Recently I’ve been low-key obsessed with fidget toys of the knitted variety. Tawashis make great stress balls (I’ve always found the rubbery ones too hard to squeeze), come in endless color variations, and are easy to make once you get the hang of it. Plus, they’re a great way to get rid of scraps.

There are plenty of patterns for spiral scrubbies on Ravelry, but I couldn’t find a standalone pattern that coherently explained how to assemble the finished piece. I ended up using three or four different sources in conjunction to make mine-- not ideal. So, I decided to make a (hopefully) comprehensive picture tutorial for anyone else who is confused.

If there are any problems or unclear instructions, please let me know so I can fix it!

A note about gauge and yardage: You can make this pattern with any gauge or yarn to vary the size and volume of your tawashi. You don’t need very much yarn at all-- I make all of mine out of scraps.

A note about yarn choice: The yarn you use will differ depending on how you intend to use it. For a kitchen scrubber, I’ve found that Red Heart Super Saver (or a similarly scratchy acrylic yarn) is perfect for getting tough residue off dishes. For a face scrubber, cotton is recommended. For a stress ball, fuzzy yarns are fun and soothing. But really, it’s up to you :D