Feb
Making the Basic Round Scrubbie
So I started making these in spring 2022 when I got really annoyed at throwing away cotton rounds every single day. Like the waste was just piling up and I kept thinking there had to be a better way. I used Red Heart Scrubby yarn in that light purple color because that’s what Walmart had and honestly it worked fine. You’re gonna want to start with a magic circle if you know how to do that, but if not just chain 4 and slip stitch it into a circle. Not as clean but whatever, it works.
First round is like 8 single crochets into that circle. Pull the magic circle tight if you did that method. Then you’re basically increasing every round until it’s about the size of your palm, maybe 3-4 inches across. I wasn’t measuring anything because I was watching Stranger Things and just kind of eyeballing it.
Second round do 2 single crochets in each stitch around so you’ll have 16 stitches. Third round is increase, single crochet, increase, single crochet—you get the pattern. Keep going until it’s wide enough to actually cover your cheek area when you’re wiping off makeup.
The Annoying Part Nobody Talks About
Here’s what drove me absolutely crazy: the yarn splits SO MUCH when you’re working with it. That Red Heart Scrubby is textured which is great for exfoliating but your hook catches on the little loops constantly. I probably had to redo stitches like twenty times on my first batch because I’d accidentally split the yarn and create this weird half-stitch situation. You just gotta go slower than you think you need to and maybe size up your hook. I used a 5mm hook even though the yarn called for smaller because it was easier to work with.
Cotton vs Scrubby Yarn
I also made some with regular cotton yarn—I think it was Lily Sugar’n Cream in white—and those were way easier to crochet but they don’t have that scrubby texture. They’re softer though so if you have sensitive skin or you’re just using them with micellar water to wipe off light makeup, cotton works great. The scrubby yarn ones are better for like waterproof mascara or when you’ve got a full face on.
You could also do a double layer thing where one side is scrubby yarn and one side is soft cotton but honestly that seemed like too much work for something I’m just using to wipe my face.
Size and Shape Options
Most people make them round but I’ve done square ones too. For square you just chain like 12 or 15 (depending how big you want it) and then single crochet back and forth in rows. Turn at the end of each row, chain one, and keep going until it’s square shaped. These are actually faster to make than the round ones because you don’t have to count increases.
I made a bunch last summer 2024 when my cousin asked me to make her some for a birthday gift and I did the square ones because I was trying to finish them quickly. They work exactly the same, just a different shape.
Some people make them oval shaped but I don’t really see the point? Like your face isn’t oval when you’re holding a pad up to it, you’re just pressing it against your skin.
How Many to Make
I’d say make at least 10-12. You’re gonna use one or two per day depending on how much makeup you wear, and you don’t want to be doing laundry every other day just for face scrubbies. I made 15 initially and that lasted me about a week before I had to wash them.
They’re pretty quick once you get the hang of it. Each one takes maybe 10-15 minutes if you’re watching TV or whatever. I made a whole batch while my cat was being weird and running around at like 11pm, just sitting on the couch crocheting circles.
Washing and Care
Just throw them in a mesh laundry bag and wash with your towels. I use hot water because I want them actually clean and I figure hot water kills more bacteria from sitting on my face. The scrubby yarn ones hold up really well in the wash. The cotton ones can get a little dingy over time if you’re using them for heavy makeup, so I have separate ones for like everyday light makeup and ones for when I’ve worn foundation and stuff.
Don’t put fabric softener on them because it makes them less absorbent and kind of defeats the purpose.
Storage
I keep mine in a little basket next to my bathroom sink. Used ones go in a small wet bag (like the kind people use for cloth diapers) until I wash them. Don’t just leave wet used ones sitting in a pile because they’ll get mildewy and gross.
Actual Usage Tips
For regular makeup I just wet the scrubbie with warm water and use my regular face cleanser on it. Rub it around your face in circles like you would with a disposable cotton round. For eye makeup you might want to use micellar water or makeup remover on the scrubbie first, let it sit on your closed eye for a few seconds, then wipe.
The texture is surprisingly gentle even with the scrubby yarn. I thought it would be too rough but it’s not. It’s like… exfoliating but not scratchy if that makes sense.
You can also use them in the shower which is nice. I keep a few in my shower caddy and use them with face wash in there. Way easier than trying to wash your face over the sink and getting water everywhere.
Yarn Recommendations Based on What I’ve Tried
Red Heart Scrubby—works great, comes in lots of colors, affordable. The texture is perfect for what you need. It’s 100% polyester so it dries fast which is good.
Lily Sugar’n Cream cotton—this is the standard cotton yarn everyone uses. It’s fine. Nothing special but it gets the job done. Comes in a million colors.
I tried Bernat Handicrafter Cotton once and it was basically the same as Sugar’n Cream, maybe slightly softer but I’m not sure if I was imagining it.
Someone told me to try bamboo yarn because it’s antibacterial or something but I haven’t gotten around to it yet. Might be worth trying if you’re worried about bacteria.
Problems I Ran Into
Made some that were too small at first and they were basically useless. You need them big enough to actually hold comfortably and cover enough surface area. Aim for at least 3 inches across, 4 inches is better.
Also made some that were too loose and floppy because I wasn’t keeping consistent tension. They still worked but they weren’t as nice to use. Try to keep your stitches fairly tight so the scrubbie has some structure to it.
The edges can curl up on the cotton ones sometimes. If that bothers you, you can do a round of slip stitches around the edge at the end to flatten it out, or just block them but that seems excessive for face scrubbies honestly.
Variations People Do
Some people make them with two layers stitched together which makes them thicker and more absorbent. You just make two circles the same size and single crochet around the edge to join them. I tried this once and it was fine but seemed like overkill.
There’s also people who add a loop on the side so you can hang them up to dry. Just chain like 10 at any point on the edge and slip stitch it back down to make a loop. Useful if you don’t have counter space for a basket.
You could do stripes with different colors if you want them to look cute but functionally it doesn’t matter. I made all mine in light colors (white, cream, light purple, light blue) so I can see when they’re actually dirty and need washing.
Cost Breakdown
A ball of Red Heart Scrubby is like $4-5 and you can probably get 8-10 scrubbies out of one ball depending on how big you make them. So you’re looking at maybe 50 cents per scrubbie. Compare that to buying disposable cotton rounds constantly and you save money after like a month.
Cotton yarn is even cheaper, usually around $2-3 a ball and you’ll get more scrubbies out of it because the yarn has more yardage.
Even if you bought a hook and yarn from scratch you’d spend maybe $15 total and have enough supplies to make 20+ scrubbies.
Other Uses I Found
These work great for removing nail polish too. Just put some remover on the scrubbie and wipe. Way better than cotton balls that shred everywhere.
You can use them as regular washcloths in the shower. I made some bigger ones specifically for that.
They’re good for cleaning around the bathroom sink too—like if you’ve got makeup splatters or toothpaste residue, the scrubby ones work great for that. Though obviously don’t use the same ones for your face and cleaning.
My friend uses them for her kids’ bath time as little scrubbers. Kids apparently love the texture, I don’t have kids so I can’t confirm but she made a whole batch after I gave her some.
