Hearthstone Textured Washcloth Free Pattern
Gauge
Gauge: 4 pattern repeats (8 rows) = 4 inches (10 cm) in the textured stitch pattern.
Why gauge matters: Gauge is simply how big your stitches turn out. If your stitches are looser than the pattern's, your cloth will come out larger than 8 inches; if tighter, it will be smaller. For a washcloth this is not a disaster — but a tighter gauge makes a denser, more durable cloth that holds up better to scrubbing and washing, while a very loose gauge makes a floppy, see-through cloth. So it is worth a quick check.
How to make a gauge swatch: Chain 12. Work 10 rows following the plain single crochet rows of the pattern (Row 2 style: ch 1, sc in each st across, turn). Lay the swatch flat and measure across the middle 8 rows with a ruler. If 8 rows measure about 4 inches, you are right on track. If your 8 rows measure more than 4 inches, your stitches are loose — try a hook one size smaller (US G-6 / 4.0 mm). If they measure less than 4 inches, your stitches are tight — try a hook one size larger (US I-9 / 5.5 mm).
Beginner Tips Before You Start
- Count your stitches at the end of every single row. The stitch count in parentheses is your best friend. If your count is off, you will know immediately — on the very row where the mistake happened — instead of ten rows later.
- Work your first stitch into the first stitch of the previous row, not into the turning chain. The turning chain (ch 1) does not count as a stitch in this pattern. If you accidentally work into it, your cloth will grow wider on one side. This is the single most common beginner mistake.
- Do not pull your yarn too tight. Tension is the hardest thing for new crocheters. Hold the yarn gently — snug, not strangling. If your hook squeaks or fights you, relax your grip. Your stitches should slide off the hook easily.
- Use stitch markers to mark your first and last stitch of each row for the first several rows. Place a marker in the very first stitch you make and the very last stitch you make. When you turn, the markers tell you exactly where the next row begins and ends.
- Keep your slip stitches loose. Slip stitches are naturally tight and can be hard to work into on the next row. Make them slightly looser than your single crochets so your hook slides in easily next time.
- Do not stress about perfection. Your first few rows may look uneven. Cotton yarn is forgiving, and blocking at the end squares everything up beautifully. Keep going — it gets easier with every row.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This washcloth is worked in a corner-to-corner style: you start at one corner with a single stitch, increase one stitch per row until you reach 20 stitches, work a straight section to form the square, then decrease one stitch per row back down to a single stitch at the opposite corner. The texture comes from alternating rows of plain single crochet with rows that mix single crochet and slip stitch in a staggered pattern. The work is turned at the end of every row.
Important note: The turning chain (ch 1) never counts as a stitch. Always work your first stitch into the first stitch of the previous row.
Increase Section (Rows 1–20)
Row 1: Ch 2. Work 1 sc into the 2nd ch from your hook. Turn. (1 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1. Work 2 sc into the first st (this is an increase). Turn. (2 sc)
Row 3: Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (3 sc)
Row 4: Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across, then work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (4 sc)
Row 5 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row. Work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 6 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across, then work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (6 sc)
Row 7 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row. Work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 8 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across, then work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (8 sc)
Row 9 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row. Work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (9 sts)
Row 10 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across, then work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (10 sc)
Row 11 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row. Work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (11 sts)
Row 12 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across, then work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (12 sc)
Row 13 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row. Work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (13 sts)
Row 14 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across, then work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (14 sc)
Row 15 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row. Work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (15 sts)
Row 16 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across, then work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (16 sc)
Row 17 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row. Work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (17 sts)
Row 18 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across, then work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (18 sc)
Row 19 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row. Work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (19 sts)
Row 20 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across, then work 2 sc into the last st. Turn. (20 sc)
Straight Section (Rows 21–40)
In this section you no longer increase — every row keeps exactly 20 stitches, which builds the square body of the cloth.
Row 21 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 22 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Row 23 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 24 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Row 25 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 26 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Row 27 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 28 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Row 29 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 30 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Row 31 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 32 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Row 33 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 34 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Row 35 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 36 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Row 37 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 38 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Row 39 (textured): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into the first st. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (20 sts)
Row 40 (plain): Ch 1. Work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (20 sc)
Decrease Section (Rows 41–59)
In this section you decrease one stitch at the beginning of every row, which tapers the cloth back down to a point at the opposite corner.
Row 41 (textured): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (19 sts)
Row 42 (plain): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (18 sc)
Row 43 (textured): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (17 sts)
Row 44 (plain): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (16 sc)
Row 45 (textured): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (15 sts)
Row 46 (plain): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (14 sc)
Row 47 (textured): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (13 sts)
Row 48 (plain): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (12 sc)
Row 49 (textured): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (11 sts)
Row 50 (plain): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (10 sc)
Row 51 (textured): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (9 sts)
Row 52 (plain): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (8 sc)
Row 53 (textured): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (7 sts)
Row 54 (plain): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (6 sc)
Row 55 (textured): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then repeat [sc in the next st, sl st in the next st] across the row, ending with 1 sc in the last st. Turn. (5 sts)
Row 56 (plain): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then work 1 sc into each st across. Turn. (4 sc)
Row 57 (textured): Ch 1. Work sc2tog over the first 2 sts. Then repeat [sl st in the next st, sc in the next st]
