Colorfield Hand Towels In New Colors
Our Colorfield Hand Towels are little objects that do a big job. We dry our hands however-many-times a day, and using a lovely, handmade towel to do it is one way to bring a little joy to the moment!
We knit our Colorfield Hand Towels knitting pattern in simple linen stitch, a slip stitch pattern that creates a dense fabric that looks flat and woven on one side and nubbly on the other. Throwing in a two-color section, which is way easier than it may sound, creates another level of interest and beauty.
With six lovely new colors of Cotton Pure (almost two dozen total!), it’s easy to make towels that match your kitchen, bathroom, or mood! One hundred percent organically grown, this cotton yarn is also unmercerized, which makes it soft and absorbent with a lovely matte finish. We wash our hands of one-size-fits-all towels and dry them on Colorfield Hand Towels instead!
Originally designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoColorfieldHandTowels and #PurlSohoCottonPure. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
MATERIALS
To make a set of two towels, you’ll need…
- Color A: 6 skeins of Purl Soho’s Cotton Pure, 100% organically grown cotton yarn. Each skein of this sport weight yarn is 279 yards; approximately 1674 yards required.
- Color B: 1 skein of Cotton Pure. Approximately 220 yards required.
- US 7 (4.5 mm), 24- or 32-inch circular needles
NOTE: To make just 1 towel, 3 skeins of Color A will do the trick!
We used these soft and sweet color combos for our towels…
- Color A: Heirloom White, Color B: Lemon Mint
- Color A: Alabaster Cream, Color B: Mineral Blue
- Color A: Heirloom White, Color B: Teacup Pink
- Color A: Heirloom White, Color B: Jonquil Yellow
GAUGE
28 stitches and 50 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern
SIZE
Finished Dimensions: 22 inches wide x 37 inches long
NOTES
STITCH MULTIPLE
This pattern works over an odd number of stitches.
SLIP STITCHES
Slip all slipped stitches purlwise.
TURN + SLIDE
When you work the Two-Color Spaced-Out Linen Stitch Pattern, you either “slide” or “turn” the work at the end of each row.
“Turn work” means to do what you would normally do when knitting rows with circular needles: Transfer the needle from your left hand into your right hand and the needle from your right hand into your left, flipping the work around so the opposite side is facing you.
“Slide work” means to keep the same side of the work facing you and to push all the stitches to the right end of the circular needles. Without turning the work, start the new row as you normally would.
You will know that you’re doing this right if the yarn you need to complete the next row is right there waiting for you!
STITCH PATTERNS
ONE-COLOR LINEN STITCH
Row 1: (wrong side): Slip 1 with yarn in front (wyif), *p1, slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p1, slip 1 wyif.
Row 2 (right side): *K1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.
TWO-COLOR SPACED-OUT LINEN STITCH
Row 1 (wrong side): With Color A, slip 1 wyif, *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p1, slip 1 wyif. Turn work.
Row 2 (right side): Crossing Color B below Color A (A is in front of B), use Color B to *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. Slide work.
Row 3 (right side): With Color A, slip 1 wyib, *k1, slip 1 wyif, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k1, slip 1 wyib, Turn work.
Row 4 (wrong side): Crossing Color A below Color B (B is in front of A), use Color A to *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last stitch p1. Turn work.
Row 5 (right side): With Color A, repeat Row 3. Turn work.
Row 6 (wrong side): Crossing Color B below Color A (A is in front of B), use Color B to *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last stitch, p1. Slide work.
Row 7 (wrong side): With Color A, slip 1 wyif, *p1, slip 1 wyib, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, p1, slip 1 wyif. Turn work.
Row 8 (right side): Crossing Color A below Color B (B is in front of A), use Color A to *k1, slip 1wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. Turn work.
PATTERN
BEGIN: BOTH LAYOUTS
With Color A, cast on 155 stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
LAYOUT ONE
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 of ONE-COLOR LINEN STITCH until piece measures 2 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1-8 of TWO-COLOR SPACED-OUT LINEN STITCH for 19 inches or until piece measures 21 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 8.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 of ONE-COLOR LINEN STITCH for 16 inches or until piece measures 37 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 1.
LAYOUT TWO
Repeat Rows 1-8 of TWO-COLOR SPACED-OUT LINEN STITCH until piece measures 6 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 8.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 of ONE-COLOR LINEN STITCH for 25 inches or until piece measures 32 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1-8 of TWO-COLOR SPACED-OUT LINEN STITCH for 6 inches or until piece measures 37 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 7.
END: BOTH LAYOUTS
Cut Color B.
With the right side facing you, bind off in stitch pattern. Here’s how…
Bind-Off Row (right side): With Color A, k1, *slip 1 wyif, pass stitch over, k1, pass stitch over, repeat from * to end of row. Weave in the ends and lightly steam or wash on a cold, gentle cycle and air dry to block.
Learn About Cotton Pure + All Our Beautiful Yarns
As special as it is popular, our Cotton Pure brings true natural beauty to this project. 100% organically grown cotton, this sport-weight yarn feels exceptionally soft and supple in your hands, and it comes in tons of gently heathered colors you won’t find anywhere else! Making something big, like a blanket or sweater? Shop our 1,000-gram Cotton Pure On A Cone collection, too!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Cotton Pure knitting patterns and cast on!
More Sport-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of sport-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fiber
- Shop cotton yarn (What helps cotton keep its cool? Learn all about this soft, natural fiber in our guide to cotton yarn!)
- Shop plant-based yarn
- Shop machine-washable yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
May I ask… how washable is this fabric?? I would love to make a set but I have little kids and our kitchen towels get lots of use (ie, food stains!). Would the cotton come clean easily if washed right away?
Hi Megan,
Thanks for writing in. Cotton Pure can be machine washed on cold and tumble dried on low! This will definitely get any stubborn stains out!
All the best,
Lili
The cone of cotton may be used as the second color correct?
Hi Anne,
Thanks for reaching out. You can absolutely use Cotton Pure on a Cone for either of the colors! Each cone of this yarn is the equivalent of 10 skeins, so you’ll be able to get a whole lot of hand towels out of it. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I love this, but do you have a crochet version?
Hi Sandy,
Thanks for writing in. At the moment, we do not have a crochet version of this pattern, but I will absolutely pass along your suggestion to our design team as something to consider for the future!
All the best,
Lili
I would love to also see some crocheted, since I do not knit.
It would be nice to see a crochet version of this pattern . . . Linen stitch, perhaps?
Hi Vicki,
Thanks for reaching out. While we don’t yet have a crochet version of this pattern, that’s a great idea! I’d recommend using moss stitch, since that stitch looks similar to the knit linen stitch. Let us know how it goes if you try this out!
All the best,
Lili
Bought yarn—possible to get PDF of pattern(s)?
Hi Jackie,
Thanks so much for reaching out! I’ve gone ahead and emailed you the PDF of the pattern. Please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Carly
It looks like this yarn and stitch pattern might make a really nice summer baby blanket. What do you think?
Hi Wendi,
Thanks so much for writing in, and I agree, this lovely linen stitch pattern would make for a beautiful baby blanket! Cotton Pure is great for such a project since it’s 100% machine-washable, and it gets softer and softer with each use!
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Carly
I missed the sale on this yarn. Does it ever go on sale again?
Hi Karen,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write in, and if you haven’t already, you should sign up for our Newsletter on the front page of our website! When you sign up you will receive a 15% off coupon code, plus you will be kept in the loop on new releases, new projects, and sales. To sign up, just click the “Newsletter” link at the top right side of our homepage and type in your email address in the box, and click the enter button.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Carly
Will this yarn develop a musty smell after many uses?
Hello!
Thank you for your comment! Cotton Pure is machine wash and tumble dry safe, which should help prevent any smell after use, making these towels versatile and practical.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi! 3 questions 🙂
1) I see you recommend size 7 needles for this project, although size 3-5 is the usual recommend for cotton pure. As it happens I use size 1 needles, so size 7 seems awfully big. So just checking on that
2) to make a different size, what is the stitch pattern multiple
3) is it possible to get a chart of the 2 main stitch patterns? Thanks
Hello!
Thanks for reaching out! Larger needles are needed when working in linen stitch because the finished fabric is very dense. Using a larger needle size keeps the fabric more open and drapey, as well as makes it easer to knit. However, everyone’s gauge is different, so it would still be very helpful to knit a swatch before casting on for your project!
Our tutorial All About Gauge might be helpful for this project!
You can cast on any odd number of stitches for these hand towels, so they are very easy to customize for many uses! Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources to include a chart for this pattern, but I would be happy answer any questions you might have about linen stitch! A general explanation though, is that linen stitch is worked up in knit stitches and slipped stitches with yarn held in front, or purled stitches and slipped stitches with yarn held in back. Because you are working with two colors for these hand towels, there are some slide rows where you slide your work over to the other side of your circular needle in order to start working in the next color yarn.
I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Carly
Please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Carly
When this had gone on sale before, I saw some posts where they said you could make the towels a tad smaller – can you republish that pattern???
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we don’t have the resources to rewrite the Colorfield Hand Towels pattern for a larger size, but I’d be happy to explain how you can resize this pattern! Since the stitch multiple for casting on this pattern is an odd number, you can cast on any number of odd stitches to make a large size. The finished dimensions are 22 inches wide x 37 inches long, so if you were going to double the width of your towels to be 44 inches wide, you would cast on 311 stitches.
I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Carly
Is this towel really 37″ long- that’s really big for a kitchen towel
Hi Annette,
Yes, we designed these towels to be 37 inches long! If that feels too long for your preference though, the pattern is really easy to modify to a shorter length. Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Do you colors tend to bleed? I’d love a red with natural or dark blue with natural but am wondering if I might regret it due to the dye bleeding? Thanks for a pretty pattern and a great homemade, housewarming gift idea!
Hi Jen,
Thanks for reaching out and for the kind words! We have never had any problems with Cotton Pure bleeding during the blocking process, so you can feel free to knit and block your project as you would normally.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Carly
Can you send me a copy of the pattern without the yarn displays? I have purchased the yarn but don’t want to print/save all the photos.
Hi Irene,
Thanks for reaching out! I’d be happy to send along a PDF of the Colorfield Hand Towels for you! I’ll go ahead and send that to you via email, or if you’d like, you can click on the printer icon on the upper right corner of the project page, and click to delete any pictures you don’t want to include before printing or saving your file!
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Carly
Has anyone done a video tutorial of this? I’d love to make it, but am a bit stuck. Thanks for any leads!
Hello!
Thank you for writing in! We currently do not have a video tutorial of this stitch, however we would be happy to help you with more detailed instructions through our [email protected] email! If you have already cast on for your towels and have come to a road bump, we would be happy to help sort things out via a 1-on-1 Zoom as well.
I hope these suggestions help so we can get you back on track with your towels!
All the best,
Margaret
I am having problems keeping my edges neat and tight when adding the second color, any suggestions? Thank you!
Hi Kari!
Thank you for your question! This is a very common issue with the two-color linen stitch especially, so not to worry! I recommend pulling a little extra tighter on the working yarns when it comes time to use them, especially on the second knit/purl stitch in the row with each yarn, to lock in the tighter tension. This can also be evened out through the blocking process when the fibers in your towel have a chance to relax into their new shape.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
Thanks Margaret! I will give it a try. Starting another swatch tonight!
I am starting in the two color spaces out linen stitch . Do you start with both colors? Or just add the color b on row 2? I am having trouble getting color a in front of color b.
Hi Laurie!
Thank you for your question! For Row 1 in the Two Color Spaced Out Linen Stitch, you will just be working with Color A. Color B is added in when you start Row 2, as each row is just worked with one active color of working yarn. You will alternate working between Color A and Color B as you continue turning and sliding your work in the following rows! To get Color A in front of Color B, you can carry the active color up in front of the previously active color to lock in the previous row.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
I cast on 95 sts , size 7 needles, finished size ca. 12×19. Question about binding off on the right side. K1, *slip1 wyif, pass st over, k1, pass st over, repeat from*. When do you move your yarn to the back so you can knit the next st? Before or after the pass st over? Thanks for your help.
Hello,
Thanks for reaching out! For the bind-off, you can slip 1 stitch with yarn in front and then move the yarn to the back of your work again before lifting the previous stitch over the slipped stitch to bind off.
I hope this helps! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
All the best,
Carly
Thanks
Do you know if the pattern can be done with the colors in reverse? As in Color A is the Mineral Blue and Color B is the Alabaster?
Hi Julie,
Thanks for reaching out to us with your question! You can absolutely knit these towels with Mineral Blue as color A and Alabaster as color B! For a set of towels you will need 6 skeins of color A and 1 skein of color B in Cotton Pure.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Carly
I am several rows into this project, and the pattern is lovely. I’m confused about how the two colors should interact at the end of each row. Should the color you’re switching to wrap around, counter clockwise, the yarn with which you’ve just finished working a row? Or should the yarn you’ve just finished working with simply hang in front of the yarn you are picking up to begin working with on the next row? Thank you!
Hi Beth,
Thanks for reaching out to us! The edge stitches are made by either knitting the first stitch, slipping it with yarn in front, slipping it with yarn in back, crossing color A below Color B (B is in front of A), or crossing Color B below Color A (A is in front of B), depending on the row you are working. At the beginning of each row, these special instructions keep the edge neat and consistent without having to twist your yarn up the edges of your work.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Carly
I am purchasing the yarn. Can I please have together pattern
Thank you
Hi Harriet!
Thank you for your question! This pattern is free and can be found if you scroll up on this page. If you would like to print the pattern, you can click on the “Print” button on the right-hand side of the screen if you are on a desktop! If you’re on a mobile device, the “Print” button will be below the pattern but above the comments.
I hope this helps you track down the pattern!
Happy knitting,
Margaret
I would like to download the pattern, where do find the pattern to download?
I do not have instagram.
Thank you.
Hi Roberta!
Thank you for asking! This pattern is free and can be found if you scroll up on this page. If you would like to download a PDF or print this pattern, you can do so by clicking on the “print” icon. If you’re on your computer, you’ll find a “print” icon in the right column just below the “Save To Favorites” button. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find the “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Click on this button, and a window will pop up where you can delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print. When you hover over any image or a text block, it will be highlighted in yellow and a “trash” icon will appear. Just click on this icon to delete anything that’s not necessary to the pattern! For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. Then, just click on the “Print” or “PDF” button in the upper left-hand corner of the pop-up window!
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
Hello, I really like the look of the 2 color spaced out linen pattern. I’d like customize a layout of 2 inches on either end of one color linen pattern and the body of the towel
( approximately 33 inches ) of the two color spaced out linen pattern, then back to 2inches of the one color. I’m trying to determine how many skeins of each color I would require, hoping you can help .
Also, in a previous posted inquiry by myself- I have done one a towel with the two color spaced out linen stitch for 6 inches, then one color but with the color B ( ie- mineral blue) for 25 inches and back to the 2 color for another 6 inches- very happy with the result. Lovely yarn to work with.
Hi Julie,
Thanks for writing in! If you want to make just 1 towel with that layout, you’ll need 3 skeins of Color A and 1 skein of Color B. If you want to make 2 towels, both with that layout, I’d recommend getting 6 skeins of Color A and 2 skeins of Color B. I hope this helps, and I’m so glad to hear that your previous hand towels came out so well!
All the best,
Lili
I’m confused by the fact that in your instructions for these hand towels the gauge for cotton pure says 3-5 needle but the pattern says size 7.
Hi Jody,
Thank you for your question. This towel is knit in Linen Stitch, which is naturally very dense, so larger needles are needed to offset the density of the stitches! Using a larger needle size also keeps the fabric more open and drapey for your hand towel, as well as makes it easer to knit. However, everyone’s gauge is different, so it would still be very helpful to knit a swatch before casting on for your project!
All the best,
Margaret
I won this yarn on Instagram and can’t wait to cast on!
The size (22″ x 37″) seems a bit big for a kitchen towel.
Is there much shrinkage?
I’d like to adjust the pattern to make a towel closer to 18″ x 26″ so I’m thinking of casting on 127 stitches.
Hi Elizabeth,
Congratulations! The dimensions of 22 x 37 inches come from the gauge measurement, which was taken after the swatch was blocked, so it already includes any changes in measurement from the washing process! And you’re absolutely correct, a cast-on of 127 stitches will make a towel that’s 18 inches in width. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Every now and then I have trouble with moving A or B under the other to start a row. It happens when one yarn is in the first stitch position, the second yarn ( to be the working yarn) comes from the second stitch in from the tip of the needle. If the yarns are on the front side, do I take the right yarn, move it to the left then pull the working yarn from the second stitch under it and begin stitching? Ditto when the yarns are in the back. I have a nice chain of alternating stitches on the edge, for the most part. But every now and then I have a bar across instead of the nice v- shaped stitch. Thank you for your help.
Hi Mommo,
Thanks so much for writing in! I think you’re on the right track! The color switches are worked by crossing Color A over Color B and vice versa. Moving the previous yarn to the left over the new working yarn in effect is the same as crossing the previous color over the new one, so your color work will look correct. It sounds like your project is progressing great!
If you have a bar across one of your selvage stitches, it could be that your yarn is in front when slipping a stitch rather than with the yarn in back. I hope this helps! Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] if you have further questions! We’re always happy to assist.
All the best,
Cat
Thank you for your help. I just finished the towel so will pay more attention on the next one to make sure I get it right.
Such a lovely pattern and color combination. Inspired me to make a striped bathmat using up cotton yarn leftovers. Thank you for this free pattern.
Could you send me the pdf please? Thanks!
Hi Lois,
Thanks for reaching out! Here’s how you can download a PDF version of this pattern: If you’re on your computer, you’ll find a “print” icon in the right column just below the “Save To Favorites” button. If you’re on a mobile version of the site, you will find the “print” icon below the pattern and above the comments.
Click on this button, and a window will pop up where you can delete whichever parts of the pattern you don’t want to print. When you hover over any image or a text block, it will be highlighted in yellow and a “trash” icon will appear. Just click on this icon to delete anything that’s not necessary to the pattern! For example, you may decide to shorten the pattern by omitting certain images or the list of materials. Then, click on the “PDF” button in the upper left-hand corner of the pop-up window. Once your PDF has finished downloading, just click the “Download PDF” button, and it will be saved to your computer! (You can also click the “Print” button if you’d like to print the pattern.)
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I know earlier comments you say there is no video but I’m just sending in my enthusiastic vote to please please please make one for the two color version. My selvage is great until I change to the two color and then it’s soooo awful. I’ve redone it 4 times trying to be so careful with following the directions. Ugh. I’m ready to give up.
Hi Wendy,
I’m so sorry to hear that your selvage isn’t coming out as expected! We’d be happy to help troubleshoot the issue, but it would help to have a visualization of what’s going on. Would you be able to send a photo of your work to [email protected] so we can take a look?
All the best,
Lili
Hi! How do I adjust the pattern to have finished dimensions closer to 18×30.
Thanks!!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for reaching out! To knit these hand towels in a different size, you will first have to cast on a different number of stitches. To figure out your cast-on number, multiply the number of stitches per inch (7 stitches, according to the gauge) by the width that you would like (18 inches) and cast on the nearest odd number. Doing these calculations, your cast-on number comes to either 125 or 127 stitches. Then you can essentially follow the pattern as written until the towel reaches 30 inches! Just make sure to switch sections of one- and two-color linen stitch at slightly smaller intervals to make the 30-inch length work out. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, this pattern looks greate! I would like to try it, but im Hebrew speaker, and also better visual lerner, so it might be much eazyer for me and more knitters to see a small video to explain this stich..
Do you have a video for this maybe? Or plan to do it?
I will highly apreciate your help
As it seams to be so beutifull!!
Best regards
Judy
Israel
Hi Judy,
Thank you for writing in. I’m afraid we don’t have a video for this pattern at the moment but I will be sure to share your message with the team!
All the best,
Gavriella
Hello, On the Crossing Color rows, when it indicates A is in front of B, is that just at the start, or is it stranded with every K stitch with A in front of B? Thank you
Hello,
Thanks for writing in! Colors A and B will only be in the same place at the beginning of the row. After you cross them, you’ll be working with only one color for the remainder of the row. Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you so much!! : )
Thank you for this lovely pattern. Do you think it would work with Sunshower Cotton? I know it’s quite a bit heavier than the Cotton Pure. Just wondering your thoughts before I try a swatch.
Hi Roberta,
You’re very welcome, and we’re thrilled this pattern caught your eye! I think these hand towels would look lovely in Sunshower Cotton! You would just need to cast on fewer stitches to knit this project in the same dimensions as the original pattern, and make sure the number you cast on is odd since this pattern works over an odd number of stitches. I definitely encourage you to knit up a swatch, and once you have the number of stitches per inch you’re getting using Sunshower Cotton, just multiply that by 22 inches and make sure that number is odd. I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Cat
Hello …. I am very confused by ……. K1, slip 1 wyif….. is there better instructions for this pattern?
PDF version
Hi Tara,
I’m so sorry to hear that the instructions in this pattern are confusing, and I’m happy to help! “K1” means knit one stitch, and “slip 1 wyif” means slip one stitch, holding the working yarn in front of your work. If there are any other confusing notations, I’d recommend taking a look at our Knitting Abbreviations + Terms page–or you can ask us again!
All the best,
Lili