A simple, textured hand towel using soft half double crochet variations.
There’s something special about adding handmade touches to the spaces we use every day. This half double hand towel is beginner-friendly and works beautifully in cotton yarn. Take a mindfulness moment as you stitch, offering well wishes to the home it will hang in.
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly with minor stitch variations
Gauge: 12 hdc stitches and 10 rows = 4" × 4" (10 × 10 cm)
Pattern Notes:
This project uses basic crochet stitches, color changes, working into the third loop, and a simple shell border.
If you’d like to deepen your mindful moment, try the included HDC breathing exercise.
The project can be adjusted for other sizes. My sample towel measures 12 inches wide and 17 inches long. To make it wider, chain any multiple of 7, then add 2 extra chains for the turning chain.
Stitches (US Terms):
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- hdc in 3rd loop = Half double crochet worked in the third loop
- dc = double crochet
- st = stitch(es)
- sp = space
- sk = skip
Hey, I’m Abby!
The hands and heart behind Yarnful Mind. I’m a stay-at-home mom, wife, and longtime lover of yarn. I turn to crochet not just for creativity, but for calm. What started as a way to quiet my depressingly anxious mind has grown into something much bigger: a gentle space where I can share patterns, mindful moments, and the slow magic of making.
Stitch slow, breathe deep, stay mindful.
Towel Body
Foundation Chain
Ch 37 [35 + 2 for turning]
To make the hand towel wider, chain any multiple of 7, then add 2 extra chains for the turning chain.
Row 1
In the 3rd chain from the hook, work hdc into each ch across [35 hdc]
Rows 2–10
Ch 1, hdc in the same stitch (counts as first hdc). Hdc across. Turn. [35 hdc]
Make a color change on row 10, finish the last hdc in row 10 with Yarn B
Well Wishing
When you complete this hand towel, set a timer for five minutes. Spend this time thinking about the home it is for. Imagine who will use it, where it will be, and how it might look years from now. Picture it when it is worn from use, softened with love, and carrying countless memories. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back.
Your hands made something beautiful, something that may be overlooked at times. Yet you gave it care and attention. For all the small moments it will hold, you have given it love.
Row 11
Ch 1, hdc in the same stitch (counts as first hdc). (Ch 1, skip 1, hdc in next) Repeat 16 times. Hdc in last st. Turn. [18 hdc, 17 ch sp]
Row 12
Ch 1, hdc in the same stitch (counts as first hdc). Hdc in each hdc and ch-1 space across. Turn. [35 hdc]
Row 13
Ch 1, hdc in the third loop of the same stitch (counts as first hdc). Hdc in the third loop of each stitch across. Turn. [35 hdc through 3rd loop]
Row 14
Repeat Row 11. [18 hdc, 17 ch sp]
Color change on the last hdc. Finishing the stitch with Yarn A.
On the finished towel, the right side displays a line of V’s formed by the third loop hdc row.
Row 15
Repeat Row 12. [35 hdc]
Row 16 and Beyond
Ch 1, hdc in the same stitch (counts as first hdc). Hdc across. Turn. [35 hdc]
Continue working even hdc rows until you reach your desired length.
I ended my towel at Row 41.
Border
Round 1
Continue with Yarn A. With the right side facing up
Ending on an odd-numbered row ensures your work is facing up, or look for the line of “V’s” from the hdc third loop row.
Ch 1, 3 sc into the corner.
Work along the lengthwise edges, alternating 1 sc and 2 sc to match the height of the hdc stitches.
See the image below for how I picked up stitches along the long edge.
Work 3 sc into the corner.
Work 1 sc into each stitch along the top.
Work 3 sc into the corner.
Work along the length edges, alternating 1 sc, 2 sc.
Work 1 sc into each stitch along the bottom.
Join to the first sc with a sl st. Fasten off.
Round 2
Attach Yarn B with a sl st to any stitch along a lengthwise side.
Sl st into each sc until you reach a 3-sc corner group.
Sl st into the first sc, 3 sc into the second sc, sc in each of the next 2 sts.
(Sk 2, 6 dc in next st, sk 2, sc in next st) repeat 4 times. [Sample has 5 shells total along the short edges]
Sc in next st, 3 sc in next st, sl st in next st.
Sl st into each st along the next lengthwise side. Repeat the short edge shell sequence on the opposite end: sl st into first sc, 3 sc into second sc, sc in next 2 sts, (sk 2, 6 dc in next st, sk 2, sc in next st) repeat 4 times, sc in next st, 3 sc in next st, sl st in next st.
Finishing
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Thank You
Thank you for supporting my work. Every time someone tries a pattern or shares their creation, it truly helps me grow and keep creating. Your support means the world as I continue to build this mindful, creative space. I have some more free patterns with mindfulness prompts always included.
I would love to see how you made this hand towel your own. Explore ways to share your creations with me. Seeing your finished projects inspires me and reminds me why I love sharing these patterns.
This pattern is protected by copyright and is intended for personal use only. Please do not copy, redistribute, or claim it as your own. By following the pattern and sharing your work with me, you are helping me continue creating and growing this space for mindful crochet.
Please do not copy, repost, or distribute this pattern as your own. You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern, but please credit Yarnful Mind as the designer. Thank you for supporting my work and honoring creative boundaries.