Easy Pattern to Crochet a Potholder

My grandmother had five children and nine grandchildren. She chose to show me how to make a crocheted potholder. She never even really liked me much. I don't understand why she showed me how to make these. I am glad she did though.

These make great gifts for any occasion. I make these to give out at church as thank you gifts for people who help us with transportation. If I know of anyone getting married or moving into a new home, I usually make a stack of these potholders for them. These are easy enough and quick to make that on a weekend afternoon, it is no surprise to have a dozen or so made in two or three hours.

I really enjoy making these because it is a great way to use scrap yarn from other projects. I feel like this project gives me the freedom to experiment with color matching or contrasting so I can get ideas of what color schemes may or may not work in larger projects.

You can match the colors to the recipient's kitchen if you know what color that is or you can match the colors to the seasons. I get impatient when working on larger crochet projects so sometimes I just take a break to make one of these potholders just to have the satisfaction of finishing something.

Crochet Potholders

1. Single chain 40 stitches. You can make a smaller potholder chaining around 30 to 35 stitches.

2. Using double crochet or your preferred stitch, chain a second row of stitches on the original row of 40.

3. When you get to the end of the second row, instead of turning around and going back up the second row, continue stitching around the corner. You will actually be adding stitches to the bottom row of original stitching.

4. Continue crocheting around. This will start to form an oval shape. Keep adding rows around and this will start to take shape as a square or rectangle potholder.

5. When you have crocheted around until the edges are about to meet, it is time to join the edges. Starting at one of the outer corners, slip stitch through both edges the length of the potholder. This will close the potholder and make a finishing seam.

6. When you reach the end of the closing seam, single chain 8 to 10 stitches. Loop this chain under the corner on the back. Secure this. Cut. This adds a hanging loop to your potholder. This step is not necessary. Some people prefer to keep their potholders in a drawer.

7. You now have a nice potholder for a gift for someone you care about or for yourself.