Every spring I feel the same creative pull — lighter yarns, cheerful motifs, and small knitting projects that celebrate the season. Easter is one of my favorite holidays to design for because it’s filled with warmth, family traditions, and handmade details.
Today I want to share something special with you — a free knitting chart for my Easter Chicken Towel. This is a simple but charming project featuring a little chicken knitted using jacquard colorwork. It’s quick to knit, beginner-friendly, and perfect for adding a touch of spring and Easter spirit to your kitchen.
And yes — you can download the chart for free and knit this towel yourself.
Why I Designed This Easter Chicken Towel
Over the years I’ve learned that the projects knitters love most are often the simplest ones. Not every project has to be a sweater or a large blanket. Sometimes the most satisfying knits are small pieces you can finish in an evening or two.
I designed this knitted Easter towel to be exactly that kind of project.
It’s small, practical, and joyful. The little chicken motif instantly brings Easter charm and spring energy into the kitchen. I also wanted it to be accessible to knitters who are just starting to explore colorwork knitting.
This dishcloth is perfect if you want to:
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practice jacquard knitting in a simple way
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create handmade Easter decorations
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knit DIY gifts for family and friends
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make something seasonal without starting a big project
Sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the smallest handmade ones.
The Chicken Motif — A Simple Jacquard Design
The chicken image is created using three-color knitting. You’ll follow a knitting chart, switching between three yarn colors as you move across each row. As the rows grow, the chicken gradually appears in the fabric — one of my favorite moments when knitting colorwork.
This type of motif knitting is perfect because:
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the chart is small and easy to read
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the pattern repeats in a clear grid
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you only need three colors of yarn
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the project is fast and satisfying.
Even if you are new to colorwork, this towel is a great place to start.
More About Easter Chicken Towel
For kitchen projects you can use either 100% non-mercerized cotton yarn or a cotton–acrylic blend. For this towel, I used YarnArt Jeans — 1.76 oz (50 g) / 174 yds (160 m). Cotton–acrylic is durable, absorbent, and easy to wash.
Finished Size
31 × 27 cm (12.2 × 10.6 inches)
Materials
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YarnArt Jeans yarn (50 g / 1.76 oz, 160 m / 174 yds)
You can use 100% cotton yarn or a cotton–acrylic blend with a similar weight. -
Knitting needles 3.5 mm (US 4)
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Tapestry needle
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Scissors
Gauge
28 stitches = 11.5 cm (4.5 in)
17 rows = 5 cm (2 in)
Measured in stockinette stitch using 3.5 mm (US 4) needles.
Stitch Pattern
The edges of the towel are worked in garter stitch, while the center section is knitted in stockinette stitch.
The chicken motif is created using jacquard colorwork. The towel is finished with an I-cord edging, and the hanging loop is also worked as an I-cord.
Knitting Instructions (Short Overview)
I cast on 74 stitches and knitted 8 rows in garter stitch to create the towel’s edge. Then, I placed markers 6 stitches in from each edge to keep the garter stitch border along the sides, which helps the towel maintain its shape.
Next, I worked rows 9–17 in stockinette stitch, and then marked the jacquard area for the chicken motif as follows: 6 stitches garter stitch, 30 stitches stockinette, 26 stitches pattern, 6 stitches stockinette, 6 stitches garter stitch. I then worked the charted chicken motif.
Important: after each row of colorwork, gently straighten the fabric to prevent it from pulling — this step is very important!
I worked the chicken motif from rows 17–61, then continued with the main white stockinette section of the towel from rows 62–78. Finally, I finished the towel with 8 rows of garter stitch (rows 79–86) and bound off all stitches in the usual way.
After the towel is complete, I finish all edges with an I-cord, which is both practical and decorative. You can see a detailed tutorial for this technique on my YouTube channel
My Tips for Knitting Neat Colorwork
If you’re new to jacquard knitting, here are a few tips I always share with my readers:
• Keep your yarn floats relaxed but not loose
• Don’t pull the stitches too tightly when changing colors
• Spread the stitches slightly across the needle to keep the tension even
• Always block your finished dishcloth to smooth the pattern
Blocking really makes the design shine and gives the fabric a clean, polished look.
Download the Free Knitting Chart
I’m always happy when my designs inspire other knitters, so I’ve made the Easter chicken knitting chart available as a free download.
You can save it to your phone, tablet, or print it out while knitting.
Once your square is finished, it can be used in several ways:
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a knitted dishcloth
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a small kitchen towel
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a spring table decoration
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a cute Easter kitchen accent
This Easter chicken towel is a tiny project for welcoming the new season.
If you’d like to knit one yourself, simply download the free chicken knitting chart, choose your favorite spring colors, and start knitting.
I hope this little chicken brings Easter cheer, spring inspiration, and handmade comfort to your kitchen.
Happy knitting 🐣🧶
