Christmas Tree Crochet Washcloth – Free Crochet Pattern

Bring a little winter magic to your kitchen with this Christmas Tree crochet washcloth – perfect for festive gifting, holiday decorating, or everyday use!

Scroll down for the free written pattern, or purchase the ad-free, print-friendly PDF here.

Where to get this pattern

Why I Love This Christmas Tree Crochet Washcloth

If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate the holiday season, this Christmas Tree crochet washcloth has you covered! It’s a practical project that doubles as holiday décor, whether you’re wiping down counters, protecting your table from hot dishes, or adding some festive flair to your kitchen.

This pattern combines the intarsia crochet technique with the wide half-double crochet stitch (wide hdc), creating satisfying, clean lines that bring the Christmas Tree motif to life. If you’ve never tried intarsia before, don’t worry, once you get the hang of the color changes it’s easy!

For an even more festive kitchen setup, pair this washcloth with the coordinating Santa Hat Crochet Washcloth for a set that’s as fun to make as it is to gift!

Skill Level

This pattern is rated intermediate, as it uses intarsia colorwork to create the Christmas Tree design. While the wide hdc stitch itself is very beginner-friendly, switching between colors and keeping the back tidy requires some practice.

If you haven’t tried the wide hdc stitch pattern before, you might like to try it out with this easy-peasy Wide HDC Dishcloth! And once you have mastered that, then this Christmas Tree pattern is the perfect next step to level up your crochet skills!

OK, Let’s Make This Christmas Tree Crochet Pattern!

1. Gather Your Materials

Yarn

For this pattern, I recommend using 100% cotton yarn or a cotton blend. It’s durable, absorbent, and perfect for washcloths or hot pads. I used Drops Paris, but you can easily substitute any of the alternatives in the pattern below.

You’ll need three colors:

• Main Background Color: I chose white for a snowy look but I think a dark color could be really bold!
• Contrast Color 1: A light green for the first tree.
• Contrast Color 2: A darker green for the second tree.

Hook

Use a 4.5mm crochet hook for tight, even stitches with minimal gaps in the colorwork.

Additional Tools

• A tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
• Optional: Yarn bobbins for keeping your colors organized (but small balls of yarn work just as well).

2. Grab Your Pattern

Before diving in, take a few minutes to read through the pattern to get familiar with the steps.

3. Tips for Color Changes and Intarsia Crochet

You’ll use separate bobbins (or small yarn balls) for each color block to avoid carrying yarn across the back of your work. This keeps your colorwork clean and prevents bulky stitches.

Right Side (RS) and Wrong Side (WS) Rows

• On right-side rows, keep the working yarn to the back of your work when switching colors.
• On wrong-side rows, bring the working yarn to the front when changing colors.
• This technique keeps the front of your washcloth neat and ensures no stray strands peek through.

Floating and Cutting Yarn

When moving from one row to the next, “float” the unused yarn up the back of your work to pick it up later. These floats will be visible but should remain subtle as long as your tension is even. For larger gaps, cut the yarn and rejoin when needed, leaving a long tail for weaving in.

Staying Organized

Colorwork projects like this can get a little messy, so take a moment every few rows to untangle your yarn balls or bobbins. It’ll save you time (and frustration) in the long run!

4. A Few More Useful Tips

Adjusting the Size

This design is super flexible and can be adjusted to fit your needs!

• Resizing: You can chain any number to start and work as many rows as needed to create a larger project like a placemat or wall hanging.
• Color Placement: If you resize the pattern but want to keep the Christmas Tree motif, you’ll need to adjust the placement of the trees. Calculate how many background stitches you want on the right and left to keep the design centered.

With just a few adjustments, you can turn this washcloth into a table runner, pillow cover, or even a festive wall hanging!

Finishing Touches

• Blocking (Optional): While blocking isn’t strictly necessary, it helps relax the stitches, smooth out the tension, and make the Christmas Tree motif stand out beautifully. Use a wet or steam block method, depending on your yarn, and gently shape your piece to the desired size.
• Hot Pad Tips: If you’d like to use this as a hot pad, consider crocheting a plain backing for extra thickness or adding a layer of heat-resistant fabric to protect your surfaces.

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Christmas Trees Washcloth – Written Pattern

Pattern Notes

Please read through the entire pattern before beginning.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• beg = beginning
• C1 = Color 1
• C2 = Color 2
• C3 = Color 3
• ch = chain
• ch-# sp = chain space, # denotes number of chains
• hdc = half double crochet
• rem = remaining
• sc = single crochet
• sk = skip
• sl st = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• tch = turning chain

General Pattern Notes

• Ch 2 at the start of a row counts as one hdc.
• Stitch count for each row is given in square brackets [ ] at the end of the row. If no stitch count is given then the count is the same as the previous row.

Colorwork

• This project is crocheted using the “intarsia” technique. You will use a separate “bobbin” of yarn for each block of color.
• Do not carry the non-working yarn behind your work. When you need to start a new block of color, join in a new bobbin of yarn. Once you have started a new bobbin, you can ‘float’ it up to the next row as required. 
• For sections where the “float” might be too long or untidy at the back of your work, cut the yarn and rejoin it when needed, leaving a tail long enough to weave in securely.
• For the colorwork section, you can follow the full written instructions below, or follow the chart in the ad-free, print-friendly PDF.
• If using the written instructions, for each block of color, the instruction is written as follows: (COLOR) stitch COUNT. For example:
  • (C1) hdc 5 → With C1, work 5 “wide” hdc (see Special Stitches), changing to next color on last “yarn over” of 5th hdc.

Color Changes

• Please see Appendix A: Color Changes for step-by-step photos.
• To change color on the Right Side (RS) (assuming two colors A and B):
  • With Color A, yarn over, insert hook in between next 2 sts, pull up a loop. [3 loops on hook]
  • Do not complete the stitch with Color A.
  • Instead, keeping Color A to the BACK of your work (and pulling it gently to the right), yarn over Color B and pull through all 3 loops on hook. Color change made.
• To change color on the Wrong Side (WS):
  • With Color A, yarn over, insert hook in between next 2 sts, pull up a loop. [3 loops on hook]
  • Do not complete the stitch with Color A.
  • Instead, keeping Color A to the FRONT of your work (and pulling it gently to the right), yarn over Color B and pull through all 3 loops on hook. Color change made.

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Materials

Yarn

Any #4/Worsted/Medium weight yarn in a cotton or cotton blend. The amounts given here are for Drops Paris in White (16), Wasabi (39) and Opal Green (11) (82yds/75m per 50g skein; #4/Worsted/Medium; 100% Cotton).

Project	Total yds/m	C1 (White) yds/m	C2 (Wasabi) yds/m	C3 (Opal Green) yds/m
Washcloth	118yds / 109m*	approx. 87yds / 80m*	approx. ​​16yds / 15m	approx. ​​15yds / 14m
Tea Towel	474yds / 434m*	approx. 443yds / 405m*	approx. ​​16yds / 15m	approx. ​​15yds / 14m

Alternative yarn options:

• WeCrochet Dishie (190 yds/174m per 100g skein; 100% Cotton)
• Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran (93 yds / 85m per 50g skein; 100% Cotton)
• Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton (186 yds/170m per 100g skein; 100% Cotton)
• Rico Creative Cotton Aran (93 yds / 85m per 50g skein; 100% Cotton)
• Lily Sugar ‘n’ Cream (94yds / 86m per 50g skein; 100% Cotton)

Hook

4.5mm (US 7) crochet hook

Note: the smaller hook results in tighter stitches with fewer gaps, which helps with the color changes and overall neatness of the project.

Other Items

• Yarn needle

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Finished Measurements

Washcloth: 8.5″ x 8.75″ / 21.5cm x 22cm
Tea Towel: 14.25″ x 22″ / 36cm x 56cm

Size note: you can also add an optional single crochet border around the edge of your project which will add approx. 0.5” / 1.25cm to the width and length.

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Gauge

14 sts x 12 rows = 4″ x 4″ / 10 cm x 10 cm measured over wide hdc (see Special Stitches).

Note:

Gauge is not critical for this project. However, if your gauge does not match the one listed above then your project may turn out a little larger/smaller depending on how loosely/tightly you crochet, and you may use a different amount of yarn than what is listed above.

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Special Stitches

Wide half double crochet (wide hdc)
The wide half double crochet is worked between the next two stitches, rather than into the top of the next stitch.

Step 1: Yarn over, insert hook between the posts of the next 2 sts and pull up a loop. [3 loops on hook]

Step 2: Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops to complete the half double crochet as normal.

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Adjustments

• This stitch pattern is very versatile in that you can chain any number to start and continue to work as many rows as desired.
• However, if you want to incorporate the colorwork section into a project of a different size, you will need to do little maths to determine the placement of the colorwork and the number of C1 stitches to the right and left.

Note: adjusting the size of your project will impact the amount of yarn required.

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Written Pattern

BASE

Washcloth

With C1, ch 31.

Tea Towel

With C1, ch 51.

Row 1: Hdc in third ch from hook (skipped 2 ch count as 1 hdc), hdc and each ch across, turn. [Washcloth: 30; Tea Towel: 50]

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1 hdc, here and throughout), hdc in space between first and second sts, *hdc in space between next 2 sts, repeat from * across, ending with hdc in tch-2 sp, turn.

Washcloth

Go to COLORWORK.

Tea Towel

Rows 3-6: Repeat Row 2.
Go to COLORWORK.

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COLORWORK

Notes:

• The colorwork section for the trees is worked over 22 rows. You can follow the written instructions here, or if you prefer, use the colorwork chart in the PDF.
• For this section, continue to work each hdc in the space between the next 2 sts as previously established.

Washcloth

Row 3: (C1) Ch 2, 8 hdc, (C2) 3 hdc, (C1) 18 hdc, turn.

Row 4: (C1) Ch 2, 18 hdc, (C2) 2 hdc, (C1) 9 hdc, turn.

Row 5: (C1) Ch 2, 4 hdc, (C2) 11 hdc, (C1) 14 hdc, turn.

Row 6: (C1) Ch 2, 14 hdc, (C2) 10 hdc, (C1) 5 hdc, turn.

Row 7: (C1) Ch 2, 5 hdc, (C2) 9 hdc, (C1) 15 hdc, turn.

Row 8: (C1) Ch 2, 9 hdc, (C3) 3 hdc, (C1) 3 hdc, (C2) 8 hdc, (C1) 6 hdc, turn.

Row 9: (C1) Ch 2, 5 hdc, (C2) 9 hdc, (C1) 3 hdc, (C3) 2 hdc, (C1) 10 hdc, turn.

Row 10: (C1) Ch 2, 4 hdc, (C3) 11 hdc, (C2) 8 hdc, (C1) 6 hdc, turn.

Row 11: (C1) Ch 2, 6 hdc, (C2) 7 hdc, (C3) 11 hdc, (C1) 5 hdc, turn.

Row 12: (C1) Ch 2, 5 hdc, (C3) 11 hdc, (C2) 6 hdc, (C1) 7 hdc, turn.

Row 13: (C1) Ch 2, 6 hdc, (C2) 7 hdc, (C3) 10 hdc, (C1) 6 hdc, turn.

Row 14: (C1) Ch 2, 6 hdc, (C3) 9 hdc, (C1) 1 hdc, (C2) 6 hdc, (C1) 7 hdc, turn.

Row 15: (C1) Ch 2, 7 hdc, (C2) 5 hdc, (C1) 2 hdc, (C3) 8 hdc, (C1) 7 hdc, turn.

Row 16: (C1) Ch 2, 7 hdc, (C3) 7 hdc, (C1) 3 hdc, (C2) 4 hdc, (C1) 8 hdc, turn.

Row 17: (C1) Ch 2, 7 hdc, (C2) 5 hdc, (C1) 2 hdc, (C3) 8 hdc, (C1) 7 hdc, turn.

Row 18: (C1) Ch 2, 7 hdc, (C3) 7 hdc, (C1) 3 hdc, (C2) 4 hdc, (C1) 8 hdc, turn.

Row 19: (C1) Ch 2, 8 hdc, (C2) 3 hdc, (C1) 4 hdc, (C3) 6 hdc, (C1) 8 hdc, turn.

Row 20: (C1) Ch 2, 8 hdc, (C3) 5 hdc, (C1) 5 hdc, (C2) 2 hdc, (C1) 9 hdc, turn.

Row 21: (C1) Ch 2, 9 hdc, (C2) 1 hdc, (C1) 6 hdc, (C3) 4 hdc, (C1) 9 hdc, turn.

Row 22: (C1) Ch 2, 9 hdc, (C3) 3 hdc, (C1) 17 hdc, turn.

Row 23: (C1) Ch 2, 17 hdc, (C3) 2 hdc, (C1) 10 hdc, turn.

Row 24: (C1) Ch 2, 10 hdc, (C3) 1 hdc, (C1) 18 hdc, turn.

Tea Towel

Row 7: (C1) Ch 2, 18 hdc, (C2) 3 hdc, (C1) 28 hdc, turn.

Row 8: (C1) Ch 2, 28 hdc, (C2) 2 hdc, (C1) 19 hdc, turn.

Row 9: (C1) Ch 2, 14 hdc, (C2) 11 hdc, (C1) 24 hdc, turn.

Row 10: (C1) Ch 2, 24 hdc, (C2) 10 hdc, (C1) 15 hdc, turn.

Row 11: (C1) Ch 2, 15 hdc, (C2) 9 hdc, (C1) 25 hdc, turn.

Row 12: (C1) Ch 2, 19 hdc, (C3) 3 hdc, (C1) 3 hdc, (C2) 8 hdc, (C1) 16 hdc, turn.

Row 13: (C1) Ch 2, 15 hdc, (C2) 9 hdc, (C1) 3 hdc, (C3) 2 hdc, (C1) 20 hdc, turn.

Row 14: (C1) Ch 2, 14 hdc, (C3) 11 hdc, (C2) 8 hdc, (C1) 16 hdc, turn.

Row 15: (C1) Ch 2, 16 hdc, (C2) 7 hdc, (C3) 11 hdc, (C1) 15 hdc, turn.

Row 16: (C1) Ch 2, 15 hdc, (C3) 11 hdc, (C2) 6 hdc, (C1) 17 hdc, turn.

Row 17: (C1) Ch 2, 16 hdc, (C2) 7 hdc, (C3) 10 hdc, (C1) 16 hdc, turn.

Row 18: (C1) Ch 2, 16 hdc, (C3) 9 hdc, (C1) 1 hdc, (C2) 6 hdc, (C1) 17 hdc, turn.

Row 19: (C1) Ch 2, 17 hdc, (C2) 5 hdc, (C1) 2 hdc, (C3) 8 hdc, (C1) 17 hdc, turn.

Row 20: (C1) Ch 2, 17 hdc, (C3) 7 hdc, (C1) 3 hdc, (C2) 4 hdc, (C1) 18 hdc, turn.

Row 21: (C1) Ch 2, 17 hdc, (C2) 5 hdc, (C1) 2 hdc, (C3) 8 hdc, (C1) 17 hdc, turn.

Row 22: (C1) Ch 2, 17 hdc, (C3) 7 hdc, (C1) 3 hdc, (C2) 4 hdc, (C1) 18 hdc, turn.

Row 23: (C1) Ch 2, 18 hdc, (C2) 3 hdc, (C1) 4 hdc, (C3) 6 hdc, (C1) 18 hdc, turn.

Row 24: (C1) Ch 2, 18 hdc, (C3) 5 hdc, (C1) 5 hdc, (C2) 2 hdc, (C1) 19 hdc, turn.

Row 25: (C1) Ch 2, 19 hdc, (C2) 1 hdc, (C1) 6 hdc, (C3) 4 hdc, (C1) 19 hdc, turn.

Row 26: (C1) Ch 2, 19 hdc, (C3) 3 hdc, (C1) 27 hdc, turn.

Row 27: (C1) Ch 2, 27 hdc, (C3) 2 hdc, (C1) 20 hdc, turn.

Row 28: (C1) Ch 2, 20 hdc, (C3) 1 hdc, (C1) 28 hdc, turn.

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TOP

Washcloth

Repeat Row 2 twice more (until you have a total of 26 rows), or until work measures approx. 8.75″/ 22cm in length.

Tea Towel

Repeat Row 2 until you have a total of 66 rows, or until work measures approx. 22″/ 56cm in length.

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BORDER

Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc evenly around the edge of your work, working 3 scs to turn each corner. Join to beg sc with a sl st or invisible join.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

All done!

If you wish, you can purchase an inexpensive, ad-free PDF version of this pattern through Ravelry or Etsy.

I hope you have enjoyed this pattern, if you have questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me. And be sure to tag your finished project on Instagram or Facebook using @nedandmimi or #nedandmimi!

Happy crocheting!

Sarah