A crochet sun towel topper is a free crochet pattern by Nana’s Crafty Home!

I love a fun towel topper and currently have many seasonal patterns for towel toppers already on the blog.  A large portion of them are more Christmas themed and I wanted to add a couple of towel toppers that would be perfect for summer.

Since this week we celebrate the first official week of summer I knew a Sun towel topper would be the perfect addition to your summer kitchen home decor!

I recently released the Sun Granny Square pattern as part of my Easter Squares Blanket so I simply adapted the pattern to make this easy crochet sun towel topper.

Crochet Sun Towel Topper Pattern Details

My crochet sun towel topper begins with two panels of single crochet worked in a perfect single crochet circle. The front panel will have a final round of single crochet stitches worked in the back loop only. The remaining front loop is what we will use to work the first round of sun rays. The second round will use the front loop of the final round leaving the back loop for attaching the panels together at the end.

I worked up a couple of fun variations for this sun towel topper – one a cheerful fun happy face with safety eyes, smile and cheeks and the second option skipping the cheeks and safety eyes and instead sewing on sunglasses. Really fun summery options! I also worked up a sample just changing up the colors to sunflower colors to show you how versatile this pattern really is. I already have a sunflower towel topper pattern on the blog. However, this version’s petals aren’t quite as “droopy”.

I used Red Heart Super Saver* yarn for my crochet sun towel topper.  Red Heart Super Saver yarn is a medium weight #4 acrylic worsted weight yarn. But, you could certainly use any yarn you have on hand – a fantastic project for scraps!  

I have several towel toppers now that utilize a hidden 3″ ring* which allows the towel to be removable.  I purchase my rings from Amazon* but you can substitute with inexpensive plastic shower rings, wood rings or even elastic hair ties.  All have been used successfully by other makers.

*This post contains affiliate links.  You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase.  I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra!  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This crochet sun towel topper pattern is also available as an ad-free, printable PDF!  You can purchase the individual pattern, or if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my Lifetime Membership. It’s an awesome deal! Never pay for one of my PDFs again!! (Or, scroll down for the free version!)

Purchase the ad-free pdf of the crochet Sun Towel Topper pattern for a small fee.  Thank you so much for supporting my work!

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You may also like the following free patterns by Nana’s Crafty Home:

• 1. Crochet Sunny Rainbow Towel Topper free crochet pattern
• 2. Crochet Plant Hanger free crochet pattern
• 3. Modern Ring Towel Holder free crochet pattern

Happy Sun crochet pattern – towel topper pattern instructions

Pattern written in US crochet terminology

Supplies:

Red Heart Super Saver Weight 4 / Medium (100% acrylic, 7 oz / 370 yds) 

•     Lemon 0.8 oz / 43 yds (Yellow)
•     Saffron 0.4 oz / 22 yds (Orange)
•     Baby Pink 0.01 oz / 0.5 yds (Pink)
•     Black 0.01 (0.5) oz / 0.5 (27) yds (Black)
•     White 0.01 oz / 0.5 yds (White)

Size J (6.0 mm) crochet hook
1 – 3” plastic ring
2 – 8 mm black safety eyes
1 – 3/4” button
Embroidery floss for sewing on button
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Stitch Markers

Approximate finished size:  5” round (not including towel)

Gauge: 5” = 9 rounds of sc

Abbreviations:

• WS = wrong side
• RS = right side
• MC = magic circle
• ch(s) = chain(s)
• sc = single crochet
• sl st = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sk = skip
• sp = space
• BLO = back loop only
• FLO = front loop only
• hdc = half double crochet

Special Stitches:

Picot: ch 3, sl st in third ch from hook.

Pattern Notes:

• Work in continuous rounds, do not join, instead use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round. 
• Towel topper is worked in two panels which are then joined together at the end.
• Plastic ring is crocheted over while working back panel.

Front Panel

Round 1: (RS) With yellow, make a MC, ch 1, 6 sc in MC.  (6)

Round 2: 2 sc in each st.  (12)

Round 3: *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * to end. (18)

Round 4: 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* repeat from * to * to last st, 1 sc in last st.  (24)

Round 5: *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * to end. (30)

Round 6: 1 sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last 2 sts, 1 sc in last 2 sts.  (36)

Round 7: *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 5 sts,* repeat from * to * to end.  (42)

Round 8: 1 sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last 3 sts, 1 sc in last 3 sts.  (48)

Round 9: Working in BLO, *2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st to first st.  (54)

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Sun Rays

Round 1: With orange yarn, (working in FLO from round 8) sl st to first unused front loop from round 8, ch 1, sc in same st, *sk next st, (3 hdc, picot, 3 hdc) in next st, sk next st, sc in next st,* repeat from * to * to end of round skipping last st, sl st in first st to join.  Fasten off. (13 sun rays)

Repeat above instructions working into FLO of Round 9 sts. Shift starting point so second round of sun rays are behind sc of first round.

Back Panel

Round 1 – 5: Repeat rounds 1 – 5 of Front Panel.

Round 6: Repeat round 6 of Front Panel, except work the first 5 sc stitches over the plastic ring. S Note:  Keep ring to WS of panel. 

Round 7 – 9: Repeat rounds 7 – 9 of Front Panel.  Note: Omit working in BLO for round 9.

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Hanging Tab

Row 1:  With yellow, (leaving a long tail for sewing), ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch, turn. (4)

Row 2 – 20:  Ch 1, sc in each st, turn.  (4)

Row 21 (button hole row):  Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 2, sk next 2 sts, sc in last st. Turn. (2 st + 2 ch) 

Row 22:  Ch 1, sc in first st, 2 sc in ch-2 sp, 1 sc in last st. (4)

Fasten off.  Weave in end.

With embroidery thread, sew button to non-button hole end of tab.

Cheeks (make 2)

With pink, make a MC, ch 1, 6 sc in MC, sl st to first st.  (6)

Fasten off.

Sunglasses (optional)

Lens 1: (RS) With black, make a MC, ch 1, 6 sc in MC, sl st in first st.  (6) Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Lens 2: With black, make a MC, ch 1, 6 sc in MC, tighten MC, (sc, picot, sc) in next st from beginning, sc in next 3 sts, ch 1, with RS of lens 1 facing, sc in next 3 sts, (sc, picot, sc) in next st, sl st in next st.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.  Weave in remaining ends.

Assembly

With a long length of black, embroider smile on front panel.  Weave in ends.

Sew cheeks to each side of embroidered smile of front panel.

Add safety eyes to front panel.

Note:  If making sunglasses, omit safety eyes and with long length of yarn, sew sunglasses to RS of front panel above smile.  Cheeks could be added as well to this version.

With WS of panels facing (ring to inside of panels, open part of ring at bottom of face), use stitch markers to count 34 sts from one side of panel to the other.  Be sure that the top part of the ring is at the top part of the panels. Attach front and back panels together with stitch markers through both panels.  With yellow, attach yarn at first stitch marker, sl st in each st through both front and back panels to next stitch marker.  (34 st) 

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

With long tail, sew hanging tab to top of back panel.

Weave in remaining ends.

Copyright 2023 Tonya Bush / Nana’s Crafty Home

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