Saturday, May 24, 2014

Daisy Towel Holder

Introduction: I had been thinking about crocheting some towel toppers for a long time. I even started one but I wasn’t satisfied and ripped it out. Then I saw some photos of simple towel holders that piqued my interest and I decided to design one that really suited me. So here it is, the Daisy Towel Holder—fun and easy to make.
What’s nice about these towel holders is that they are separate from the towels. You slip a towel through the elastic ring to easily remove a towel to wash or switch to a different one. 
One of the reasons that I was dissatisfied with the crocheted towel topper I had started was that a normally-sized kitchen towel was too large for a crocheted top. It hung down too low on my kitchen cabinets but with this towel holder, the towel is doubled and hangs perfectly.

To download a version to print CLICK HERE.

Yarn: You will need some medium density (size 4) cotton yarn in two colors: one for the main body and one for the little daisy-like flower. This is a great project to use up small balls of cotton yarn. A golf ball size will make up the main body; even less is needed for the flower.

Hook: G hook (4mm)

Button: A button about an inch across (2.5 cm) works perfectly for the center of the flower. Slightly smaller or larger will do just fine, too.

Embroidery thread: Select the same color embroidery thread as the button for a good match.

Ponytail/hair elastic: Find a sturdy pony tail elastic about 2 inches across (5 cm). Using one of these elastics makes an ideal, stretchy ring to hold a towel.

Needles: Tapestry needle (large blunt needle) and a fairly large-eyed, pointed needle for sewing on the button with embroidery thread.

Okay, let’s get started.

Main body
Leaving a yarn tail of about 3-4 inches, sc around your ponytail elastic filling it up with nice, uniform stitches. I had a whole package of ponytail elastics so I matched the yarn with elastic. This way, even if the ring is stretched and there was slight separation between stitches, the color stays uniform.

If you are using a similar size ponytail elastic, your sc total might reach between 40–45 sts.

Row 1: Ch a long chain to measure about 5.5 inches (14 cm)—about 24 sts. The st count is less important than the length.
Row 2: Starting in the second ch from hook, hdc the length of the chain down to the elastic ring. Sc into the top of the nearest sc on the elastic ring. Sc into the next st. Turn.
Row 3: Hdc along the body of the holder to the end. 2 ch. Turn.
Row 4: Hdc the length of the holder. Sc into the top of the nearest sc of the elastic ring and again into the next sc after that. Turn.
Row 5: Hdc the length of the holder. This time, instead of turning, sc across the end of the holder to the original ch (row 1) side.
Final row: Hdc down the length of the holder along the original long chain (row 1). This final row makes a nice finished edge.

Cut yarn leaving a 4-inch tail.

Using your tapestry needle, secure loose yarn ends.

Daisy flower:
Using a 6-inch starting tail (15 cm), make a magic loop or chain enough stitches for a tight fitting button hole to accommodate the button you selected. If you use a similar button size to the ones in the first photo, you will want to start with 8 ch sts to make a loop, if you are not doing the magic loop method.

Row 1: Sc 18 sts around the loop.
Petals: You will be making 6 petals working in the BACK loops of the sc row.

First st, ch 2 to serve as the first hdc, hdc, dc (2) in the nearest st.
Second st: dc (2), hdc (2).
Third st: sl st.
Fourth st: hdc (2), dc (2).
Fifth st: dc (2), hdc (2).
Sixth st: sl st.

Repeat Fourth­ through Sixth st sequence around to make 5 more petals (total of 6 petals).

Leaving a 6-inch (15 cm) tail, cut yarn.

Button: Refer to the photo below to show the placement of the button. Somewhat loosely, sew your button to the towel holder using embroidery thread. When sewn, make a shank on the backside of the button by wrapping the embroidery thread around and around a few times and then securing your thread. The shank will make the button fit better into the daisy and reduce the likelihood of it popping off in the future.

Again referring to the same photo and using your tapestry needle, attach the daisy to the towel holder using the yarn ends. Secure ends in place. 

All done!

Isn’t this a fast and fun little extra to give along with a dishcloth or potholder? As an example, this towel holder pairs perfectly with the Gingham and Daisy potholders on this blog. (May 2012)

Photo below: Daisy towel holder with matching knitted dishcloth.

You are welcome to make, use, sell, or give as many of these daisy towel holders as you please. I just ask that you refrain from claiming the pattern as your own or selling it. It is a copyrighted property. 

Copyright 2014, Claudia A. Lowman/delights-gems. All Rights Reserved.


  1. What a great idea Claudia! And too cute. I always have the same issues with the crocheted towel toppers. I may have to adapt this idea to sewing. ;-)

  2. this is great... crocheting directly onto the towels is something we did in the long ago.. we would cut the towel in half and make two hanging towels. I will be making some of these today. thanks!

  3. I too have the same issues, this is a great idea, thank you for sharing

  4. These are great. Thanks for the photo tutorial.

  5. I just love your beautiful daisy towel holders. Thank you for creating another delightful free crochet pattern for all of us!

  6. Perfect! My daughter hinted very strongly, just the other day, that she needs a couple of replacement towel toppers – "the kind where I can change the towel easily, Mom." Thank you!!!

  7. Really cute, what kind of ponytail holders did you use?

  8. There is a picture of the ponytail elastics I used above in this post. They were the thickest I could find, not quite as thick as a pencil. Thick is best. If you can't find some like these, put two of a thinner kind together. Also, these are not expensive, probably under $2 for a whole package.

  9. These are awesome! Thank you so much for sharing 😃

  10. I made a few for friends, Thank you so much!

  11. This is really cute but for some reason I don't understand row 2 You just sc twice than turn do you go back up the chain you made? Why don't you go all the way around the circle. Sorry but having a brain freeze.

    1. The first thing you do is make sc's around the pony tail ring. So, if you go back just before the start of the rows, you will read:

      "Main body

      This is why you don't go around the circle, it should already have been done before you start the rows.

      Does this answer your question?

  12. Wonderful !! I will be making some of these to go into a donation raffle basket.

  13. I make one similar to this and have been doing for several years but not with the flower on it. !!!! They really work and is a great idea rather than having attached to towel .

  14. Have been making these for several years but mine don't have the flower on them. Better than being attached to towel !!!

  15. Thank you for sharing. I think this is just what I need to brighten my kitchen.

  16. Oh, yes, I love this idea! Perfect for gifts! Thank you for sharing! Pinning this.

  17. Fantastic. very clever. Will now add these to my kitchen gifts. TY Sandy

  18. Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. Your patterns are super easy to follow and very descriptive. I just finished making one and it turned out really great. Thanks again for sharing. Miriam

  19. Thank you for taking a moment to leave this nice comment. I'm so glad you made one and that you are satisfied with the idea and the pattern.

  20. Love your idea! Much easier than the whole kitchen towel. Thanks cannot wait to make one or two.......

  21. hello. I want ask, can I use your pattern on our social workshop? (sure, I'll give link on your page)

  22. I used cheap dollar store bangles usually used for girls birthday party favors instead of pony tail elastics. I like the ridgid circle better.

  23. What are cheap Dollar Store bangles? What else can be used C for elastic bands?

    1. I also have friends who have used plastic rings from around drinks, the ring that is left when you snap or break the seal of water or other drinks.

  24. Not "bangles," pony tail elastics.

    P.S. This was my first opportunity to answer you. I evacuated from Houston because of Hurricane Harvey. I returned yesterday to mostly good news on the homefront.