Practical and decorative gifts split evenly here: dishcloths and scrubbers on one end, a full one skein shawl on the other, with a flower, a cowl, coasters, baskets, and a rose bag charm filling in between.
Original KnotToYarn photos appear below only where they genuinely match the linked pattern. Keep both a hook you like and stitch markers on hand for the shawl, since it’s the one project here with real shaping.
Mother’s Day gift patterns to explore
1. Simple Crochet Flower
Ariana Wimsett’s simple flower is a quick afternoon project in Aran weight yarn with a 4.5 mm hook, though she says any yarn from your stash works. The first round forms five tall white petals from a chain-7 ring, and a contrasting second round goes between the petals. She used white and blue, but it works in any color combination, and you can string them into a garland for a party or add them to almost anything. There is a step-by-step video tutorial.
2. Coco Cowl
Jessica Underwood’s Coco Cowl uses one 5-ounce skein of Red Heart Soft (medium weight acrylic) with a 6 mm/J hook. Alternating open V stitch panels and half double crochet bands make a lightweight tube that is sewn at the short ends, and the standard cowl is 9.5 by 28 inches, with a 34 inch option. She says her first cowl was almost long enough to wrap twice, which would make it an infinity scarf. Most of the gifts in her series take less than one full skein.
3. Easy Square Coasters
Red Heart’s Easy Square Coasters is a free download from Yarnspirations, described as a set of coasters made with classic granny square technique in shades of Red Heart Super Saver, medium weight acrylic. The page suggests making a set as a housewarming gift or stuffing a few stockings, and calls it satisfying, easy and functional. You can change the colors easily to suit the recipient’s home.
4. Ribbed Dishcloths and Dish Scrubbers
Jessica Underwood’s ribbed dishcloths and dish scrubbers are rated easy: a 10.5 inch square dishcloth with matching scrubbers, both made with an H/8 (5 mm) hook in worsted weight cotton. The cloth alternates front and back post treble crochet for ribbing, and the scrubber grows from a magic circle into post stitch texture. She presents them as a last-minute gift, and says you can use any color of cotton yarn. They also work as washcloths and face scrubbies.
5. Beverly Bulky Yarn Baskets
Jessica Underwood’s Beverly baskets are two nesting baskets made from one ball of Bernat Maker Outdoor bulky yarn with a 5 mm hook. You start with a flat single crochet circle, work continuous crunch stitch sides and finish with a crab stitch (reverse single crochet). The small basket is about 6.5 inches wide and the large about 8 inches. She notes her circles look a bit like hexagons, and links a video by Yarn & Chai about making baskets extra sturdy.
6. Crochet Rose Bag Charm
Ariana Wimsett’s rose bag charm is a quick project for scrap yarn, worked in Aran yarn with a 4.5 mm hook, and it finishes about 20 cm tall, with roses about 7 cm tall. The charm has a rolled 48-stitch circular rose, a chain-45 stem, shaped green leaves and five-point sepals, in pink, red or purple. You can hang it on bags, backpacks, your room or furniture knobs, and she has a full video tutorial.
7. Tendril One Skein Shawl
Carmen’s Tendril shawl is a one-skein project: a single 100 g skein of fingering yarn (about 400 m) makes a small asymmetric lace shawl on a 4 mm hook, and there are only 2 ends to weave in. The pattern repeat is an easy 4 rows of V stitches and dc3tog shells. Gauge is not crucial, but if you crochet tightly she says to go up a hook size for a lace with a loose drape. Strong blocking opens it to about 70 by 32 inches.
For Mother’s Day
If you only have an evening, make the two-round flower or the rose bag charm from Crafting Happiness. The Coco Cowl takes one 5 ounce skein, and the shawl from Annie Design Crochet is made from one skein of fingering yarn, which is the most impressive to give.