A crocheted wallet has a soft, textured feel in your hand and a small shape that slips neatly into a purse, backpack, or coat pocket. These wallet patterns suit beginners ready to practice even stitches, as well as experienced makers who want a quick handmade gift for a birthday or holiday. You can choose a simple folded style or add details such as a button, a flap, or a small card pocket to match how the wallet will be used. Home decor lovers may enjoy carrying a handmade piece that echoes the colors of their favorite blankets or cushions. Along the way, you’ll see how basic stitches, tidy edges, and careful shaping help a wallet hold its form. The result is a useful project with plenty of room for personal touches.

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Why You’ll Love This Pattern

This cotton crochet dishcloth is worked in straight rows, with alternating back-loop and regular single crochet rows for a lightly ridged surface. The simple stitch pattern makes it a useful first project for practicing even tension and counting without having to manage increases, decreases, or joining rounds.

One cloth takes about 90 yards of worsted-weight cotton, so a partial skein is often enough. The ridges give your fingers a clear texture to feel while you work, and the finished 8-inch square is easy to use at the sink or fold beside a stack of kitchen towels. A pair tied with cotton cord also makes a practical housewarming gift.

The rows were easy to keep track of, and the ridges give the cloth a nice feel. I finished mine in an afternoon.

— Mara, home crocheter

Pattern Overview & Skill Level

Skill Level: Beginner. You need to chain, single crochet, turn, and work into the back loop.
Approximate Time: 2–3 hours, depending on your pace and how often you stop to check your stitch count.
Construction: The dishcloth is worked flat in rows from the bottom edge upward. The alternating stitch placement creates ridges without a separate border.
Finished Dimensions & Sizing: About 8 × 8 inches (20 × 20 cm) when blocked to gauge. The cloth is intended to be a practical kitchen size, rather than a large bath washcloth.

Materials & Supplies Needed

Yarn: About 90 yards of worsted-weight (#4) 100% cotton yarn in one color. Cotton is absorbent and tolerates regular washing. A solid or lightly flecked yarn makes the ridged texture easy to see.
Hook: 5.0 mm / H-8 crochet hook. Use the hook that gives you the stated gauge; your labeled hook size may not match another crocheter’s tension.
Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in the two ends, scissors, and a ruler or tape measure. A removable stitch marker can mark the first stitch of a row if you tend to lose track at the edges.
Substitutions: Choose another worsted cotton with similar thickness and check your gauge before continuing. A thinner yarn makes a smaller, lighter cloth; a thicker yarn or larger hook makes a larger, looser cloth and may use more yardage. Avoid acrylic if you want the cloth to absorb water well.
Gauge: 14 single crochet stitches and 16 rows measure 4 inches (10 cm) in the pattern stitch, after light blocking. Adjust your hook size if your swatch is wider or narrower.

Stitch Guide & Abbreviations (US Terms)

ch: Chain.
sc: Single crochet. Insert the hook in the indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
BLO: Back loop only. Work into the loop farthest from you at the top of the stitch. The unused front loop forms the raised ridge.
st(s): Stitch or stitches.
rep: Repeat.

Turning chains do not count as stitches in this pattern. Work the first single crochet of each row into the first stitch at the base of the turning chain. Take care not to skip that edge stitch.

Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions

Dishcloth

Foundation: Ch 29. Keep the chain relaxed so the bottom edge does not pull in. The first row will contain 28 stitches.

Row 1: Sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. Ch 1 and turn. (28 sts)

Row 2: Sc in BLO across. Ch 1 and turn. (28 sts)

Row 3: Sc in both loops across. Ch 1 and turn. (28 sts)

Row 4: Rep Row 2. Ch 1 and turn. (28 sts)

Row 5: Rep Row 3. Ch 1 and turn. (28 sts)

Rows 6–32: Continue alternating the two row types: every even-numbered row is sc in BLO across, and every odd-numbered row is sc in both loops across. Ch 1 and turn after each row. Work 28 sts in each row.

After Row 32, fasten off, leaving a tail long enough to weave in. Check that the cloth measures about 8 inches square. Use the tapestry needle to weave each end through several stitches on the wrong side, then change direction and weave through a few more stitches so the end is secure. Trim the remaining yarn close without cutting into the fabric.

Finishing

Wet the cloth in cool or lukewarm water, press out excess water in a towel, and lay it flat. Smooth the edges into a square without stretching the stitches. Blocking is optional, but it helps correct small differences in row height and gives the cloth a neat shape.

Care & Washing Instructions

Wash cotton in a machine on a gentle or regular cycle with cool or warm water, up to about 40°C (104°F); check the yarn label for its limit.
Dry flat when possible, or tumble dry on low if the yarn label allows it; high heat can shrink cotton.
Reshape the damp cloth into a square by hand; use light blocking if the edges curl or the rows look uneven.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Keep your starting chain loose and your row stitches even. A tight chain can make the lower edge narrower than the rest of the cloth; if needed, use a hook one size larger just for the chain.
Count 28 stitches at the end of each row. Place a marker in the first stitch if the edge is hard to see, and move it up as you work.
Remember that the turning chain does not count. Putting the first sc into the chain instead of the first real stitch can add an unwanted stitch and make the cloth widen.
To change the size, add or remove foundation chains while keeping one fewer sc than the chain count. Add or remove rows for the height. A larger cloth uses more yarn; make a small swatch first if you need a specific finished measurement.
Weave in the yarn ends on the wrong side, following the path of several stitches and changing direction once. A short end worked through only one stitch is more likely to loosen with frequent washing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different cotton yarn?

Yes. Choose a yarn close to worsted weight and make a gauge swatch. If you use a thinner or thicker yarn without changing the stitch count, the finished cloth will be smaller or larger, and the amount of yarn needed may change.

How do I make the dishcloth larger or smaller?

Change the foundation chain to adjust the width, remembering that the first row has one fewer stitch than the number of chains. Add or remove rows to adjust the height. Keep the width and height changes proportional if you want the cloth to remain roughly square.

Is this pattern suitable for a first crochet project?

Yes, if you are comfortable making a chain and single crochet. The main challenge is keeping 28 stitches in every row, especially the first and last stitches. Use a stitch marker and count each row before turning.

May I sell dishcloths made from this pattern?

Check the designer’s terms before selling finished items, and write your own product description and take your own photos. If you sell the cloth, include fiber and care details so the buyer knows how to wash it.

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A finished crochet wallet is a small, useful piece that carries the time and care you put into every stitch. For a simple variation, change the yarn color for the flap or body, or make the wallet a little wider to fit extra cards. If you give one as a gift, tuck in a note or a gift card before wrapping it. Share a photo of your finished wallet on Pinterest or your favorite social media feed, especially if you tried a color combination of your own. When you’re ready for another handmade project, explore the other free crochet patterns on the blog and choose one that fits your next afternoon of making.