Why You Should Knit Your Own Hand Towel

    One day at work, a woman asked me what I was knitting. When I told her it was a hand towel, she looked at it, felt the yarn, and said “Oh, that’s decorative.” What I told her was that it was a cotton/acrylic blend so it was absorbent, but also durable. But as someone who washes their hands a lot and lives in a damp basement room, I could’ve gone on. So here’s me going on—a few reasons why knitting your own hand towel is actually a great idea (and if you want my hand towel pattern, you can find that here).

1. You get to control every aspect of the design

One of the best parts of knitting your own hand towel is how much freedom you have. Every choice is yours—from the fiber that suits your environment (like a quick-drying cotton/acrylic blend for damp spaces) to the exact size and shape that fits your unique setup. But design isn’t just about function; it’s also about how the towel looks and feels. Yarn comes in endless colors and combos, so you can match literally any bathroom wall or style you want. Plus, you can play with texture to make it more absorbent or scrubby, and add finishing details like a loop for hanging or a ruffle just for fun—small choices that make it more useful and more you.

2. It’s better quality than most store-bought towels

Store-bought towels are often made cheaply and wear out fast—fraying at the seams, stretching out, or going thin and sad-looking after just a few washes. They’re designed to be affordable and mass-produced, not necessarily to last. Most are woven fabric with hems that can unravel or stitching that comes loose over time. A knit towel, on the other hand, is constructed stitch by stitch, with no hems or seams to  fall apart. Choosing your yarn and stitch lets you decide how dense and durable the fabric will be, so your towel can hold up wash after wash. 

3. You’re more likely to care for it—so it’ll last longer

When you’ve put time and effort into making something, you naturally value it more. You feel more invested in it, and that kind of personal investment means you’re more likely to take the time to repair it instead of tossing it at the first sign of wear. And because you know exactly how it’s constructed, fixing a snag or reinforcing a worn spot feels completely manageable. This mindset of care and attention is what makes handmade items inherently more sustainable—they’re kept longer and used more thoughtfully.

4. It brings comfort and beauty into the most ordinary moments

Why not add a little luxury to something you use every single day? Hand towels are such a small, simple thing—but they’re part of your daily routine, often overlooked. There’s a quiet sense of pride in reaching for something you knit with care, something that does its job well and looks good doing it. That’s what luxury really is: an elevated version of the things we use all the time, made with intention and built to last.

5. They make great gifts

I think the best kinds of gifts are exactly those types of luxuries—everyday things, just made better. A hand knit towel fits right into that category. It’s practical, but still feels thoughtful. It shows care without being overly intimate or sentimental, and it’s personal in a way that doesn’t try too hard. You can tailor it to someone’s space or taste, and even pair it with something like a fancy soap from Lush to round it out. It’s low-pressure, useful, and still manages to feel special—which is honestly kind of the sweet spot for gifting. 

6. It’s a great way to use stash yarn—or justify buying that one special skein

Whether you have leftover yarn from other projects or you’ve been eyeing a gorgeous skein of cotton you don’t want to save for “something perfect,” knitting a hand towel gives you a reason to use it right away. Towels don’t require much yardage—just a skein or two—and they make a functional, satisfying project that actually shows off your yarn. It’s a guilt-free way to enjoy your stash (or treat yourself) without the pressure of committing to a big garment. 

7. It’s one of the best low-pressure projects you can cast on

I mentioned this in my pattern already, but a hand towel is really the perfect project to throw in your bag and take anywhere. No worrying about counting rows or shaping—just a simple, satisfying piece to pick up and put down as needed. It’s great for beginners learning the basics, but also ideal for more experienced knitters who want to try out a new stitch pattern or just enjoy a laid-back, useful project.

    If I’ve convinced you at all that knitting your own hand towel is worth it, here’s another shameless plug for the pattern I shared last week—just in case you’re ready to cast one on.