Cherry and Pink Sanding Chain Cloth Free Crochet Pattern

Cherry and Pink Sanding Chain Cloth Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

This beginner-friendly cloth is a simple flat rectangle of single crochet, but it has one clever trick that makes it look anything but plain: every row starts with a standing single crochet instead of a turning chain. That means both side edges come out as a tidy, beaded chain rather than a row of gappy chain spaces. Wide bands of cherry red and pink give it a cheerful western feel, and the neat edges are the real star of the show. Worked in worsted cotton, it feels sturdy and absorbent in the hand, perfect for wiping counters or drying dishes. If you can single crochet, you can make this cloth today.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted (4) medium weight, 100% cotton. Color A (cherry red): approx 85 yd (78 m). Color B (pink): approx 85 yd (78 m).
• Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7) crochet hook.
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a measuring tape.
• Finished size: Approx 9 in wide x 9 in tall (23 x 23 cm) after blocking.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
• rep — repeat.
• rnd — round.
• standing sc — begin with a slip knot on your hook, insert hook in the first stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops. This starts a new row without a turning chain.

Gauge

16 sc x 18 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet, blocked. To check it, crochet a small swatch in sc, block it, and measure a 4 in section; adjust your hook size if you have more or fewer stitches than 16 per 4 in.

Tips Before You Start

• Practice the standing single crochet on a few scrap rows first — it feels different from a normal start, but once it clicks your edges will be beautifully even.
• Do not chain 1 at the start of any row. The standing sc replaces it completely; adding a chain will create the gaps you are trying to avoid.
• Carry the unused color loosely up the side as you change colors, so the carried strand does not pull the edge tight.
• Keep your tension relaxed and even; cotton has little stretch, so a snug gauge will make the cloth stiff rather than drapey.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Cloth (one piece, flat rectangle)

Note: Work 1 standing sc at the start of every row; do not ch 1. Turn at the end of every row. Carry the unused color up the side.

Setup: With A, ch 37.

Row 1 (A): sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (36 sts). Turn.

Row 2 (A): standing sc in first st, sc in each st across (36 sts). Turn.

Rows 3-6 (A): rep Row 2 (36 sts). Change to B.

Rows 7-12 (B): rep Row 2 (36 sts). Change to A.

Rows 13-18 (A): rep Row 2 (36 sts). Change to B.

Rows 19-24 (B): rep Row 2 (36 sts). Change to A.

Rows 25-30 (A): rep Row 2 (36 sts). Change to B.

Rows 31-36 (B): rep Row 2 (36 sts). Change to A.

Rows 37-42 (A): rep Row 2 (36 sts). Do not fasten off after Row 42.

Edging (A)

Rnd 1: ch 1, sc evenly around the entire rectangle, working 1 sc in each row-end along the sides and 3 sc in each corner; join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

There is no seaming — this cloth is worked as one flat piece. Weave in all ends on the wrong side with your tapestry needle, taking care to hide the carried color strands neatly along the edge. Block the cloth to 9 x 9 in (23 x 23 cm) by wetting it, gently pressing out the water, pinning it square, and letting it dry flat. Blocking opens up the stitches and makes the beaded chain edges sit crisp and straight.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the stripe width: work 4-row or 8-row bands instead of 6 for a different look, keeping the same 36-stitch width.
• Try a contrasting edging color, such as a soft cream, to frame the cherry and pink bands.
• Make a matching set by working the same pattern in a single solid color for a minimalist cloth, or add a small hanging loop of ch 10 at one corner before fastening off.