How to Crochet Pot Holders for Beginners
Pot holders make great crochet projects for beginners because they are compact, so they travel easily. Their size also allows them to be finished quickly, giving the beginner in crochet a sense of accomplishment. The most basic of pot holders can be made with only two stitches, the chain stitch and the single crochet stitch. Make several to match your kitchen décor, or stitch up a few to send to a friend as a housewarming present.
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Things You'll Need
- Worsted weight 100% cotton yarn
- Crochet hook, size G or H
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
Instructions
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How to Do a Chain Stitch
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1
Make a slip knot and put your crochet hook through the loop.
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2
Do a yarn over, grabbing the working yarn with the hook.
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3
Pull the hooked yarn through the first loop of your slip knot. This is one chain stitch. Please see the Resources section for diagrams.
How to Do a Single Crochet Stitch
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4
Slide the hook into your foundation chain stitch or the stitch on the previous row.
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Yarn over and pull the yarn through the chain or stitch in which you inserted the hook. You now have two loops on your hook.
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6
Yarn over again and pull the yarn through both loops on your hook. This is one single crochet stitch. Please see the resources for diagrams.
Crochet Pot Holder Instructions
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Begin by making 25 chain stitches. After the last stitch, turn the chains over so that the ridges on the back of the stitches are facing up.
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Skip the first chain ridge, and single crochet in the next ridge and each chain’s ridge across. After doing a single crochet in the last stitch, chain one stitch and turn your work so that you’re ready to go back the other direction.
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9
Continue crocheting, just as you made the last row. Be sure to stop and count after every few rows to be sure you have 24 total stitches on the row. Your work should be dense, with very little space between stitches. If you are able to see between the stitches, you may need to go down a hook size so that the finished pot holder will be tightly crocheted enough to protect your hands from heat.
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Stop crocheting when your pot holder measures about 6 inches, or to your desired height. Crochet the last stitch on the row, make eight chain stitches, and then single crochet again in the last stitch. This creates a loop that can be used to hang the pot holder.
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Cut the yarn after working the last stitch, leaving a 4-inch tail. Thread the yarn tail through your yarn needle, insert the needle through the stitch you just worked and tighten. This will close up the last stitch and tie off the yarn securely.
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Weave in all loose ends using the yarn needle, and trim any extra yarn tails.
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Tips & Warnings
For a tidier looking edge, make a single crochet edging once the body of the pot holder has been completed. After crocheting the final stitch, but before creating the eight-chain loop, single crochet down the sides of the pot holder. Make two single crochet stitches in each corner so that the pot holder will lie flat. Make the eight-chain loop on the last corner, and finish the pot holder as indicated.
Do not use acrylic yarn for pot holders. Acrylic, like most synthetic fibers, melts when exposed to heat or flame. Cotton yarn is the safest choice for crochet items that may be near heat sources.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit crochet image by Lytse from Fotolia.com
