Free Crochet Pattern: Christmas Tree Dishcloth
I’m getting ready for the biggest gift-giving holiday with this pretty, festive, and easy-to-whip-up dishcloth. I love putting crocheted wash cloths in a little hostess gift bag along with some pretty handmade soaps or a holiday scented foaming pump.
Office party? Gift exchange? Visiting friends and family and want to make a little handmade goodness to bring along for a surprise present or as a thank you gift? Kitchen gift? Add a small liquid dish soap from the Dollar store. Easy, pretty, thoughtful.
Here’s a great little stocking stuffer that you can whip up in a hurry. Enjoy!
Pattern Essentials
- Hook: I:5.5mm
- Yarn: Size 4, 100% cotton yarn
- Finished Size: Approximately 8” square
Crochet Abbreviations Stitches & Notes
Abbreviations
- sts = stitches
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- sc2tog = single crochet 2 together
Special Stitches
Moss Stitch is sc followed by ch 1, repeated across a row. Moss Stitch is the resulting fabric when it is repeated row after row, in subsequent rows sc is worked in the ch 1 space from the previous row.
For the border, sc2tog: Insert hook in st or sp indicated, yo, pull up loop, insert hook into next stitch, yo, pull loop up, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Notes
Changing Colors as You Stitch: As you work through a moss stitch row that changes colors, you’ll start with white yarn and switch to red yarn to make the stitches for the Christmas tree then you’ll switch back to white yarn, drop the red yarn (take care in your keeping it to the wrong side), and finish the row in white only. The “moss stitch” stitch pattern is made by repeating [sc, ch 1]. When changing color from WHITE to RED or switching back from RED to WHITE at the end of the row, you’ll work the sc completely in the current color then drop the current color and pick up the next color then make the ch 1 stitch and continue.
Carry White Yarn, Drop Red Yarn: When changing colors, White to Red: Switch colors as described above by making the sc completely in white, drop the white yarn, yarn over with red yarn, chain 1, then continue the moss stitch pattern and CARRY ALONG THE WHITE YARN by working your moss stitches OVER the white yarn as you work to the other end of the row where you will DROP the red and pick up the white. The white gets carried along because you need it at the other end of the row to finish the row. The red yarn will be dropped and remains hanging, do not carry it along; instead you’ll pick up the red in the next row when you need it again. There are pairs of rows (right side row then wrong side row) using red yarn to make the Christmas tree.
The Free Pattern – Instructions:
Starting Chain: 29 sts, must be multiple of 2, an even number, +1 to turn and start Row 1.
Row 1: sc in 2nd st after hook, *sc in next st, ch1, skip 1 stitch* , repeat *to* 12 more times, sc in last stitch. ch1 and turn. (28 sts)
Row 2: sc in first st, sc in the first ch1 space (it’s the very next st), ch1, skip 1 stitch, *sc in the next ch1 space, ch1, skip 1 stitch* repeat *to* 11 more times, sc in last stitch. Ch1 and turn. (28 sts)
Row 3 is the first row where you change from white to red for the Christmas tree stitches, be sure to read the Notes on how to change colors and when to carry along the white yarn, when to drop the red yarn.
Row 3: sc in first st, sc in ch1 space, CHANGE TO RED and CARRY WHITE ALONG, ch1, *sc in ch1 space, ch1, skip next stitch* repeat *to* 10 more times changing back to WHITE (drop RED) to make last ch1, sc in ch1 space, ch1, sc in last stitch. Ch1 and turn. (28 sts)
- ROW 3 SUMMARY:
- White: sc, 1 Moss Stitch
- Red: 11 Moss Stitch
- White: 1 Moss Stitch, sc
Row 4: sc in first st, sc in ch1 space, ch1, skip 1 stitch, sc in ch1 space, CHANGE TO RED and CARRY WHITE ALONG, ch1, *sc in ch1 space, ch1, skip next stitch* repeat *to* 9 more times changing back to WHITE (drop RED) to make last ch1, sc in ch1 space, ch1, sc in last stitch. Ch1 and turn. (28 sts)
- ROW 4 SUMMARY:
- White: sc, 2 Moss Stitch
- Red: 10 Moss Stitch
- White: 1 Moss Stitch, sc
Rows 5 and 6: Repeat Row 2
Row 7: sc in first st, sc in ch1 space, ch1, skip 1 stitch, sc in ch1 space, CHANGE TO RED and CARRY WHITE ALONG, ch1, *sc in ch1 space, ch1, skip next stitch* repeat *to* 9 more times changing back to WHITE (drop RED) to make last ch1, sc in ch1 space, ch1, sc in last stitch. Ch1 and turn. (28 sts)
- ROW 7 SUMMARY:
- White: sc, 2 Moss Stitch
- Red: 9 Moss Stitch
- White: 2 Moss Stitch, sc
Row 8: sc in first st, sc in ch1 space, ch1, skip 1 stitch, sc in ch1 space, ch1, skip 1 stitch, sc in ch1 space, CHANGE TO RED and CARRY WHITE ALONG, ch1, *sc in ch1 space, ch1, skip next stitch* repeat *to* 8 more times changing back to WHITE (drop RED) to make last ch1, sc in ch1 space, ch1, skip 1 stitch, sc in ch1 space, ch1, sc in last stitch. Ch1 and turn. (28 sts)
- ROW 8 SUMMARY:
- White: sc, 3 Moss Stitch
- Red: 8 Moss Stitch
- White: 2 Moss Stitch, sc
Rows 9 and 10: Repeat Row 2
Row 11 and 12: Complete like rows 3 and 4 continuing to reduce red moss stitches (28 sts)
- ROW 11 SUMMARY:
- White: sc, 3 Moss Stitch
- Red: 7 Moss Stitch
- White: 3 Moss Stitch, sc
- ROW 12 SUMMARY:
- White: sc, 4 Moss Stitch
- Red: 6 Moss Stitch
- White: 3 Moss Stitch, sc
Rows 13 and 14: Repeat Row 2
Row 15 and 16: Complete like rows 3 and 4 continuing to reduce red moss stitches (28 sts)
- ROW 15 SUMMARY:
- White: sc, 4 Moss Stitch
- Red: 5 Moss Stitch
- White: 4 Moss Stitch, sc
- ROW 16 SUMMARY:
- White: sc, 5 Moss Stitch
- Red: 4 Moss Stitch
- White: 4 Moss Stitch, sc
Rows 17 and 18: Repeat Row 2
Row 19 and 20: Complete like rows 3 and 4 continuing to reduce red moss stitches (28 sts)
- ROW 19 SUMMARY:
- White: sc, 5 Moss Stitch
- Red: 3 Moss Stitch
- White: 5 Moss Stitch, sc
- ROW 20 SUMMARY: This is the last row you will use the red yarn but you should cut the yarn leaving about 8 inches so you have a long enough tail to use for creating a star at the top of the tree if you wish.
- White: sc, 6 Moss Stitch
- Red: 2 Moss Stitch
- White: 5 Moss Stitch, sc
Rows 21 to 24: Repeat Row 2
Border Rows:
Round 1: With White, after Ch1 and turn from the final row:
- sc2tog across the top (14 sts) then 2 more sc in the corner to make the turn.
- Continue sc2tog down the side (sc in each of 24 rows) (12 sts) then 2 more sc in the corner to make the turn.
- sc2tog across the bottom (14 sts) then 2 more sc in the corner to make the turn.
- Continue sc2tog up the last side (12 sts) then 2 more sc in the corner and slip stitch to first stitch to join
Round 2: With Red, join then ch1 and turn from the previous row. Then hdc in each stitch, 3 hdc in each corner, continue around and slip stitch to first stitch, cut yarn leaving enough to weave in.
Finishing off: Finish off with a slip stitch, pull tight.
To make the star at the top use the tail leftover from Row 20, insert the needle from the back to the front in the stitch between your last two red stitches. Go up two rows and back through the fabric. Continue stitching as many star lines as you wish. Then weave the leftover ends on the back side.
Weave all your other ends and enjoy!
If you’ve made this pattern or have any questions, please comment here or tag me on Instagram. I’d love to see what you’ve made.
Be creative & keep creating!
~Beccie B~