Halloween is one of my favorite times of year to pull out those quirky, slightly spooky crochet projects that always get a laugh at the dinner table. If you’re looking for a quick make that’s equal parts useful and creepy, this oversized eyeball dishcloth is going to be your new October kitchen buddy. It’s big, bold, and just a little gross in the best way possible—imagine plopping down a steaming pot of soup on a giant crocheted eyeball!
This project works up in simple rounds with mostly double crochet stitches, so it’s beginner-friendly while still looking impressive. The color play is where all the magic happens—black for the pupil, green (or your favorite iris shade), creamy white for the sclera, and a pop of red embroidery for those bloodshot Halloween vibes. If you want to change the mood, swap the green for blue or hazel, or go wild with a neon iris for an extra spooky touch.
I love how versatile this piece is: use it as a dishcloth, a doily centerpiece for a party spread, or even string a few together to make an eyeball garland for your mantel. Wherever you put it, it’s guaranteed to get comments!
Grab your cotton yarn, a hook, and let’s make a dishcloth that really keeps an eye on things.
Materials
- 3.5 mm crochet hook (E/4 US)
- 4.5 mm crochet hook (G/7 US)
- DK weight cotton yarn in 4 colors (black, green, white, red)
- Tapestry needle
Yardage (approx.):
- Black – 8 yds (pupil)
- Green/blue, – 28 yds (iris)
- White – 97 yds (sclera)
- Red – 6 yds (veins & edging)
Abbreviations (US terms)
- BLO = Back Loop Only
- Ch = Chain
- Dc = Double Crochet
- Sl st = Slip Stitch
- Sp = Space
- St = Stitch
- Yo = Yarn Over
Pattern
Eyeball Center
With black yarn and 3.5 mm hook, make a magic circle.
Rnd 1: Ch 2 (does not count), work 12 dc into the ring. Join with sl st. (12 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around. Join. (24 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st repeat around. Join. (36 sts)
Fasten off black. Attach green or blue.
Rnd 4: Ch 2, dc in next st, (2 dc in next st, dc in 2 sts) repeat, ending with 2 dc, dc. Join. (48 sts)
Rnd 5: Ch 2, (2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts) repeat around. Join. (60 sts)
Rnd 6: Ch 2, dc in 2 sts, (2 dc, dc in 4) repeat. Join. (72 sts)
Rnd 7: Ch 2, (2 dc, dc in 5) repeat around. Join. (84 sts)
Fasten off green. Attach white.
Continue increasing in the same pattern through:
- Rnd 8: (2 dc, dc in 6) 96 sts
- Rnd 9: (2 dc, dc in 7) 108 sts
- Rnd 10: (2 dc, dc in 8) 120 sts
- Rnd 11: (2 dc, dc in 9) 132 sts
- Rnd 12: (2 dc, dc in 10) 144 sts
- Rnd 13: (2 dc, dc in 11) 156 sts
- Rnd 14: (2 dc, dc in 12) 168 sts
Fasten off white.
Border
Attach red yarn with 3.5 mm hook. Ch 15 for a loop, sl st into same st. Switch to 4.5 mm hook and work a playful border around: slip stitches, occasional increases, and little sc/hdc/dc groupings to create irregular “vein” shapes. Join. (approx. 186 sts)
Highlight
With white yarn, make a small 6-sc circle and sew it onto the pupil as a reflection spot.
Finishing Touches
Using red yarn, embroider short “blood vessel” lines from outer edge inward between Rnds 12–14. Weave in ends.
And there you have it—your crochet Halloween eyeball dishcloth, perfect for giving your kitchen a spooky twist.
