How to Finish a Potholder

The cotton or nylon loops used to weave pot holders are scraps from sock factories.

Weaving cotton-loop potholders on a square loom is a craft that has been enjoyed for generations. Weaving the potholders teaches basic weaving skills and allows crafters to experiment with colors and patterns. Set up the loom by placing the warp loops across it and weave the weft loops over and under the warps. When these steps are finished, you loop the edges of the loops through each other to finish the edges of the potholder and remove it from the loom.

Things You'll Need

• Hook

Instructions

1. Finish weaving all the loops onto the loom. It is okay if some of the pegs along the edge of the loom are empty as long as the square in the center is tightly woven. Push the loops firmly down on the loom before you start finishing the edge. This helps keep them from slipping off too soon as you loop the edges together.

2. Stick the hook through the end of loop on the right side of the bottom right corner of the loom, if you are right-handed. Start with the loop on the left side of the bottom left corner, if you are left handed. Pull it off the peg and onto your hook.

3. Grab the loop on the other side of the corner with the hook and pull in through the first loop. Drop the first loop off the hook as you pull the second loop through. You now should have only one loop on your hook.

4. Grab the next loop and pull it through the loop on the hook in the same way. Work your way all the way around the edge of the potholder this way.

5. Remove the last loop from the hook and pull it out as far as you can without distorting the pot holder. This forms a loop you can use to hang the potholder.

References

• Weavezine: Potholder Looms Basics and Beyond