Project introduction
This article is a pattern overview, not a full tutorial, for the Dragon Eye Towel Topper by Nana’s Crafty Home, presented there as a fun and magical free crochet pattern. Use it to understand the project, check your supplies, and decide whether the techniques suit you before you begin. For the complete instructions, follow the Original designer’s pattern and instructions.
The design began as a homage to the Dragon Eye Pillow by Hooked by Kati. After making that pillow for a granddaughter’s birthday, the designer had yarn left over and fell in love with the bold eye motif. She asked Kati about creating a matching towel topper, Kati liked the idea, and this smaller kitchen version followed from that conversation and those leftovers.
Crochet Dragon Pattern Free Towel Topper pattern Details
Nana’s Crafty Home describes its towel toppers as projects an adventurous beginner can tackle, and places this one a step beyond the earlier designs in adventure. It is still small and quick, which makes it a practical way to stretch your skills a little at a time. Expect confident single crochet work, careful color changes, and a few special details rather than a large time commitment.
The sample used leftover worsted weight yarn from the pillow project, mainly Big Twist Value with a bit of Red Heart Super Saver. The designer notes that any worsted weight yarn you have on hand could be used, which makes the topper a practical scrap friendly project. Specific colors and amounts for the sample are listed in the construction section below, so check those before substituting.
A complete photo and video tutorial for the perfect round circle is offered to help with the front and back panels, which gives beginners a visual reference for the base shape. The web pattern is free to use on the designer site. An ad-free printable PDF version is also available to purchase for a small fee, so choose the format that suits how you like to work.
Dragon Eye Towel Topper free crochet Construction Overview
The pattern is written in US crochet terminology. The approximate finished size is 5 inch round, not including the towel, and the stated gauge is 5 inch equals 9 rounds of single crochet. Treat the size as approximate, as the source presents it that way, and check the original pattern for any placement photos or notes that help you compare your work as you go.
- Big Twist Value, Weight 4 / Medium (100% acrylic, 7 oz / 364 yds): Wine 1.1 oz / 55 yds; Orange 0.05 oz / 2 yds; Varsity Gold 0.05 oz / 2 yds; Cream 0.05 oz / 2 yds; Black 0.01 oz / 0.5 yds
- Red Heart Super Saver, Weight 4 / Medium (100% acrylic, 7 oz / 364 yds): Cornmeal (Yellow) 0.2 oz / 7 yds
- Size J (6.0 mm) crochet hook
- 1 plastic ring, 3 inch
- 1 button, 3/4 inch
- Embroidery floss for sewing on button
- Optional: small amount of polyfil stuffing for eyeball
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
Work in continuous rounds, do not join, and use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round. Abbreviations include MC for magic circle, ch for chain, sc for single crochet, sl st for slip stitch, st for stitch, sk for skip, sp for space, yo for yarn over, RS for right side, and WS for wrong side. SP-2 means spike stitch two rows below, and pc means popcorn.
The front and back panels each start from the same perfect round single crochet circle approach. The main difference is on the back panel, where a few single crochet stitches in round 6 are worked over the craft ring, keeping the ring toward the wrong side. Once both panels are complete, they provide a plain round ground that lets the detailed eye stand out.
The eyeball is made separately, starting in orange, changing to gold, then to Cornmeal yellow, with SP-2 stitches adding texture across the color bands. Upper and lower eyelids are worked in rows in Wine and joined along the eye edges, and the upper lid carries cream popcorn stitches for raised detail. See the Popcorn Stitch Tutorial - how to change colors for color changes. Finally, embroider the black slit on the right side, with its center knot and ends tucked under the eyelids.
The hanging tab is worked in rows of single crochet in Wine, finished with a buttonhole, and a button is sewn on with embroidery floss. To assemble the topper, sew the eye to the right side of the front panel, place the panels with wrong sides facing and the ring inside, then slip stitch through both panels where marked. Sew the tab to the top of the back panel and weave in the remaining ends.
