Christmas Tree Dishcloth – Free Crochet Pattern

Christmas Tree Crochet Dishcloth

Looking to add to your holiday decor and get into the Christmas spirit? Make this Crochet Christmas Tree Dishcloth, which creates a lovely textured and durable dishcloth. It’s reusable and washable, making it great for the environment and a festive addition to your kitchen this Christmas.

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Yarn for this Christmas Tree Dishcloth

I recommend a size 4 (medium), 100% cotton yarn for making this Christmas tree dishcloth. Cotton yarn is durable, washable and will hold the water as it’s very absorbent. It also won’t break apart if you need to do some serious Christmas scrubbing. I used Bernat Handicrafter Yarn, which is great.

More Crochet Christmas Dishcloth Patterns

After making this Crochet Christmas Tree Dishcloth, make another Christmas-themed dishcloth!

The image above is my free Crochet Christmas Dishcloth Pattern. Make both for a very festive kitchen this holiday season!

Christmas Tree Dishcloth Crochet Pattern Details

Skill Level

Intermediate – If you are new to colorwork, I recommend reading my guide or watching my video tutorial on How to Crochet with Two Colors.

Size

The pattern creates a dishcloth that is approx. 8.5” x 8.5”

Gauge

4” x 4” = 14 sc and 17 rows

Materials

Yarn: Any size 4 (medium) 100% cotton yarn. I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton.

Here is the approx. amount of yarn needed and the colors I used:

A) Main Color (Background) – 70 yds (separated into Main Skein: 45 yds & Bobbin: 25 yds) – I used “White”
B) Stump – 1 yd – I used “Warm Brown”
C) Tree – 25 yds – I used “Emerald” 
D) Lights/Ornaments – 15 yds in total – I used “Country Red” and “Pale Yellow”
E) Border – 15 yds – I used “Emerald”  

Crochet Hook: F/5 (3.75mm) or size needed to obtain gauge. You may want to go up one hook size for the starting chains.

Other Materials: yarn needle, scissors. 

Terminology

This pattern is written for right-handed crochet using standard US terminology. If you’re more familiar with UK terms, here’s my US to UK Conversion Chart. 

Abbreviations

ch = chain
st = stitch
sts = stitches 
sl st = slip stitch 
sc = single crochet
RS = right side (front) 
WS = wrong side (back) 
YO = yarn over 

Color Work

This pattern involves a number of colorwork techniques:

• Attaching a separate bobbin of the Main Color so that you don’t need to carry that yarn across the back of the Christmas tree. 
• Leaving your unused color hanging (the rows are worked from right to left and then left to right so the hanging yarn will be close by when you need it next). This is the default unless instructed to work over the unused color. 
• Carrying your unused color under your current stitches and working over it so that the unused color is hidden and it’s floats/tails aren’t shown on the back (you don’t catch floats in this pattern). 

More info can be found here: Guide to Colorwork

Preparing Your Yarn

Before starting the pattern, separate your Main Color into two: create a separate bobbin (Main Color Bobbin) with approx. 25 yds of yarn. You can leave your main skein as is, as long as it has approx. 45 yds.

You will attach your Main Color Bobbin on Row 5 (on the last st of C. You will use this Bobbin for any A (Main Color) sts on the left side of the Christmas tree throughout Rows 5 – 30.  

Special Stitches

Bobble = The bobble for this pattern is 3 double crochet stitches together, in the same stitch.

Here is how: YO, insert your hook into the next stitch, YO and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). YO, pull yarn through 2 loops on hook (2 loops on hook). YO, insert your hook into the same stitch, YO and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook). YO, pull yarn through 2 loops on hook (3 loops on hook). YO, insert your hook into the same stitch, YO and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook). YO, pull yarn through 2 loops on hook (4 loops on hook). YO, pull yarn through all 4 loops on hook. 

If you find your bobbles aren’t popping out as much as you’d like, you can make them 4 or even 5 double crochet stitches together. 

The next st after a bobble is always a sc. When making your sc in the next st, push the bobble to the front (away from you) and crochet tightly as you make the next sc.

Color Legend

A) Main Color
B) Stump Color
C) Tree Color
D) Lights/Ornaments Color
E) Border Color

The Lights/Ornaments (D) are labeled as one color but you can use any number of colors for D (I used two colors and alternated each time the pattern called for using D). 

Pattern Notes

• Each row has 27 stitches.
• Ch 1 and turn after every row. 
• Ch 1 does not count as a stitch.
• Always work in the 1st st (the st attached to ch).
• Stretch your dishcloth wide after each row.
• When the instructions say something like: “Repeat: *Bobble, D x 3* from * to * a total of 3 times,” what this means is: Bobble, D x 3, Bobble, D x 3, Bobble, D x 3.
• When changing colors, always leave your old color hanging unless instructed to work over it.
• “Work over X: [xxx]” means to pick up and carry the indicated color (A, B, C, etc) across from [ to ] and crochet over it so that it is hidden and it’s floats/tails aren’t shown on the back. 
• Ensure all ends are always kept on the wrong side of the work.
• Add/switch color when you have two loops of the old color on the sc stitch BEFORE the new color stitch.
• Read the chart from right to left when working on right side rows and left to right when working on the wrong side. The chart is lightly shaded on wrong sides to help you remember. (The written instructions list everything in the correct order)

Just a Reminder!

This pattern is also available as a PDF, which includes everything listed here but as a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF that you can instantly download, save, print, make notes on and keep forever.

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Christmas Tree Dishcloth Crochet Pattern Instructions

(Pattern chart is below)

If you crochet tightly, you may want to go up a hook size for the starting chains (only) to ensure you can work more easily into the back ridge loop on Row 1. 

Foundation Row: With A (Main Color), chain 28. Continue using A until instructed to change colors. 

For Row 1 (only), work into the back ridge loops. 

Row 1 (RS): In the 2nd ch from hook, sc. Sc in each ch across. Reminders: each row has 27 sts. Ch 1 and turn after each row.

(Work in both loops from now on.)

Row 2 (WS): Sc in each st across. 

Note About Colorwork Instructions: 

In the next row, you will begin changing colors. Every stitch is a single crochet (sc). The pattern does not say to sc because it gets too jumbled. Instead it says something like: A x 12, work over A: [B x 3], A x 12 which means: 

• Using A (Main Color), sc for 11 sts, add B (Stump Color) yarn on the last (the 12th) st. 
• Using B (and crocheting over A), sc for 2 sts, on the last (the 3rd) st, change back to A. Leave B hanging.
• With A, sc for 12 sts.

Row 3 (RS): A x 12, work over A: [B x 3], A x 12.

Row 4 (WS): Repeat Row 3. Fasten off B, leaving a 12” tail for finishing. 

Row 5 (RS): A x 5, C x 17 (on the last st, attach and use your main/background color bobbin), A x 5. 

Row 6 (WS): A x 5, C x 17, A x 5.

Row 7 (RS): Repeat Row 6. 

Row 8 (WS): A x 5, work over C: [D x 2. Repeat: *Bobble, D x 3* from * to * a total of 3 times. Bobble, D x 2], A x 5. Fasten off D. 

Row 9 (RS): A x 6, C x 15, A x 6. 

Rows 10 & 11: Repeat Row 9.

Row 12 (WS): A x 6, work over C: [D x 3. Repeat: *Bobble, D x 3* from * to * a total of 3 times], A x 6. Fasten off D. 

Row 13 (RS): A x 7, C x 13, A x 7.

Rows 14 & 15: Repeat Row 13.

Row 16 (WS): A x 7, work over C: [D x 2. Repeat *Bobble, D x 3* from * to * a total of 2 times. Bobble. D x 2], A x 7. Fasten off D. 

Row 17 (RS): A x 8, C x 11, A x 8.

Rows 18 & 19: Repeat Row 17.

Row 20 (WS): A x 8, work over C: [D x 3. Repeat *Bobble, D x 3* from * to * a total of 2 times], A x 8. Fasten off D. 

Row 21 (RS): A x 9, C x 9, A x 9. 

Row 22 (WS): Repeat Row 21.

Row 23 (RS): A x 10, C x 7, A x 10.

Row 24 (WS): A x 10, work over C [D x 1, Bobble, D x 3, Bobble, D x 1], A x 10. Fasten off D. 

Row 25 (RS): A x 11, C x 5, A x 11

Row 26 (WS): Repeat Row 25.

Row 27 (RS): A x 12, C x 3, A x 12.

Row 28 (WS): Repeat Row 27.

Row 29 (RS): A x 13, C x 1, A x 13.

Row 30 (WS): Repeat Row 29. Fasten off C and Bobbin (of Main Color) – not the Main Skein. 

Row 31 (RS): Sc in each st across. 

Row 32 (WS): Repeat Row 31. Fasten off A. 

Finishing The Tree Stump (Optional):

I found that the tree stump needed some finishing to help shape it and give it a more polished look. Using a yarn needle and the B (Stump Color) end tail, sew over any color gaps created by the stitches. Try to replicate the natural direction of the stitches.

Weave in all loose ends. 

Pattern Chart

Dishcloth Border

With your dishcloth facing you, attach your border color with a sl st into any corner. Make 2 sc in same corner st. Sc around, making 3 sc in each remaining corner st. When back at start, sl st into 1st sc to join. 

Fasten off and weave in loose ends. 

And now you have a new crochet Christmas Tree Dishcloth!