Waffle Stitch Washcloth Free Crochet Pattern

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If you love textured crochet stitches and practical projects, you’ll adore this free pattern for a waffle stitch washcloth! The waffle stitch creates a thick, absorbent fabric, making it perfect for the bathroom or the kitchen.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy project or a handmade gift idea, this washcloth is both useful and fun to crochet. Grab your favorite fine cotton yarn and let’s get started! Keep reading for the free pattern or you can purchase the ad-free PDF version here.

Stitches

The waffle stitch is one of my favorite stitch combinations—it’s simple, yet the texture looks so impressive! I love that so much variety can be created from just two stitches and that each side looks uniquely beautiful.

Related: Harbor Crochet Face Cloth

The main stitches you’ll use are the double crochet and the front post double crochet. Both are simple stitches that are easy to master.

For the border, you’ll do a round of single crochets, two rounds of single crochets, and a final round of single crochets. It is super quick and easy.

One thing to note on the border is that I used 3 single crochets every 2 rows, instead of 2 stitches at the end of each row like I normally use for rows of double crochets. I am not sure if it was the yarn and hook size combo that made the waffle stitch rows a little more squished than normal rows of double crochets or what. When I tried using 2 stitches at the end of each row, the washcloth rippled badly.

Related: Waffle Stitch Dishcloth

If you find that the border isn’t laying flat with 3 scs every 2 rows, like written in the pattern, you can try 2 scs at the end of each row. Maybe I just had super tight tension with this pattern.

Yarn

I’ve used Cotton Fair by Premier Yarns for another washcloth pattern, the Softest Crochet Baby Washcloth pattern, and I loved it.

It is a Category 2, Fine Weight Cotton Acrylic Blend that is soft, has great drape, and is easy to work with. There are 34 color options so you should be able to find the perfect colors to match your decor.

Related: Crochet Dishcloth Patterns

I will say that the Succulent color I used wasn’t what I expected. In the pictures, it looks like a soft greenish blue but in person, it is definitely a pretty blue. The color didn’t pick up well on my camera and I had to make adjustments while editing so I understand why the pictures online look different than it does in real life. Either way, it is a beautiful color, just not what I expected.

Skill Level

I rated this pattern as at an Easy Skill Level. It isn’t hard, but probably not a great beginner project.

If you are an adventurous beginner, you might want to work through the waffle stitch tutorial before trying the washcloth. Washcloths and dishcloths are great for learning new stitch patterns since they are small and quick.

Waffle Stitch Washcloth Free Crochet Pattern

Skill Level: Easy

Gauge: 4” x 4” = 20 sts by 14 rows taken in waffle stitch pattern

Finished Size:  11” x 11”

Supplies

US size F/5, 3.75 mm crochet hook

Premier Cotton Fair Yarn (#2 Fine weight yarn, 52% Cotton, 48% Acrylic, 3.5 oz/100 g, 317 yds/290m)

• Samples used approximately 172 yds (1.9 oz) in Succulent or Coral

Large Eye Yarn Needle

Scissors

Abbreviations

ch: chain
dc: double crochet
st(s): stitch(es)
fpdc: front post double crochet
tc: turning chain (the chain 2 at the start of the previous row)
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch

Notes

To adjust the size, keep the starting chain a multiple of 3 + 2 and either add or take away rows.

My washcloths benefited from a good blocking. I pinned and steamed them, but a full wet blocking would have been better.

Normally when adding a border around rows of double crochets, I’ll place 2 stitches at the end of each row, but I found that didn’t work with this pattern. The waffle stitch made the rows just short enough that using 3 stitches every 2 rows didn’t cause puckering. If your border isn’t sitting right, you may want to try 2 stitches at the end of each row.

Waffle Stitch Washcloth Pattern Instructions

Ch 53

Row 1: dc in 4 ch from hook and in each st across, turn.

Row 2: ch 2 (counts as 1st dc), *fpdc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, repeat from * until the last 2 sts; fpdc in next st, dc in top of ch, turn.

Row 3: ch 2 (counts as 1st dc), *dc in next st, fpdc in the next 2 sts, repeat from *until the last 2 sts; dc in next st, dc in top of ch, turn.

Row 4-32: Repeat rows 2 and 3

Border

The first round of the border is done in single crochet stitches, then 2 rows of double crochet stitches, then a final round of single crochets.

Round 1: Ch 1,

Top: sc in each st, (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner,

Side 1: 3 sc for every 2 rows, (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner,

Bottom: sc in each st, (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner,

Side 2: 3 sc for every 2 rows, (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner, join with sl st to beg sc.

Rounds 2-3: ch 1, dc in each st around placing (dc, ch 1, dc) in each ch-1 sp in the corners, join with sl st to beg dc.

Round 4: ch 1, sc in each st around placing (sc, ch 1, sc) in each ch-1 sp in the corners, join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off and weave in ends.