Free Crochet Patterns for the Home

Crochet something useful for every room

Home crochet is where the craft is most obviously practical. A dishcloth in cotton actually outperforms the shop-bought version and lasts for years. A basket in recycled t-shirt yarn holds real weight because crochet fabric is stiff and dense. A chunky puffy throw is warm in a way a thin shop blanket never is. This collection covers the lot, all as freedownloads: the Casa Kahlo and Sleep Under the Stars blankets, Elipse puffy throws and matching cushions, Daisy cushions in Simply DK, Tidy Up storage baskets, round beginner dishcloths, granny square blankets, a mandala-style island rug in ribbon yarn, stash baskets in blanket yarn, and gingerbread and Christmas ornaments for the seasonal shelf.

Where to begin

• Your very first project: a round dish cloth. It teaches working in the round, increases and a tidy edge in one evening.
• Second: a cushion cover, two squares crocheted to match a pad you already own.
• Third: a storage basket in t-shirt or ribbon yarn, worked tightly so the sides stand up.
• Bigger: a granny square or chunky throw, built over a few weeks.
• For the season: ornaments, which use scraps and small amounts of stuffing.

Yarn choice, room by room

Kitchen and bathroom: cotton, every time. It absorbs, it scrubs, and it survives a hot wash, which is why the dishcloth patterns here call for recycled cotton worsted and similar. Living room: acrylic and wool blends for throws and cushions that get sat on and washed often; chunky yarns give the fastest results and the cosiest hand. Storage: t-shirt yarn, ribbon yarn and blanket yarn, all of which are thick enough to hold a shape without stiffening. One warning about baskets, they need a firmer tension than a garment, so go down a hook size from the ball band and expect your hands to work harder.

Sizing home projects without a pattern's help

Homeware is forgiving, but a few numbers help. Cushion covers should be crocheted about 2-3cm smaller than the pad so the finished cushion looks plump rather than saggy. Dishcloths land comfortably around 20-25cm square. Throws vary hugely: a lap blanket around 100 x 120cm, a sofa throw around 130 x 170cm. To estimate yarn for any size, crochet a 15cm square, weigh it, work out how many squares fit into the finished area, and multiply. It takes ten minutes and prevents the most common home-crochet disaster, running out two rows from the end.

Finishing touches

Borders matter more on homeware than anywhere else, because the edge is what the eye lands on. A single round of double crochet with three stitches in each corner squares up a wobbly blanket; a round of crab stitch, worked backwards, gives a firm corded edge that stops a basket rim flopping. Block flat pieces to a true rectangle, particularly granny squares, which never look square until they are pinned out and dried. Weave ends in two directions so they cannot work loose in a hot wash.

Care

Cotton kitchen items can be machine washed hot and tumbled; that is the point of them. Acrylic throws and cushion covers wash at 40 degrees and should be dried flat, and never pressed with a hot iron, which flattens the pile permanently. T-shirt yarn baskets are best spot cleaned, since a full soak makes them lose their shape until they are stuffed and dried in position.

Questions

Are all these patterns free? Yes, every pattern in this collection is a free download.

What is the easiest free home crochet pattern? A round dishcloth in cotton, worked in the round with simple increases.

Which yarn makes the best crochet basket? Recycled t-shirt yarn or ribbon yarn, crocheted tightly on a hook a size smaller than recommended.

How much yarn for a crochet throw? More than for the knitted equivalent. Swatch, weigh and scale up to your finished size.

Can beginners make a blanket? Yes. A repeated granny square or a plain treble crochet rectangle needs only one stitch pattern and patience.