 2 dc from the previous row. Continue working 1 dc in each space between dc stitches across the row.
Work the final dc in the space between the last dc and the turning ch-2 from the previous row.
Row 3-15: Rpt row 2
Border:
Work evenly around the washcloth as follows:
- (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) across the side edge
- Ch 2 (first corner space)
- Work 30 sc evenly across the bottom edge
- Ch 2 (second corner space)
- (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) across the second side edge
- Ch 2 (third corner space)
- Sc in each st across the top edge
- Ch 2 (fourth corner space)
Join with a sl st in the BLO of the first st. Do not turn.
Rnd 2:
Working in the BLO:
- (Sc cluster, sk next st) around
- In each ch-2 corner space work:
(sc, ch 2, sc, ch 2, sc)
Join with a sl st to the first sc.
- Fasten off
- Weave in ends
How to Adjust This Crochet Washcloth Pattern
This is what makes this crochet scrubbie washcloth pattern so versatile:
- Smaller scrubbie: fewer chains, fewer rows
- Face or baby cloth: slightly larger with soft yarn
- Dishcloth: use cotton yarn and medium tension
- Dishtowel: extend rows for length
Same pattern… different purpose.
Simply add more chains for width and more rows for length based on the pattern gauge.
Using the gauge for this crochet scrubbie washcloth pattern:
| Use | Size | Starting Chain | Approximate Rows |
| Small scrubbie | 4.5 “ square | 25 | 12 |
| Washcloth/ Dishcloth | 8” square | 42 | 22 |
| Handtowel/ Dishtowel | 12” by 24” | 62 | 66 |
💛 Keep in mind that your final size may vary slightly depending on your yarn, hook size, and tension.
If your gauge is different or you’re using different materials, make your own swatch and from the measurements
- x stitches = 4 inches
- y rows = 4 inches
Then:
- Divide your stitches by 4 to find your stitches per inch
- Divide your rows by 4 to find your rows per inch
Finally:
- Desired width × stitches per inch = starting chain
- Desired length × rows per inch = approximate rows
Example:
If 20 stitches = 4 inches, then:
- 20 ÷ 4 = 5 stitches per inch
For an 8-inch washcloth:
8 × 5 = 40 starting chains
Make It Your Own
- Try textured yarns for extra scrubbing power
- Add a simple border for a neat finish
- Use stripes or colour changes
- Create matching sets for gifting
This little crochet scrubbie washcloth may be simple—but sometimes, the simplest patterns are the ones that stay with us the longest.
Whether you’re just beginning or picking up your hook again, I hope this becomes one of those pieces you return to—again and again.