Knit up a perfect gift with this easy knit face scrubbies pattern – uses only knit and purl stitches to create a neat basketweave effect.
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Design Story and Inspiration for this Easy Knitting Pattern
I designed this pattern for the Holiday Maker’s Challenge, an annual event where we work together to knit up as many handmade gifts as possible before Christmas. The event includes a gift-giving guide, calendar and 8 free downloads for patterns like this one!
All patterns in this challenge have to meet the following criteria: they must be quick, they must use stash yarn, they must be easy enough for an advanced beginner and they must be an item that is typically well-received by gift recipients. I hope this fits the bill!
Yarn Options for Facial Scrubbies
The yarn I chose for this free knitting pattern is Yarn Bee Sugarwheel Cotton, which is one of my favorite cotton yarns. It comes in solids and multicolor cakes. I love to pick up the cakes and make several small items using the different colors from the cake (after all, you know they go well together!).
You can use any cotton yarn that gets gauge. This yarn is DK but is almost as thick as worsted weight yarn, so if all you have is worsted cotton, that will work. It just might end up a tad bigger than the ones I’ve made.
These face scrubbies are great alternatives to cotton pads and make a wonderful makeup remover. You can also use this as a small face cloth (or you can make the larger version here). Another wonderful thing is they can be made with leftover scrap yarn!
You can also make these with acrylic yarn if you desire, since acrylic can also be machine washed and dried.
Knit Face Scrubby Video Tutorial
Reusable Facial Scrubbies Pattern Details
This pattern is knit flat on straight needles with only simple combinations of knit and purl stitches.
The basketweave pattern has a garter stitch border so that it lies completely flat.
How to Customize this Easy Knit Scrubby
You can easily change the size of this pattern by adding or subtracting multiples of four. Want it smaller? Cast on 16 or even 12 stitches (although keep in mind the pattern repeat is a multiple of 4+2 so if you go too small you won’t be able to see the pattern well).
Want this to be larger like a dishcloth or washcloth? Add multiples of four until you get your desired size. The garter stitch border and extra +2 have already been added in for you.
More Free Giftable Knitting Patterns
Easy Knit Face Scrubbies
What You’ll Need
Yarn: Yarn Bee Sugarwheel Cotton, 1 skein (DK #3)
Needle Size: US Size 8 (5.00mm) straight needles
Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors
Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4″ (10cm) in pattern st after wet blocking
Finished Size: Approximately 4×4″ after blocking
Easy level knitting pattern
Stitch Abbreviations
Knit Stitch (k)
Purl Stitch (p)
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Easy Knit Face Scrubby Pattern
Cast on 20 sts.
Rows 1-3: Knit.
Row 4: K3, *k1, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 5: K3, *k3, p1; repeat from * to last 5 sts, k5.
Row 6: K3, p2, *k1, p3; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 7: Repeat row 4.
Row 8: K3, *k1, p3; repeat from * to last 5 sts, k1, p1, k3.
Row 9: K4, p1, *k3, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Rows 10-27: Repeat rows 4-9.
Rows 28-29: Knit.
Bind off knitwise.
Want to learn more about knitting for the home? Check out this great article.
Common Questions about Knit Face Scrubbies
Most of the patterns you will see online are for a crochet face scrubby, which will usually be round and with a puff stitch. So, when knitting, how can we create a face scrubby? Typically, the knit ones are square, which makes them super easy knitting projects. If you can cast on, knit and purl, you can make an easy face scrubby.
These are perfect as a makeup remover, facial cleansing cloth, and as part of a spa-themed gift set. Whip up a few of these with a knit washcloth and maybe a towel or eye mask, add some spa products for facials or body care and you’ve got a perfect handmade gift. You can also use as a stocking stuffer. Bonus – they also help you save money over disposables!
No way! While Red Heart and others have a scrubby yarn type, you do not have to use it for your facial scrubbies. That’s more for a kitchen scrubby pattern that is a little rougher. I like to use a nice cotton like the Sugarwheel Cotton used here, or even a Lily Sugar N Cream, which is a popular choice for knitters.
What does the back look like? Have a look!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this scrubby free knitting pattern for the Easy Knit Facial Scrubbies! I had a blast knitting these up.
Happy Knitting!
Amanda
Beautiful Pattern, is there a mistake on row 5, do you repeat all of the stitches or only the ones from the *? Thank you.
Hi! Only the ones from the *, sorry that got left out. I went in and changed it so that the pattern is accurate. 🙂
I like the way it looks. Can I make this pattern into a scarf. If so, How do I go about it?? Thanks in advance.
You can do that, the stitch count is 4, so cast on the number of stitches for your width by increasing in groups of 4 in addition to the 20 stitch cast on the pattern calls for. Then work to your desired length by following the pattern rows consecutively. In this case I would cast on 40 stitches and work 15 repeats of the pattern, this should give you an 8 x 60′ size scarf. Hope this helps, happy knitting!
Thanks for the patterns.
Where do you buy that yarn at? I have not seen it.
Hi Gail! I got this yarn from Hobby Lobby 🙂