Cherry Blossom Ballet Towel: Free Crochet Pattern
Cherry Blossom Ballet Towel: Free Crochet Pattern
Introduction
This Cherry Blossom Ballet Towel is a sweet little kitchen project made for anyone who wants a soft, romantic touch in their home. It is a beginner-friendly pattern built almost entirely from single crochet, so you can relax and enjoy the rhythm of the stitches. The soft pink cotton has a gentle ridged texture from working in the back loop only, and a scatter of tiny cherry red flowers blooms near one end. It looks like a little piece of ballet-core romance, and it feels soft, absorbent, and ready to use.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Worsted weight (4) cotton yarn. Color A (soft pink): 250 yards. Color B (cherry red): 20 yards. Cotton is recommended for absorbency and durability.
- Hook: 5 mm (H/8) crochet hook.
- Notions: Tapestry needle for sewing flowers and weaving in ends, scissors, and a measuring tape.
- Finished size: 10" x 18" (25.5 cm x 45.5 cm).
Abbreviations
- ch – chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
- sc – single crochet: insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
- blo – back loop only: work into the loop of the stitch that is farthest from you.
- sl st – slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
- dc – double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.
- MR – magic ring: an adjustable loop used to start working in the round.
- rep – repeat: work the instruction again the stated number of times.
- sts – stitches.
Gauge
16 stitches x 12 rows = 4 inches in pattern (single crochet in back loop only). To check, crochet a small swatch and measure a 4-inch section; adjust your hook size if needed to match.
Tips Before You Start
- Work the body of the towel in the back loop only every row. This creates the pretty horizontal ridge texture and keeps your rows even.
- Keep your tension relaxed and consistent so the towel stays flat and absorbent rather than stiff.
- When working the edging, place your stitches evenly along the long sides so the border does not ripple or pull.
- Leave a 6" tail on each flower so you can use it to sew the flower in place and weave in the end afterward.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Towel (Color A)
Row 1: Ch 41, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (40 sts).
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in blo across (40 sts).
Rows 3-54: Repeat Row 2 (40 sts). Do not fasten off.
Edging (Color A)
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc evenly around the entire towel, working 3 sc in each corner. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Flowers (Color B) – make 5
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc into the ring. Join with sl st to first sc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: [Sl st in next st, ch 2, 2 dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st] repeat 5 times (6 petals). Fasten off, leaving a 6" tail.
Assembly and Finishing
Arrange the five flowers in a scattered cluster on one end of the towel, about 2" from the short edge. Using the yarn tails and a tapestry needle, sew each flower securely in place. Weave in all remaining ends on the wrong side. Block the towel lightly by misting with water and patting flat, then let it dry completely to even out the edging and flower shapes.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the cherry red flowers for white or pale yellow for a softer, more subtle look.
- Add a small hanging loop of chain stitches at one corner before the edging for easy storage.
- Use a contrasting color for the edging to frame the towel and make the flowers pop.
