The Meadow Bloom Hanging Towel Holder is a cottage-style kitchen set. Two braided cream cords decorated with tiny pastel flowers and sage leaves hold a paper towel roll on one wooden dowel. A matching crochet dish towel hangs from a second dowel below. The towel repeats the theme with three larger flowers and a pair of sage stripes.
The palette is soft and springlike: cream for the cords and towel, sage green for the leaves and stripes, and blush pink, butter yellow, and lilac for the flowers. Every flower has a contrasting center, so the colors stand out clearly.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished towel measures 10 x 20 in (25.4 x 50.8 cm). The hanger is about 12 in (30.5 cm) wide between the cords and about 17 in (43.2 cm) tall from the hanging loop to the lower dowel.
You’ll work the towel in linen stitch and finish it with a 2-round border. Then you’ll make two Romanian-style cords, 13 flowers, and 18 leaves. Finally, you’ll form the dowel loops, join the cords at the top, and sew on the appliqués.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished towel size: 10 x 20 in (25.4 x 50.8 cm)
- Hanger size: about 12 x 17 in (30.5 x 43.2 cm), with dowels 14 in (35.6 cm) long
- Skill level: Easy+
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: worsted (#4) cotton
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 34 crocheted pieces: 1 towel, 2 cords, 3 large flowers, 10 small flowers, and 18 leaves. You also need 2 wooden dowels.
- Layout: The two cords meet in a triangle at the hanging loop. Each cord has one dowel loop at the 11 in (27.9 cm) mark and another at its lower end.
- Cord size: 23 in (58.4 cm) long and about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide
- Towel size before border: 9 x 19 in (22.9 x 48.3 cm)
- Border depth: 0.5 in (1.3 cm) on every side
Materials
Use a smooth 100% cotton worsted yarn with about 85 m (93 yd) per 50 g. Cotton absorbs water and washes well.
- Cream: 220 g, about 374 m (towel, border, cords, hanging loop)
- Sage green: 30 g, about 51 m (stripes, leaves)
- Lilac: 10 g, about 17 m (petals and yellow-flower centers)
- Butter yellow: 10 g, about 17 m (petals and pink and lilac flower centers)
- Blush pink: 10 g, about 17 m (petals)
These quantities include a margin of about 10–15%.
Tools:
- 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle and stitch markers
- Two wooden dowels, 14 in (35.6 cm) long and 0.75 in (1.9 cm) in diameter
- Measuring tape, scissors, and blocking pins
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- MR – magic ring
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- RS – right side
Linen stitch: Sc and ch-1 alternate. Each new sc goes into the ch-1 sp below it, and each ch-1 skips the sc below it. Every sc and every ch-1 counts as 1 st.
Romanian cord: A firm, braided-looking cord. You rotate the work after every sc (see Part E).
Gauge and Checkpoints
Towel gauge: 20 sts and 20 rows = 4 in (10.2 cm) in linen stitch. That’s 5 sts and 5 rows per 1 in (2.5 cm).
Cord gauge: 4 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Test one piece first. Ch 26 and work a linen-stitch swatch of 25 sts for 24 rows, then measure the center 4 in (10.2 cm). Next, make one small flower, which should be 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across, and one leaf, which should be 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long.
If you get too many sts per inch, the piece will come out too small, so go up a hook size. If you get too few, go down a hook size. Row gauge sets the towel length and keeps the border flat, so check it too.
Measurement checkpoints:
- After towel Row 10: 9 in (22.9 cm) wide and 2 in (5.1 cm) long
- After Row 50: 10 in (25.4 cm) long
- After Row 95: 9 x 19 in (22.9 x 48.3 cm)
- After the border: 10 x 20 in (25.4 x 50.8 cm)
- Each cord after Row 44: 11 in (27.9 cm)
- Each cord after Row 92: 23 in (58.4 cm)
Part A: Towel Body
To change color, use the new color for the last yo of the previous row. Carry the unused color loosely up the side edge. The border will cover it.
Foundation: With cream, ch 46.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (45 sts)
Row 2 (Pattern Row A): Ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in first st, ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st across, turn. (45 sts: 23 sc and 22 ch-1 sps)
Row 3 (Pattern Row B): Ch 1, sc in first sc, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, sk next sc, sc in next ch-1 sp to last st, sc in last sc, turn. (45 sts: 24 sc and 21 ch-1 sps)
Rows 4–95: Work Row A on even rows and Row B on odd rows. Every row has 45 sts.
Stripes: Work Rows 5–6, 9–10, 86–87, and 90–91 in sage. Work all other rows in cream. Each stripe set has 4 cream rows outside it.
Row 1 is the flower end. Fasten off after Row 95.
Part B: Large Flowers (make 3)
Make 1 pink flower with a yellow center, 1 yellow flower with a lilac center, and 1 lilac flower with a yellow center.
Rnd 1: With center color, MR, 5 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (5 sts)
Rnd 2: Join petal color in any st, ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st to first sc. (10 sts)
Rnd 3: Sl st in next st, (hdc, 3 dc, hdc) in next st 5 times, sl st to first sl st. (30 sts, 5 petals)
Fasten off, leaving a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. The flower measures 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across.
Part C: Small Flowers (make 10)
Make 4 lilac flowers with yellow centers, 3 pink flowers with yellow centers, and 3 yellow flowers with lilac centers.
Rnd 1: With center color, MR, 5 sc in ring, sl st to first sc. Fasten off. (5 sts)
Rnd 2: Join petal color in any st, (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in next st 5 times, sl st to first sc. (25 sts, 5 petals)
Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. The flower measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm) across.
Part D: Leaves (make 18)
With sage: Ch 7.
Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, (sc, ch 2, sc) in last ch for the pointed tip. Working along the opposite side of the foundation ch, hdc in next ch, dc in next 2 ch, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch, sl st to first sc. (12 sts plus 1 ch-2 tip)
Vein: With the tail, work a surface sl st along the center ch from base to tip.
Fasten off, leaving an 8 in (20.3 cm) tail. The leaf measures 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long.
Part E: Hanger Cords (make 2)
With cream: Ch 2.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook.
Row 2: Rotate the work a quarter turn clockwise. Insert the hook into the single loop of the starting ch on the left edge, and sc.
Rows 3–92: Rotate clockwise again. Insert the hook under the 2 loops on the left edge, and sc. Repeat through Row 92.
The cord measures 23 in (58.4 cm) long and about 0.5 in (1.3 cm) wide. Fasten off, leaving a 16 in (40.6 cm) tail, and mark the top end.
Make All Pieces
Totals by color:
- Cream: 1 towel, 2 cords
- Sage: 18 leaves
- Lilac: 1 large flower and 4 small flowers
- Pink: 1 large flower and 3 small flowers
- Yellow: 1 large flower and 3 small flowers
Cord layout (distances measured from the top end of each cord):
Mark | Left cord | Right cord
1.5 in | lilac | yellow
4 in | pink | lilac
6.5 in | lilac | pink
8.5 in | leaf pair | leaf pair
10.5 in | yellow | pink
11-14 in | DOWEL LOOP | DOWEL LOOP
14.5 in | lilac | yellow
16.5 in | leaf pair | leaf pair
19 in | leaf pair | leaf pair
20-23 in | END LOOP | END LOOP
In cm, those marks are 3.8, 10.2, 16.5, 21.6, 26.7, 27.9–35.6, 36.8, 41.9, 48.3, and 50.8–58.4.
Towel layout (flower end at the bottom):
leaf leaf [PINK] [YELLOW] [LILAC] leaf leaf
leaf leaf
=============== sage stripe ===============
--------------- cream ---------------------
=============== sage stripe ===============
Joining (Assembly)
Upper dowel loops: On each cord, fold the section from 11 to 14 in (27.9 to 35.6 cm) into a 3 in (7.6 cm) loop. Whipstitch the cord to itself at the base of the loop with 4–5 firm stitches. The loop opens to about 1 in (2.5 cm), so the dowel fits snugly.
End loops: Fold the last 3 in (7.6 cm) of each cord, from 20 to 23 in (50.8 to 58.4 cm), back onto the cord. Whipstitch the tip at the 20 in (50.8 cm) mark.
Apex: Lay the two top ends side by side to form a point. Whipstitch them together for 0.5 in (1.3 cm). Join cream at the tip, ch 12, and sl st in the same spot. Work 16 sc into the ch-12 loop, then sl st to the first sc. This makes a hanging loop about 1 in (2.5 cm) tall.
Cord appliqués: Sew each flower through its center and at 2 petal tips, following the cord layout. For each leaf pair, the leaf bases meet on the cord and the tips angle outward.
Towel appliqués: Finish the border before you sew these on.
- Center the yellow flower 5 in (12.7 cm) from each side edge and 4 in (10.2 cm) above the finished bottom edge.
- Center the pink flower 2.5 in (6.4 cm) to its left and the lilac flower 2.5 in (6.4 cm) to its right.
- Tuck 2 leaves at each outer side. Tuck 1 leaf below each gap between flowers, partly under the petals.
- Sew through one towel layer only.
Keep your stitches snug but not puckered. Use yarn that matches the edge of each appliqué.
Size checkpoint: The dowel loops should sit 12 in (30.5 cm) apart, with 1 in (2.5 cm) of dowel showing past each loop.
Border (Towel)
Border gauge: 5 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm) along the edge. 2 rounds = 0.5 in (1.3 cm) deep.
Rnd 1: With RS facing, join cream in the last st of Row 95. Ch 1 and work 3 sc in the same st (corner). Sc in the next 43 sts, then 3 sc in the last st (corner). Down the long side, sc in each row end of Rows 94 through 2 (93 sc). Along the foundation ch, work 3 sc in the first ch, sc in the next 43 ch, and 3 sc in the last ch. Up the second long side, work 93 sc in the row ends. Sl st to the first sc. (284 sts: short sides 47 sts, long sides 97 sts, each counted from corner center to corner center)
Rnd 2: Sl st into the next sc (corner center). Ch 1 and work 3 sc in the same st. Sc in each sc to the next corner center, then 3 sc in the corner center. Repeat around, leaving out the last corner group. Sl st to the first sc. (292 sts: short sides 49 sts, long sides 99 sts)
Why the math works: The body has 5 sts and 5 rows per 1 in (2.5 cm), so 1 sc per st or row end matches the edge length exactly. The 45 sts measure 9 in (22.9 cm), and the 95 rows measure 19 in (48.3 cm). Each round adds 2 sts at each corner and 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of depth on each side. That brings the towel to 10 x 20 in (25.4 x 50.8 cm).
Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Final Blocking
- Soak the towel and all appliqués in cool water, then roll them in a towel to press out the water.
- Pin the towel to 10 x 20 in (25.4 x 50.8 cm). Keep the sides straight and the stripes level.
- Pin each flower flat with the petals opened evenly. Pinch each leaf tip to a point.
- Lay the cords out straight without stretching them.
- Let everything dry completely before you assemble the set.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Towel measures 10 x 20 in (25.4 x 50.8 cm) with square corners
- Each stripe set sits 4 cream rows from its end
- Border lies flat
- Both cords measure 23 in (58.4 cm)
- Dowel loops sit at matching heights and fit the dowels snugly
- All flowers face RS out
- Ends are woven in at least 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
- Hanging loop is firmly anchored
Troubleshooting
- Towel narrows: You’re likely missing the last sc of Row B. Count your sts every 10 rows; you should have 45.
- Border ruffles: You may have extra sc. Keep 93 sc per long side in Rnd 1.
- Border cups: Go up a hook size for the border only.
- Cord twists: Always rotate in the same direction.
- Flowers cup: Block them flat, or work Rnd 2 of the large flower more loosely.
- Dowel loops are loose: Move the tack stitches 0.25 in (0.6 cm) closer to the loop.
Care
Machine wash the towel cold on a gentle cycle and lay it flat to dry. Take out the dowels and hand wash the hanger when needed.
Final Notes
All the measurements build on each other. At 5 sts and 5 rows per 1 in (2.5 cm), the towel body is 9 x 19 in (22.9 x 48.3 cm), and the border brings it to 10 x 20 in (25.4 x 50.8 cm). At 4 rows per 1 in (2.5 cm), each cord is 23 in (58.4 cm) long, and its loops at 11 in (27.9 cm) and 20 in (50.8 cm) hold the dowels 12 in (30.5 cm) apart. Check each stage as you go.
Happy crocheting!