Ripple Crochet Washcloth Pattern (Free, 2 Sizes)

This free crochet washcloth pattern turns a classic ripple into a little cotton cloth with real texture. It comes in two sizes; each one works up from a single ball of cotton, and the raised zigzag gives you a bit more grip than a flat washcloth for dishes, counters, or the bath.

This one is extra special to me. The Ripple Crochet Washcloth is part of my baby sister Kirsten’s very first set of patterns. She designed it and crocheted it, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.

Kirsten has been part of Briana K Designs for a while now, mostly behind the scenes and sometimes in front of the camera. She has a real gift for taking a classic stitch and giving it a refined, modern twist, and this ripple is exactly that. She also designed the matching Ripple Crochet Blanket, which takes the same stitch from a tiny lovey all the way up to a King, so if you fall for this washcloth, that’s your next project.

Every pattern on this blog goes through the same professional tech editing and testing, so you get the same clear instructions you’re used to. I hope you love Kirsten’s ripple as much as I do.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Why You’ll Love This Ripple Washcloth

The Ripple Crochet Washcloth is small, but Kirsten packed a lot into it.

• Both sizes are free. The full written pattern for the Small and the Large is right here on the blog.
• One ball per cloth. Either size works up from a single ball of cotton.
• Real texture. Every wrong-side row goes into the third loop, so a raised ridge runs along every zigzag.
• Points that line up. The top and bottom edges ripple at the same columns, so the zigzag matches end to end, and the sides stay straight.
• A quick win. It’s a small, satisfying project, and a gentle way to learn the ripple before you take on a blanket.
• Help when you need it. A video tutorial is available, and the pattern is in the Briana K app, where you can check off every row.

Yarn Substitutions

Any smooth 100% cotton in a worsted weight will make a great ripple washcloth. These are all good swaps:

• Lily Sugar’n Cream: 100% Cotton, 120yds/71g
• WeCrochet Dishie: 100% Cotton, 190yds/100g
• Bernat Handicrafter: 100% Cotton, 80yds/50g
• Herrschners Cottage Cotton: 60% Cotton/40% Acrylic, 207yds/100g

If you swap yarns, check the label yardage against the amounts above. Bernat Handicrafter comes in smaller balls, so you’ll need a second Large. If you’re planning a whole stack in another yarn, the Yarn Amount Calculator does the math for you, no login needed.

Skill Level

Easy. If you can work a single crochet and a half double crochet, you’re ready, and How to Half Double Crochet is there if you want a refresher. The decreases and the third loop are new for a lot of people, and both are explained below and shown in the video. Not sure where you land? Crochet Skill Levels Explained walks through every level.

Ripple Crochet Washcloth Sizes

• Small: 7.75″ wide x 8″ long
• Large: 10.25″ wide x 11″ long
• Point depth: 1″ on both sizes

Width is measured across the center. Length is measured at the points, from the tip of a point on one end to the tip of a point on the other.

Crochet Time

Plan on about 1 hour for the Small and 1.5 to 2 hours for the Large. Everyone’s pace is different, and the decreases slow you down a little the first time through. For an estimate based on your own speed, try the Crochet Time Estimator. It asks for a free account.

Abbreviations

• ch: chain
• hdc: half double crochet
• hdc3tog: half double crochet 3 together
• Rnd: round
• RS/WS: right side/wrong side
• sc: single crochet
• sc3tog: single crochet 3 together
• sl st: slip stitch
• st(s): stitch(es)
• Stsc: stacked single crochet
• yo: yarn over

This pattern uses standard US terminology.

Special Stitches

Stacked Single Crochet (Stsc): Insert your hook into the first stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. This will look like a single crochet, but you’re not done yet. Insert your hook into the vertical bar below, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.

hdc3tog: Yo, [insert hook into next st, yo and pull up a loop] 3 times, yo and pull through all 5 loops on hook.

sc3tog: [Insert hook into next st, yo and pull up a loop] 3 times, yo and pull through all 4 loops on hook.

Third Loop: The third loop sits on the back of an hdc, behind the top two loops. Once you turn your work to start a WS row, that third loop is facing you. Tip the top of your work away from you, and you’ll see it as a horizontal bar. Every WS row in this pattern is worked into it, which gives the ripple its texture.

Clean Sc: Sc in first st. *Insert your hook into the left bar of the sc st, then insert into the next row edge space. Yo and pull up a loop, then pull through the first loop on the hook. Yo and pull through the remaining two loops on the hook. Repeat from * around. The full photo tutorial is in How to Get a Clean, Straight Edge on Your Crochet Projects.

Gauge

16 sts and 8 rows in Ripple Stitch = 4″ x 4″, unblocked.

Gauge isn’t critical for a washcloth. If you come out a little tighter or looser, you’ll simply get a slightly smaller or larger cloth. Check it anyway if you want to land close to the finished sizes, so the yardage holds.

How the Ripple Stitch Works in a Washcloth

A ripple is just two moves repeated across the row. Working three stitches into one stitch pushes the fabric up into a peak. Working three stitches together pulls it down into a valley. Because every peak adds the same number of stitches that the next valley takes away, your stitch count never changes, and the zigzag stacks row after row neatly.

What makes this version different is the wrong-side row. Instead of working into the usual top two loops, you work into the third loop of the half double crochet. That leaves the top two loops sitting up on the right side as a raised line, so every zigzag gets its own little ridge. On a washcloth, that texture is what you feel when you scrub.

Keeping a Ripple Washcloth Square and Flat

Ripples have a reputation for wobbly edges, and a few small choices in this pattern keep that from happening.

Start every right-side row with a stacked single crochet

A turning chain leaves a loose, gappy edge. The stacked single crochet gives you a first stitch that’s the same height as a half double crochet without the gap, so the side edges stay straight.

Let the border do the squaring

The clean single crochet border runs right into the ripple, so the zigzag stays crisp along the top and bottom while the sides stay smooth. Along the sides, work roughly one clean sc in the end of each row. If that’s too much and your edge starts to ruffle, skip a row end every few rows. Adjust as you go until you get the straight edge you want.

Weave your ends invisibly

Weave in your ends along the wrong side of the fabric, following the direction of the stitches, so they stay hidden. Work them into the outer stitches where the border covers them, and trim the excess.

Blocking is optional

You don’t need to block a washcloth. It gets wet and wrung out every time you use it, so it relaxes on its own. But if you’re making a stack for a craft fair or giving a set as a gift and want that clean, crisp look, a quick block makes the points pop.

Lay the washcloth flat on blocking mats and pin each point along the top and bottom with blocking pins. Mist it with a spray bottle until it’s damp, pat it smooth, and let it dry completely before you unpin it. Don’t press it with an iron, or you’ll flatten the texture.

Which Size Should You Make?

The Small is a handy face cloth size and makes a sweet little gift. The Large gives you more to grab for dishes, counters, or the bath. Since one ball of Village Yarn Craft Cotton makes two Smalls or one Large, a few balls in different colors will give you a whole matching stack.

Caring for Cotton Washcloths

Machine wash and dry your washcloth like any cotton towel. Cotton can shrink a little in the first wash, so to keep it close to its original size, wash it in cold water and tumble dry on low.

Between uses, hang it or lay it flat to dry completely. Cotton holds onto water, and letting it air out keeps it fresh. Store clean, dry washcloths folded or rolled in a drawer, basket, or on a shelf, and make sure they’re fully dry before you put them away. If you used a different yarn than the one listed, check its label and follow those care instructions instead.

Ripple Crochet Washcloth FAQs

Is the Ripple Crochet Washcloth pattern really free?

Yes. The full written pattern for both the Small and the Large is right here on the blog. If you’d like a printable PDF, or the interactive version in the Briana K app where you can check off every row, those are available too.

What’s the best yarn for a crochet washcloth?

Cotton is the best choice. It’s absorbent, it holds up to lots of washing, and it gets softer the more you use it. Acrylic doesn’t absorb water well, so it tends to push water around instead of soaking it up. This pattern uses Village Yarn Craft Cotton, and any of the cotton substitutes above will work.

How many washcloths can I make from one ball of cotton?

With Village Yarn Craft Cotton, one 115-yard ball makes two Small washcloths or one Large. The Small takes about 53 yards, and the Large takes about 96, so check the yardage on your label if you’re using a different yarn.

Will my cotton washcloth shrink?

Cotton can shrink a little in the first wash. To keep your washcloth close to its original size, wash it in cold water and tumble dry on low.

Do I need to know the ripple stitch before I start?

No. Everything you need is in this pattern and the video. If you’d like a little practice first, the Ripple Stitch tutorial walks through a small swatch row by row, and the washcloth is the perfect next step.

Ripple Crochet Washcloth Video Tutorial

The video walks through the whole washcloth step by step, from the first chain to the border. Watch along as you work, or use it to check the third loop and the decreases. Watch it on YouTube.

Get the Printable PDF and the Briana K App Version

The printable PDF includes both washcloth sizes, plus the Ripple Crochet Blanket in fifteen sizes, so you can make a matching set. It also includes the stitch chart and schematic, and the interactive version in the Briana K app, where you can check off every row, never lose your place, and plan your colors before you buy the yarn.

Ripple Crochet Washcloth Written Pattern

Hook down? Not so fast…

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Get the Ripple Crochet Washcloth Pattern

• Etsy: Ripple Blanket and Washcloth Set on Etsy
• Ravelry: Ripple Blanket and Washcloth Set on Ravelry
• App: The Briana K app
• YouTube: Ripple Crochet Washcloth video tutorial

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