Ready for some mindful crochet? Get your hooks ready because you’ll want to make the Merci Cloth right now! Try the free pattern now, thanks to WeCrochet.
There’s just something about the holidays that makes me want to turn my brain off. I love to crochet, but I just can’t handle a complicated pattern in the middle of the gift-giving season. The new Merci Cloth was designed to be practical, fun, and easy to make while you let your mind wander.
This post contains affiliate links that support the content on TLYCBlog.com. All opinions are my own. Find my Privacy & Disclosures Policy here.
CLICK TO PIN THIS POST NOW
Get the Merci Cloth pattern from TLYarnCrafts.com and Ravelry. The PDF printable version is a one-page ad-free pattern for easy crocheting.
Keep scrolling for the free version of the Merci Cloth!
Tunisian Crochet for Kitchen and Bath
Crochet washcloths should be just as practical as they are pretty. The Tunisian crochet smock stitch gives you the strength that you’re looking for in a pattern like this as well as the beauty. I’ve been a fan of this stitch for a long time – it’s actually one of my first and most popular Tunisian crochet videos! I updated the video for my Tunisian Holiday Sampler and makers are loving the rhythmic pattern.
The Merci Cloth was inspired by this lovely stitch. I wanted to make a pattern with it, but the stitch can be quite time-consuming to work up. With that in mind, I kept the piece small, going for a crochet washcloth and matching towel. Both pieces can be used either in the kitchen or the bathroom and make great gifts for holidays and housewarmings.
Crochet Washcloth with Cotton Yarn from WeCrochet
I’m notorious for being hard on cotton yarns when crocheting – I only have a few cotton yarns that I like. But I went out on a limb and tried Dishie from WeCrochet. It’s a 100% cotton worsted weight yarn with a tight twist and high absorbency. I was attracted to Dishie because of the beautiful colors and the low price (one ball with 190 yards will only set you back $3!).
Once I started making the Merci Cloth, I couldn’t stop! In one weekend, I made 4 towels and 4 matching crochet washcloths. The towels will take 2 balls of Dishie and the washcloths take just 1 ball. Explore the full range of Dishie yarn with plenty of cool, warm, and neutral colors to choose from.
SHOP DISHIE YARN FROM WECROCHET!
Even if you don’t go with Dishie for this pattern, I highly recommend using 100% cotton yarn, especially if you plan to use yout crochet washcloth and not just display it. Cotton yarn has great absorbency, it washes well, and it will hold it’s color pretty well over time. I would caution against using acrylic or any animal fiber with this pattern.
Get The Merci Cloth
- Get a one-page ad-free printable pattern HERE.
- Shop the yarn for this pattern HERE.
- PIN this pattern to your Pinterest boards for later HERE.
- Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue HERE.
Merci Cloth Details
MATERIALS
- WeCrochet Dishie yarn, 1 ball for washcloth size, 2 balls for towel size. Samples made in the colors Linen (tan), Blush (pink), Conch (coral), Swan (off-white), Clarity (light gray), Navy (navy blue), and Creme Brulee (yellow)
- 6mm Tunisian crochet hook with 12″ cord (like THIS ONE)
- Scissors
- Tape measure
FINISHED SIZE
Washcloth (Towel) – 8″ x 8″ (14″ x 18″)
GAUGE
6″ = 24 sts x 19.5 rows
ABBREVIATIONS
Ch = chain
Lts = Last Tunisian Stitch (see Special Stitches)
RetP = Return Pass (see Special Stitches)
Sl st = slip stitch
St(s) = stitch(es)
Tss = Tunisian simple stitch
Tss2tog = Tunisian simple stitch 2 together (see Special Stitches)
Yu = yarn under (see Special Stitches)
SPECIAL STITCHES
Last Tunisian Stitch (Lts): insert hook under BOTH vertical bars of the last stitch and complete as for Tunisian simple stitch
Return Pass (RetP): ch 1, (yarn over, pull through the next 2 loops on hook) until only one loop remains on the hook
Tunisian Simple Stitch 2 Together (tss2tog): insert hook under the front vertical bar of each of the next 2 stitches, yarn over, pull through both loops
Yarn Under (yu): bring yarn to front of the hook as for Tunisian purl stitch, hold yarn against the hook with your index finger before completing the next stitch.
NOTE: Pattern is written for the Washcloth with changes for the Towel in parentheses.
More of a visual learner? Use this video to get the hang of the Tunisian Smock Stitch!
Merci Cloth Pattern
ROW 1: Ch 32 (56), pull up a loop in the back bump of the 2nd ch from the hook and each remaining ch, RetP.
ROW 2: (Tss2tog, yu) across to last st, Lts, RetP.
ROW 3: Tss 1, (tss2tog, yu) to last 2 sts, tss 1, Lts, RetP.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 to 32 (63) total rows.
LAST ROW: Ch 8 (this is the hanging loop), sl st in the front vertical bar of the first st, sl st in each vertical bar across row to bind off, inserting hook as for Lts on the last st. Fasten off.
FINISHING
-Weave in all ends.
-Steam block to finished measurements. I like to block my piece with the wrong side facing up to prevent flattening the stitches on the right side.
Prefer an ad-free, printable pattern? Get the Merci Cloth pattern for just $5 HERE.
Thanks for joining me to make the Merci Cloth. I’ll be spending the upcoming weekend wrapping these pretty washcloths with handmade soap and hand cream to give as gifts this holiday season 🙂
Share your crochet washcloth and towel with me on Instagram using #TLYCMakers. Then pop into the TLYC Makers Facebook group and share there too – we can’t wait to see it 🙂
MORE FREE CROCHET PATTERNS
FOR YOUR HOME
I love the merci cloth pattern but I have made 2 and mine are not rectangular, the finished end is a good 3cm longer than the starting edge and I can’t figure out why! Am I doing something wrong?
Hi! You’re probably doing just fine. Cotton is very elastic so the edges might not end up the same width. Blocking the finished cloth to the finished dimensions should fix this.
What a pretty stitch – thanks for the excellent tutorial video and pattern!
You just taught me how to Tunisian crochet! I’ve been knitting and crocheting for years, but stumbled across one of your YouTube videos on TC and had to see more. Love this quick and easy project and your instructional video was perfect! I’ll be back to learn more once I have a few dishcloths made. 😁
I’m so glad I could help 🙂 Happy stitching!!
whaaa….I have been crocheting for 50+ years (and knit, for longer).
So I remember seeing Tunisian Crochet years ago and turned my nose up to it…one of those newfangled gimmicky methods haha….
But lately, wanting to learn something new, saw TC and quickly bought an expensive interchangeable kit! I quickly went to try out the washcloth to start (vs the larger hand towel) and…..my wrist and all and down my arm hurt! OH NOOOO…..what if I can’t do this without being in a lot of pain?
I realize this is a new motion for my hand (I hold my hook pencil style….or how folks from other countries hold it) and might have been a little tense with learning something new, but what if I can’t TC!!??? I even studied your hand motions/how you hold your hook.
Any words of wisdom to sooth my sadness?
Hi darling! Oh no! Fingers crossed we can find a solution. What are you hooks made of? Plastic hooks tend to be very grippy, making the yarn drag and causing tension in the hands and wrist. Wood may work better, if that’s not what you have already. Aside from that, practice may alleviate things. But I do know some makers that don’t practice TC because it makes their body unhappy. And that’s ok, too!
Hi Toni! My name is Diana and I live in Cypress, Texas. First of all, I love your patterns and tutorials! You make it so easy to understand and follow along.
I’ve made half of the Merci Cloth. Yes, I only made half of one because my left edge looks awful! I realize the bottom half of my piece is done wrong, which is probably part of the reason for the left edge. I be been crocheting for years but it’s been quite a while since I’ve used cotton.
I do intend to keep trying and wondered if you had any suggestions to help me?
Have a fantastic day!
Thank you so much!
Diana Gilbreath
Hi Diana,
Please send your pattern support questions to [email protected]