Feb
The Basic Square Pattern I Always Go Back To
So I made my first actual face cloth back in January 2023 when I was stuck at home with that weird flu that was going around. I’d been crocheting random stuff for years but never anything practical like this. Anyway, the simplest pattern is just a basic square using single crochet stitches throughout. You’re gonna want cotton yarn because it needs to be absorbent and machine washable.
I used Lily Sugar’n Cream that time—the yellow one, I think it was called “Sunshine” or something. It’s cheap and you can find it literally anywhere. Peaches & Crème is the same thing basically, different brand name. Both work fine. Don’t use acrylic because it’s plastic and you’re trying to wash your face with it which seems counterproductive.
Chain about 30 stitches to start. This gives you roughly an 8-inch cloth when you’re done, maybe a bit smaller depending on how tight you crochet. Then just single crochet back and forth. Chain 1, turn at the end of each row. Keep going until it’s square. That’s it. I know people get all fancy with their patterns but honestly this works perfectly fine.
Why Cotton Yarn Specifically
Cotton absorbs water. Acrylic just kinda pushes it around on your face. I learned this the hard way when I made one with some Red Heart Super Saver I had lying around because I didn’t feel like going to the store. Total waste of time. It felt like rubbing a plastic bag on my face.
The other thing about cotton is it gets softer after you wash it a few times. Brand new Sugar’n Cream is actually kind of stiff and scratchy, which really annoyed me at first because I thought I’d done something wrong. But after three or four washes it softens up considerably. Just gotta be patient with it.
Actual Measurements and Hook Sizes
I use a 5mm hook (H hook in US sizing). Some people say go smaller for a tighter weave, some say bigger for a more exfoliating texture. I tried a 4mm once and my hand cramped up so badly I had to stop halfway through—cotton yarn is not as forgiving as acrylic when you’re working tight stitches.
For yarn amount, one ball of Sugar’n Cream (2.5 oz) makes about 3-4 face cloths depending on size. I usually make mine around 8×8 inches because anything bigger feels too floppy and anything smaller is hard to grip when it’s wet and soapy.
The Annoying Border Situation
So the edges on a basic single crochet square curl inward and look kind of sloppy. This drove me insane for the longest time. What fixed it for me was adding a simple border—just single crochet around the entire edge once you finish the square. When you get to corners, do 3 single crochets in the same stitch to make it turn properly.
The tricky part is crocheting along the side edges where you have all those row ends. You kinda have to eyeball it and stick your hook through wherever it fits. I usually do one stitch per row but sometimes skip one if it’s getting too bunchy. There’s no exact science to it and anyone who tells you there is… well, they probably learned from actual patterns unlike me.
Different Texture Options
If you want something more exfoliating, half double crochet creates a slightly bumpier texture. Same process—chain your starting chain, then half double crochet back and forth until it’s square. Uses a bit more yarn than single crochet though.
There’s also this thing called the moss stitch or linen stitch where you alternate single crochet and chain 1 across the row. It makes a nice textured fabric that’s good for face cloths. The pattern is: chain an even number, then Row 1 is single crochet across. Row 2 is *chain 1, skip 1 stitch, single crochet in next stitch* repeated across. Then you just repeat Row 2 forever until it’s the size you want.
I made a few of these while watching that show Shrinking—the one with Jason Segel? Pretty good show actually. Anyway, the moss stitch ones turned out nice but they took longer than I expected because you’re constantly doing that chain-1-skip pattern.
Color Choices That Actually Matter
Light colors show stains. I made a white one thinking it would look all spa-like and fancy, and after two weeks it had these gross grayish marks that wouldn’t come out even with bleach. Stick to medium or dark colors. The variegated Sugar’n Cream colors work great because they hide everything.
Also some of the really bright colors from Peaches & Crème bleed a little bit in the first few washes. Not terrible but something to know if you’re making a whole set and don’t want pink dye on your cream-colored towels.
Circular Face Cloths Because Why Not
You can also make round ones if you’re bored of squares. Start with a magic ring or chain 4 and join. Then just increase in a circular pattern—Round 1 is like 8 single crochets in the ring. Round 2 is 2 single crochets in each stitch. Round 3 is *2 single crochet in first stitch, 1 single crochet in next stitch* around. Keep increasing evenly until it’s the size you want.
These ruffle up less than squares but they’re harder to store neatly folded. I have a drawer full of them just kind of stuffed in there. My cat likes to pull them out and bat them around the bathroom floor at 3am which is super helpful.
Making Them Actually Eco-Friendly
The whole point of making these is supposedly to reduce waste from disposable cotton rounds or whatever. But if you’re buying new cotton yarn specifically for this, I don’t know how eco-friendly it actually is? I guess if you use each cloth for a year or two it balances out.
What I started doing is using them for makeup removal and face washing, then when they get too stained or worn out, they become cleaning rags for the kitchen. Then after that they go in the trash. Feels slightly less wasteful that way.
You gotta wash them frequently though. I throw mine in with towels on hot water. They hold up fine. I’ve had some for over a year now and they’re still intact, just a bit fuzzy.
The Pattern I Wish I’d Known About Earlier
There’s this really simple textured pattern that’s just alternating rows of single crochet and half double crochet. Row 1 all single crochet, Row 2 all half double crochet, repeat. It creates this subtle ridged texture that’s perfect for gentle exfoliation without being scratchy.
I stumbled onto this by accident when I forgot which row I was on and just did whatever stitch felt right. Turned out better than the ones where I was actually paying attention to what I was doing.
Size Variations for Different Uses
Small ones around 4×4 inches work good for eye makeup removal. Medium 8×8 is standard face washing size. You could make bigger ones like 10×10 or 12×12 for body use in the shower but at that point you’re basically making a washcloth which is… I mean you can just buy washcloths pretty cheap so I don’t really see the point unless you specifically want to use up yarn stash.
I made a bunch of the tiny 4×4 ones as gifts once and people seemed to like them? Or they were just being polite. Hard to say. But they’re quick to make—maybe 20 minutes each once you get into a rhythm.
The main thing is just using cotton yarn and making sure the fabric is dense enough that it won’t fall apart when wet but not so tight that it’s stiff and uncomfortable. Everything else is just personal preference about texture and size and whether you care about the edges curling or not.
