Crochet Mitred Square: Free Pattern

This crochet mitred square is created using the moss stitch, one of my absolute favorite stitch patterns! I love the color-block effect you get with 3 colors, but you could easily work this pattern in a solid color.

The moss stitch (also known as the linen stitch or seed stitch) is a perfect beginner-friendly stitch pattern. All you need to know is how to chain and single crochet – that’s it! In my opinion, creating a mitred square with this stitch pattern really takes it up a notch. 

And it’s such an easy pattern to learn – just a simple one row repeat! This makes it perfect for some low-concentration crochet on the couch.

These mitred squares create the most beautiful crochet washcloths and make a gorgeous, quick and easy gift for friends and family. The pattern also includes instructions for making a tea-towel, but bear in mind that this will also be a square rather than a rectangle!

How to Crochet a Mitred Square

I have seen mitred squares worked in a few different ways:

1. From the outside in – with this method, you begin with a long chain and then decrease at the center point until all of the square is “filled in.”
2. From the inside out – here, you will start with the smallest part of the square, then increase at the center point until you reach your desired size. Within this method you also have multiple options, the most common being to:

• begin with the mitred pattern from the get go – this is the method that I use in my pattern below
• make a little crochet square first and then start working the mitred pattern around 2 edges. This mitred granny square pattern is a good example.

Personally, I prefer the “inside out” method. With this method, I can simply keep increasing until my square is the size that I want, whereas with the “outside in” method, you pretty much have to know exactly what size you want at the start.

What You’ll Need to Make this Mitred Square

Yarn

For this pattern, I used Drops Paris yarn in three complementary colors – Apricot, Peach and Off White. I worked an approximately equal number of rows of each color (but the total number of rows will depend on your gauge and how large you want the finished square to be).

For most of my crochet dishcloth patterns I like to add a single border around the edge to finish it off nicely. However, this time, I decided to omit the border as the edge is already quite neat, and I wanted to maintain the color-block effect without any additional color on the border..

The pattern below includes links to a variety of cotton yarns that are perfect for dishcloths.

Hook

You will need a 5.5mm I/9 crochet hook for this project (or whichever hook size allows you to crochet with an even tension). This stitch pattern can sometimes create a slightly stiff fabric if you use a very small hook so feel free to adjust the hook size, depending on how tightly/loosely you crochet.

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Pattern Notes

Please read through the entire pattern before beginning.

Skill Level

Abbreviations (US Terms)

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

Construction

• This project is worked in rows starting from the bottom corner and ending at the opposite top corner.
• Both the washcloth and tea towel are worked as a square.

General Pattern Notes

• Ch 1 at the start of a row does not count as a stitch.
• Stitch count for each row is given in square brackets [ ] at the end of the row. Stitch count includes chains within the row, but does not include the turning ch 1 at the start of a row.
• If no stitch count is given then the count is the same as the previous row.
• For instructions given in square brackets [ ] within a row, repeat all of the stitches inside the brackets until instructed to stop.
• The sample is pictured in three colors but feel free to use any combination of colors that you wish.

Color Changes

If you wish to change color at any point, do so as follows:

• With working yarn, finish row as normal.
• Keeping working yarn to the back of your work, yarn over new color and pull through.
• Pull gently on previous color to pull the new color into the correct starting position for the next row.
• With the new color, work next row as per pattern.

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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 Apricot (01) and Off White (17) (82yds/75m per 50g skein; #4/Worsted/Medium; 100% Cotton).

Project	Total Yds/m	C1 (Apricot)	C2 (Off white)	C3 (Peach)
Washcloth	87 yds / 80m	10 yds / 9m	30 yds / 27m	47 yds / 43m
Tea Towel	492 yds / 450m	55 yds / 50 m	165 yds / 151m	272 yds / 249m

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

5.5mm (I-9) crochet hook

Other Items

• Yarn needle

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Finished Measurements

Washcloth: 8.5″ x 8.5″ / 21.5cm x 21.5cm

Tea Towel: 20.25″ x 20.25″ / 51.5cm x 51.5cm

Please see Adjustments section below for information on making this project in a different size.

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Gauge

17 sts x 16 rows = 4″ x 4″ / 10 cm x 10 cm measured over moss stitch pattern.

Notes:

• The stitch count given above includes both single crochet (sc) and chain spaces (ch-sps).
• 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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Adjustments

As this project will always be a square, simply continue to repeat Rows 6-7 until you reach your desired size.

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

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Written Pattern

Ch 2.

Row 1: (Sc, ch 2, sc) in second ch from hook, turn. [4]

Row 2:  Ch 1 (does not count as a st, here and throughout), sc in first st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, sc in last st, turn. [6]

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 1, sk next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk next st, sc in last st, turn. [8]

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk next st, sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in last st, turn. [10]

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 1, sk next st, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, ch 1, sk next st, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next st, sc in last st, turn. [12]

Row 6: Ch 1, sc in first st, [ sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next st] to ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, [ch 1, sk next st, sc in next ch-1 sp] to last st, sc in last st, turn. [14]

Row 7: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 1, sk next st, [ sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next st] to ch-2 sp, (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, [ch 1, sk next st, sc in next ch-1 sp] until 2 sts rem, ch 1, sk next st, sc in last st, turn. [16]

Washcloth: Repeat Rows 6-7 for a total of 34 rows, or until work measures approx. 8.5″/ 21.5cm in length. Each row will increase the stitch count by 2. [Stitch count at end of Row 34: 70]

Tea Towel: Repeat Rows 6-7 for a total of 81 rows, or until work measures approx. 20.25″/ 51.5cm in length. Each row will increase the stitch count by 2. [Stitch count at end of Row 81: 164]

Note: You can change color at any point. For example, for a color-block washcloth in 3 colors work the following:

Project Type	C1	C2	C3
Washcloth	12 rows	11 rows	11 rows
Tea Towel	27 rows	27 rows	27 rows

BORDER (optional)

I chose not to work a border for this washcloth as the moss stitch pattern creates quite a neat edge and I felt that a border would disrupt the color-block effect.

If you do wish to work a border you can do so as follows: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