Here’s a new twist on the classic “Four Square”. Tunisian crochet remains my favorite technique for making squishy washcloths. In cotton, you have an elegant dishcloth or washcloth. In acrylic, it makes a terrific square for an allover repeat of an afghan.
“Broken Rib Dishcloth” free crochet pattern by Kim Guzman, © Sep. 2026 All rights reserved.
Technique: Tunisian Crochet
Skill Level: Intermediate
Crochet Pattern At A Glance
Broken Rib Dishcloth
Designer: Kim Guzman © 2022-2026. All rights reserved.Rate the Pattern
Yarn
- Lily “Sugar’n Cream“, size 4 weight, 100% cotton. Ball Size (Solids): 113g / 4oz, 184m / 200yd, Ball Size (Ombres): 85g / 3oz, 138m / 150yd. Used approx. 50 yards of each color: Sonoma and Bamboo (or Sonoma and Sage Green).
Other Materials
- Suggested Crochet Hook Size K-10 ½ [6.5mm], or size needed to meet gauge. You don’t need a Tunisian crochet hook since this project is so small.
- Yarn Needle for weaving ends.
Instructions
- Work a straight 4" square in 2-stitch repeat stitch pattern.
- Turn the square 90 degrees to begin working along the side edge to make the same square directly onto the edge.
- Repeat for the third square.
- The fourth square starts the same as the previous two squares but it is also joined to the first square at the same time.
- Attach a simple single crochet trim and weave in all ends.
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Full Free Crochet Pattern Below
This is a free crochet pattern and the written instructions are below. If you prefer a printable download, a PDF is also available for purchase.
My Crochet Pattern Notes
This project starts with a small 4″ square. To make the next square, you turn it on its side and pull up loops and work along the edge. The third square is made the same way. For the fourth square, loops are pulled up along the edge and joined with a slip stitch to the first square.
The stitch pattern includes a relatively little known stitch which I’ve called the Twisted Up Simple Stitch. Provide are videos with two different ways to make this stitch. You can choose your favorite method since either will work exactly the same.
Tip: If you have made dishcloths before, with use, you may have had a problem with the ends coming out after weaving them in. If you have experienced this, you can use a dab of fabric glue to help reinforce them. With the yarn needle, weave in the end back and forth two or three times. Lift the end slightly and dab fabric glue into the center of the stitches, cut off the end and press it into the center where it will adhere to the glue.
Pin It For Later
Finished Size
9″ x 9″.
Yarn
Lily “Sugar’n Cream“, size 4 weight, 100% cotton. Ball Size (Solids): 113g / 4oz, 184m / 200yd, Ball Size (Ombres): 85g / 3oz, 138m / 150yd. Used approx. 50 yards of each color: Sonoma and Bamboo (or Sonoma and Sage Green).
Yarn Substitution
You can use any worsted/aran weight craft cotton. There are many brands available.
Other Materials
Suggested Crochet Hook Size K-10 ½ [6.5mm], or size needed to meet gauge. You don’t need a Tunisian crochet hook since this project is so small. Place a rubber band on the end of your hook to keep the loops from slipping off.
Yarn Needle for weaving ends.
Gauge
Worked in stitch pattern, about 14 stitches for 12 rows measures approximately 4″ x 4″.
Working at a different tension may require additional materials.
Special Stitches
Foundation: For best results, turn the chain over and work into the back horizontal bar to pull up loops. Chain the number indicated, insert hook in second chain, yarn over, pull loop through (2 loops now on hook), *insert hook in next chain, yarn over, pull loop through, keep loop on hook, repeat from * across, ending with the same number of loops on the hook as the starting chain. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video
Tunisian Simple Stitch (tss): Insert hook from side to side (right to left for right-handers or left to right for left-handers) under the front vertical bar, yarn over, pull loop through. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video.
Twisted Up Simple Stitch (TwUp-ss): This stitch is a simple stitch (see above) except the hook is placed in the opposite direction. To do this stitch as an all over repeat, it’s really not worth it because it looks so similar to simple stitch anyway. The reason why this stitch has only recently started surfacing is because it wasn’t put into traditionally published patterns. It’s too difficult to explain in words. But, we have the internet now! You need to insert the hook in the opposite direction and pop it up toward the top before pulling a loop through. To be honest, this is difficult even after practice. For this project, I decided to make a little change. I insert the hook normally, then removed the hook and lifted the loop up with the non-hook hand and twisted it before placing the hook again and pulling through a loop. Sounds complicated but it’s loads easier. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video.
Join As You Go and Alternate Twist Up SS Method: Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video.
Last Stitch of a Row: The last stitch of each row is worked into the outer 2 vertical bars. It’s basically a knit stitch with an extra loop. You don’t want to work under only one vertical bar since it will cause the loop to stretch too much. Working under both loops makes a nice, clean, sturdy edge. Right-Handed Video | Left-Handed Video.
Other Abbreviations
This crochet pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
ch=chain; lp(s)=loop(s); sc=single crochet; sk=skip; sl=slip; st(s)-stitch(es); yo=yarn over.
All numbers after the colon at the end of an instruction are stitch counts. Use the stitch count to check your work.
Dishcloth of the Month CAL 2026
I’m pleased to be participating in the Dishcloth of the Month CAL 2026!
View the pattern from Amy of The Stitchin’ Mommy.
View the pattern from Rhondda of Oombawka Design Crochet.
New Pattern Free PDF Download Limited Time
This pattern is made free through ad support below, but the PDF download for the Broken Rib Dishcloth pattern is available through the end of Monday only. This promotion ends at 11:59pm CST, Monday, September 14.
Click on the link near the top of this post to Ravelry, place the PDF in your cart. Do not click Buy Now. Put it in your cart. Add the code BROKEN926, then check out once your total changes to $ZERO. There are no refunds so please do not click checkout unless your total is $ZERO. Enjoy your free pattern!
Free Crochet Pattern Instructions
Note: This project is made of four squares, each joined to the previous. There is no seaming.
First Square:
Note: Every row is closed with a typical Tunisian crochet closing as follows (unless indicated otherwise): Ch 1, [yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] across. 1 lp remains on hook which counts for the first st of the next row.
Row 1: With Ombre, ch 14, work Foundation (see Special Stitches above), close (see Note above for closing instructions).
Note: See Special Stitches above for “tss” and “TwUP-ss” for repeat to make the Broken Rib stitch pattern.
Row 2: Sk first vertical bar [tss, TwUP-ss) to last stitch. work last stitch (see Special Stitches above), close.
Rows 3-12: Repeat row 2.
Row 13: Inserting hook the same as previous rows, slip stitch to last stitch, cut off ombre, work final slip stitch with solid color, one loop now on hook with solid color.
Second Square:
Row 1: Now with solid, begin working along side edge of the previous 12 rows, pull up 13 more loops. You’ll need to add a couple of loops in there somewhere at the beginning or end. Just squeeze it in there until you have 14 total loops on your hook, worked evenly along the sides of the rows, close normally.
Rows 2-13: Repeat as for First Square, changing to ombre on final row.
Third Square:
Now with ombre, repeat Second Square.
Fourth Square:
Row 1: Now with solid, begin working along side edge of the previous 12 rows, pull up 13 more loops. To close, replace the first “chain 1” with a slip stitch into the side of the First Square then continue with “yarn over, pull through 2 loops” across. This joins the last square to the edge of the First Square. Video available in Special Stitches.
Rows 2-13: Repeat as for First Square, except on closing, replace the first “chain 1” with a slip stitch into the side of the First Square then close remaining stitches normally.
Row 13: Repeat as for prior squares except finish by slip stitching to the Frist Square then cut off.
Trim
Join solid color at any corner with sl st, ch 1, sc evenly around with 3 sc at each corner, sl st to first sc, fasten off. Note: I actually liked 2 sc in the corners instead of 3, to give it a smoother corner. Use whichever you prefer.
Finishing
Weave in all ends securely.
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TERMS: To my fellow crafters, you have my permission to use my patterns to make and sell your projects* anywhere you like. You cannot use my images to sell your projects, though. You must take photos of your own work. All patterns have been tested but mistakes can happen. If you find a mistake, please let me know. Everything at MakeItCrochet.com is protected by copyright to Kim Guzman. Other than the permissions previously given, no one other than Kim Guzman has permission to: reproduce, copy, publish or distribute this pattern, its parts or photos in any way or form, including, but not limited to, translations into foreign languages & video production.
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I hope you enjoy this new crochet pattern. Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with the rest of us! I’ve joined up to the dishcloth CAL. 🙂