Double Layer Towel Toppers
I have been working on a project of crocheted towel toppers. I wanted to be able to create the topper without cutting and eventually not having to machine sew the top of the towel. Another goal of the project was to have a double layer 2-ply towel. Here is my first finished double towel topper below.
All photos are clickable to view supersized
Here is a picture tutorial and free crochet pattern below for making a double towel topper.
Fold the towel in half with right sides facing out. Machine stitch along the top edge using a basting stitch.
Then using some cotton blend sport weight yarn and a steel #7 crochet hook, single crochet along the top edge through both layers of the towel.
Here is another method I used where I did not machine stitch along the top edge. The steps are fold, press, pin, and then single crochet along the top edge of the towel through both layers.
Again I used a steel crochet hook #7 to poke the holes for the first row. Then I switched to a “G” crochet hook after the first row to finish the towel topper.
Free Double Layer Towel Topper Crochet Pattern
Materials needed:
1- Kitchen towel or decorative towel
1- oz. Red Heart Carefree Cotton Blend – White used
1- 3/4″ button
Hooks:
#7 Steel hook
G (4 mm) USA size hook
Directions:
Using either the fold and stitch or fold and pin method, prepare top of towel to begin Sc stitching along top edge.
Row 1
Fold the towel exactly in half and using the steel crochet hook to poke holes, Sc evenly along the top edge of towel. (You will be Sc’g through both layers of the towel along the top edge.)
Row 2
Using the G crochet hook, Ch 2, turn. Dc in each st.
Row 3
Ch 4, turn. Tr in every other st.
Row 4
Ch 2, turn. Hdc in each st.
Row 5
Ch 2, turn. Hdc in every other st.
Row 6
Repeat rows 4 and 5 until you have just 6 sts remaining.
Handle:
Ch 2, turn. Hdc in ea st across. (6 sts) Repeat until your handle measures 6 inches long or longer if desired.
Next row: Ch 2, turn, work 2 Hdc in ea st. (12 sts)
Next row: Ch 2, turn. Hdc in the next 5 sts, Ch 1, skip middle st, Hdc in ea remaining st.
(Buttonhole created for 3/4″ button. For larger buttons, Ch 2+ for desired buttonhole size.)
Next row: Ch 2, turn. Hdc in ea st across to Ch 1 space, work 3 Hdc in the space, then Hdc in ea remaining st.
Next row: Turn. *Ch 5, Tr in sm st, skip 1 st, Sl St into next st*. Repeat between * to end of row.
Join with a Sl St into last st. FO.
Fold handle over and sew button in place.
If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.
Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Ea – Each
FO – Finish Off
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Dc – Double Crochet
RS – Right Side
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sm – Same
St – Stitch
Tr – Triple Crochet
This pattern is copyrighted by Cindy at My Recycled Bags {dot com} and may only be used for private individual use. No commercial sales or use is permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable. ©2008-2016
****Please do not copy my patterns on your blog site or post my patterns on Internet sites. I do not allow my patterns to be republished without expressed written permission. Posting of my patterns, without written permission is in violation of my copyrights and is content theft.
Tags: crochet, Double-layer-towel-topper, free-pattern, towel topper
Nov 08, 2008
Great idea for christmas gifts. Thanks for the pattern 🙂
Nov 08, 2008
This is so sweet–I love it. Just adorable. Lovely pattern and instructions.
Nov 08, 2008
I am a beginner. Making a copy of directions and will start tomorrow.
Nov 11, 2008
Beautiful!
I have a project idea for you. I’ll try to describe what I saw. It is a towel holder that fits over the handle of an oven door It is an approximately 7″x5″ oval (about 2 inches wide) with a slight indention on the long sides (looks sort of like a disconnected figure 8). Well, the top portion of the oval goes behind the oven handle and then goes through the lower half of the oval. A dish towel is inserted into and folded over the holder. The portion of the holder that is exposed can be embellished with a bow or other decoration. Anyway, if I had your skills, I’d give it a shot. Since I don’t, well, I’ll have to think on how I might accomplish something like it 🙂
Happy Autumn
Nov 11, 2008
Beautiful work!
Dec 06, 2008
I have been looking for this pattern for a long time. Thanks !!!
Dec 09, 2008
That is gorgeous and looks simple. Thanks for the great pattern!
Jul 24, 2009
I had a friend request doubled towels with crochet top. I was thrilled to find these simple instructions. Thank you!
Aug 23, 2009
This is a wonderful pattern, easy and cute! Thank you!
Aug 25, 2009
I have been making these towels like this for something like 7 years and selling them at a local restaurant here in town. Along with diagonal potholders and nylon scrubbies.I found patterns where you don’t put a button on the towel, you rearrange so that you leave a hole where you would attach the button and add a heart, a daisy, a ruffle or some other designs and pull it thru the hole you left where the button was supposed to be.
Sep 14, 2009
my mother-in-law requested some of these towels
for christmas. I have some trouble reading a pattern
this one sounds easy so I am going to try it. I am new
to this site. thank-you, cindy
Oct 05, 2009
I am new to crocheting and have been looking desperately for how to start the sc across the top of these towels. I was able to figured it out from your pictures. Thank you for showing such detail! Beautiful towels and great instructions. My first one turned out great!
Oct 28, 2009
Hey Cindy,
I just finished my first crocheted towel using the fold over method. I used an ice pick to poke holes in my towel and what a pain. When you baste stitch, do you single crochet in the basting stitches to get your first row? that would be alot easier than poking holes with an ice pick or crochet hook. I had to tear my out 3 times as I’ve never crocheted before but it doesn’t look to bad, but I love these towels and would like to make some more. I think the first row is the hardest, after that, it’s not to bad, if you know what you’re doing. I love what you did with this towel, very festive and gorgeous. Thanks for the tips.
Oct 31, 2009
Peggy:
I agree that the first row is a real pain. I use a small steel crochet hook to make the holes and then crochet that first row. Also I have used a thimble to help make the holes for the first row and this protects your fingers when you push the needle through the first row. The first row is very time consuming but once you have that row done, it’s easy. Switch to a big hook and crochet right along easily. When you baste the first row it does hold the towel in place but doesn’t help much with this first row issue. Try the small steel hook with a thimble and see if that helps. I found it did make it a little better. The towels are great though and the pain goes away when you see how nice the towel looks.
Nov 29, 2009
What I do is embroider a chain stitch across the middle of the towel to begin and then crochet the first row into the chain stitches. It works great.
Nov 29, 2009
Ellen,
I’ve seen that technique too. It looks very nice also. Thanks for sharing.
Jun 24, 2010
I was reading on another pattern where you can use a ticket punch to get the holes for the first row through the towel. I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds much easier than trying to use a hook.
Jun 25, 2010
@Jeanna: I used a hole punch in plastic but not in fabric as it would cut the cloth and threads. By using a crochet hook or knitting needle to make your holes, you aren’t cutting the threads in your towel. I would fear that it will fray as you wash it but let me know how it works out for you using a hole punch.
Dec 29, 2011
Thank you so much for posting this pattern. I see everyone has a hard time with that starting row. I use a little bigger regular sewing needle and make a simple buttonhole or blanket stitch across the top. Then sc in the stitches. Also after the second row I fold in both sides to meet in the back middle. Then procreed with connecting in with the next row. Works great. Thanks again. love it ! Bonus ruffle!
Jan 13, 2012
Thank you so much..
A friend of mine asked me to make them some kitchen towels. I had a pattern like this before, it disappeared somewhere. I have found the easiest way to make holes is using knitting needle.
Thanks for the pattern will try it out tomorrow.
Jan 22, 2012
I always do double towels but I start out with a whip stitch instead of punching holes in the towels.
How many stitches do you start with across the top?
Thank you
Jan 22, 2012
@Judy: I have seen the whip stitch method and its a good way to avoid the cutting and sewing of the towel too. As far as the holes, it doesn’t really matter how many you have. Try and keep it an even number and I just poke holes across the top edge not counting. I just place the stitches evenly along the top and work the pattern until I have the desired amount of stitches left to start the handle.
Mar 05, 2012
Thanks so much for sharing this pattern. I promised a dear friend that I would make some new hanging towels for her kitchen redo. Now to get out the crochet hook and get to work. Again…thanks!
Sep 17, 2012
Thank you so much for the pattern, instructions that are easy to understand and the pictures. This is what I’ve been searching for for a long time. Now to just get started. Motivation, motivation and more motivation! ;D I’ll be printing out the instructions tonight.
Joan
Oct 12, 2012
Thank you! It’s pretty and can’t wait to try my first towel topper!
Nov 12, 2012
Hey Cindy, looks like a great pattern but I’m new to crocheting and I did not see the number of sts to begin the pattern, do the number of sts not matter.
Nov 12, 2012
@Gloria — The number of stitches does not matter. Some towels are bigger or narrower so just do it evenly across the top. It’s helpful if the number of stitches are an even number but that doesn’t matter really either. If it’s off just do one less or more as needed at the handle. The first row is the hardest getting through the layers with the yarn but after that it’s easy and works up quickly. Best wishes on your towel topper and email me back if you need any help.
Nov 13, 2012
Thanks Cindy, I made one already and it looks real pretty, I plan to make many more, and please come up with more designs 🙂 I found your design the easiest and prettiest in so many that I looked at.
Sep 26, 2014
I had a pattern very similar to this but lost it so thought I would search online. I just think it is so nice of you to share your time and trouble for free, I just had to say thanks. I’m not much of a crocheter, but I just love these double towels. I think when I made mine (several years ago), I did the blanket stitch thing at the fold and it worked out fine.
Sep 26, 2014
Viv – Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I’d glad you found my towel topper pattern and let me know if you have any questions as you work the pattern. Best wishes and stop by again to visit.
Nov 22, 2014
I just finished my FIRST towel topper, LOVE IT, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I actually never thought I could do it.
Judy Chesney
Jan 12, 2015
Super easy pattern. Thanks for posting this. It took me about a half hour from start to finish.
Jan 13, 2015
@Lori — Thanks for the comment and glad to know the pattern worked out easily for you. Come visit again soon!
Oct 08, 2017
I know this sounds dumb but anyway—-could you tell me how to start out with the first row if I don’t double the towel. Thanks
Oct 17, 2017
Hi Vicky and I love all questions. I sent you an email about your question as I wasn’t sure how you wanted to use the towel. If you want to cut the towel in half, you will want to either machine or hand stitch the top edge so the fabric doesn’t fray and come apart after washing. You can do a folded-over hem or a simple zig zag stitch on your sewing machine along the top edge. Then just proceed with the pattern along the top edge of your towel to added the topper.
Best wishes and I hope you let me know how your towel topper comes out.
Mar 28, 2018
after i do a chain 2 at the end of the first row the directions say to dc in each stitch, does that mean i dc into the second chain from the hook or the last dc i did on that row…same with the 3rd row..after doing chain 4, do i tc in the 2nd chain or tc in 2nd dc i did at the end of the row? I feel so stupid asking..i hope i made myself clear..
Mar 30, 2018
Pat – Row 1 is your single crochet base row so at the end you turn and I do a chain 2 to start row 2. DC in each stitch across for row 2 not in any of the turning chain stitches. Row 3 you chain 4 to start and again only work triple-crochet (TR) stitches into the actual stitches of the prior row. Don’t work in the turning chain. You want your stitches all lined up in each other. Hope that helps. Email me back if you have any questions or run into problems.
Mar 30, 2018
Thank you so much…it all makes sense when you described it…duh, i should have known…:)
Sep 21, 2018
How many sc in the first row?
Sep 22, 2018
@Karen- The number of stitches on the first row does not matter. Some towels are bigger or narrower so just do it evenly across the top. It’s helpful if the number of stitches are an even number but that doesn’t matter really either. If it’s off just do one less or more as needed at the handle. It all works out either way. Best wishes on your towel topper.
Dec 01, 2018
Hi Cindy:
Thank you so much for your great folded towel topper tutorial. I think this would make such a nice, thicker towel since it isn’t cut in half. Your instructions and photos make it easy to crochet this topper, and I so appreciate your additional information on how to pin the top since I don’t have a sewing machine right now!
Thanks also for the tip on using the small steel crochet hook to poke the beginning holes into the top of the towel. (Yes, I’ve crocheted towel toppers before and although they turned out really nice, it was a pain to cut the towel, fold over the cut end, baste it down, and then come back poking holes to crochet through. All this and I hadn’t even started crocheting on it yet! What preparation!) Your method will be easier to get it started.
Also, I read all of the comments and am making note of all the varied suggestions that others have given as to how they started their towels! Wonderful information and ideas! Thanks everyone!
And thanks again, Cindy…. This is a lovely and different towel topper pattern!
Jan 22, 2019
I just wanted to say thank you for posting this crochet pattern. I love it, it’s so pretty. I’ve made right many of these and continue to make them. They make lovely gifts.
Jan 23, 2019
Thanks Rachel! So glad you are enjoying the towel topper pattern. I have several different ones so hope you try some of the other patterns too.
Feb 22, 2019
After being away from crocheting for 30 years, I tried this pattern and worked through it but ended up with only 3 scallops at the end of the handle. Help!
Feb 27, 2019
@Mary – I sent you an email with more details and glad to hear back that you found your issue with the pattern. Please contact me back should you have any problems or questions with any of my patterns. I am always happy to help.
Dec 15, 2019
Thank you for the pattern. I had instructions and can’t find them. I like yours better.
Dec 15, 2019
@Sandra – So glad you found the pattern. Best wishes!
Jun 05, 2020
Thanks for your pattern. I really loved the shape of button hole end. I only had 8 ply cotton and was still happy with the outcome.
Nov 16, 2020
Thank you for the pattern. It looks fun and easy to do.