Tunisian Crochet Dish Drying Mat Pattern

Add a handmade touch to your kitchen with this free Tunisian crochet dish drying mat pattern! Made with absorbent cotton yarn, this textured crochet mat is a practical alternative to store-bought dish drying mats and can be tossed in the wash whenever it needs freshening up.

This Tunisian crochet pattern combines simple stitches with a decorative crossed-stitch design to create a sturdy, textured surface for drying dishes, glasses, and other kitchen items. The finished mat measures approximately 16 × 17 inches (40.5 × 43 cm), offering plenty of space beside your kitchen sink.

If you enjoy making useful crochet projects for your home, this dish drying mat is a great addition to your collection. You can also explore more of my free crochet kitchen patterns, including matching dishcloths and other everyday essentials.

About This Tunisian Crochet Dish Drying Mat

This dish drying mat is worked flat using Tunisian Simple Stitch (Tss), Tunisian Purl Stitch (Tps), and crossed stitches to create an interesting textured design.

The first and last six rows are worked in Tunisian Simple Stitch, with a five-stitch border along each side. A traditional single crochet border is added around the finished mat to give it a neat edge.

Pattern Details

• Skill level: Intermediate beginner familiar with Tunisian crochet
• Finished size: Approximately 16 × 17 in. (40.5 × 43 cm)
• Yarn weight: Worsted weight cotton yarn (medium #4)
• Construction: Worked flat in rows with a single crochet border
• Stitches used: Tunisian Simple Stitch, Tunisian Purl Stitch, crossed Tunisian stitches, single crochet

Materials

• Approximately 186 yds (170 m) worsted weight cotton yarn, such as Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton Yarn
• US J/10 (6 mm) Tunisian crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Add this pattern to your Ravelry library.

Tunisian Crochet Abbreviations

• ch – Chain
• sc – Single crochet
• sk – Skip
• st(s) – Stitch(es)
• Tps – Tunisian Purl Stitch
• Tss – Tunisian Simple Stitch
• yo – Yarn over

For additional abbreviations and symbols, see my Tunisian Crochet Abbreviations and Symbols Chart.

If you’re new to Tunisian crochet, my Introduction to Tunisian Crochet explains how to work the basic forward and return passes.

Pattern Notes

• The loop already on your hook counts as the first stitch of each forward pass. For example, when the pattern says to work 5 Tss, the first stitch is already on your hook, so you’ll pull up loops in the next four stitches.
• Work the last stitch of each row through both vertical strands of the edge stitch (the full V) for a neat finish.
• Use a basic return pass throughout: yarn over and draw through 1 loop, then yarn over and draw through 2 loops repeatedly until only 1 loop remains.
• The crossed stitch is made by skipping the next vertical bar, pulling up a loop in the following vertical bar, then returning to the skipped bar and pulling up another loop.
• Work the return pass after each forward pass unless otherwise indicated.

Tunisian Crochet Dish Drying Mat Pattern Instructions

Foundation Row

Chain 46.

Beginning in the second chain from the hook, pick up a loop in each chain across. You should have 46 loops on your hook, including the starting loop.

Complete a basic return pass.

Mat Rows

Rows 1–6: Work Tss in each stitch across — 46 sts.

Row 7: Work 5 Tss, *skip next vertical bar, pull up a loop in next vertical bar, pull up a loop in skipped vertical bar (crossed stitch made), 2 Tps; repeat from * until last 5 sts, work 5 Tss — 46 sts.

Row 8: Work 5 Tss, *2 Tps, skip next vertical bar, pull up a loop in next vertical bar, pull up a loop in skipped vertical bar (crossed stitch made); repeat from * until last 5 sts, work 5 Tss — 46 sts.

Rows 9–40: Repeat Rows 7 and 8 to continue the textured stitch pattern.

Rows 41–46: Work Tss in each stitch across — 46 sts.

Do not fasten off.

Single Crochet Border

Round 1: Chain 1. Work a single crochet border around the mat, placing 1 sc at the end of each row and 1 sc in each stitch along the top and bottom. Work 3 sc in each corner. Join to the first sc.

Rounds 2–3: Continue working single crochet around the mat, working 3 sc in each corner to maintain the shape. Join at the end of each round.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Block the finished mat if desired to help even out the stitches and shape the edges. See my How to Block Knit and Crochet Items tutorial for more information.

More Crochet Kitchen Patterns to Try

If you enjoyed making this Tunisian crochet dish drying mat, you might also like these free crochet dishcloth patterns. They’re practical projects for everyday use and make thoughtful handmade gifts.

From left to right:

• Textured Crochet Dishcloth Pattern
• Seeing Squares Crochet Dishcloth Pattern
• Crunchy Stitch Crochet Dishcloth Pattern
• Three Color Simple Stitch Dishcloth Pattern

More Tunisian Crochet Dishcloth Patterns

If you’d like to practice your Tunisian crochet stitches on another useful kitchen project, try these free dishcloth patterns. Each features a different design and is a fun way to build your Tunisian crochet skills.

• Sampler Washcloth Tunisian Crochet Pattern
• Tunisian Crochet Coaster Patterns

For even more inspiration, browse my collection of free crochet kitchen patterns and Tunisian crochet patterns and tutorials.