Checkerboard Decorative Potholders

Checkerboard Decorative Potholders

by Elizabeth Ann White

for BellaCrochet

Important notice: Please remember, that while these designs are traditionally called “pot holders” they are intended to be used as decorative items only. The size 10 thread from which they are made is not thick enough to protect you from burns. Please do not use them to handle hot items, or to protect surfaces from hot pots or pans.
SIZE: 7 1/4” square, not including hanging loop

Skill Level: Intermediate

General Directions

Note: General instructions for Basic Potholder follow; Materials and colors are listed with individual patterns.
BASIC POTHOLDER
Block (make 10 color A and 8 color B)
Rnd 1: Ch 4, sl st in first ch to form ring, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2) in ring, (3 dc, ch 2) 3 times in same ring, join with sl st in top of ch-3. (Right side of Rnd 1 is right side of work)
Rnds 2-4: Ch 3, dc in each st around with (2 dc, ch 2 , 2 dc) in each ch-2 sp, join with sl st in top of ch-3. At end of last rnd, fasten off.

With sewing needle and thread, sew individual Blocks together to form 2 Sides of 9 Blocks each in the following order:

A B A

B A B

A B A

Edging
Rnd 1: Holding both Sides of joined Blocks wrong sides together, matching stitches and working through both thicknesses, join color thread specified in individual pattern with sc in any corner sp, (ch 20, sc) in same sp as joining (hanging loop made), sc in next 15 sts, (sc in next ch sp, sc in first ch sp on next Block, sc in next 15 sts) 2 times, *3 sc in corner ch sp, sc in next 15 sts, (sc in next ch sp, sc in first ch sp on next Block, sc in next 15 sts) 2 times; repeat from * around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.
Rnd 2: Join color specified in individual pattern with sc in last sc of Rnd 1, reverse sc in each st and ch around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Checkerboard Roses

Materials:
Size 10 Crochet Cotton Thread:
  100 yds each Green (A), Rose (B) and Shaded Pinks
Sewing needle and matching thread
Fabric glue
Spray Starch
Size 7 crochet hook

1: Make Basic Potholder following General Directions using Green as color A and Rose as color B.
2: With Green, work Rnd 1 of Edging.
3: With Shaded Pinks, work Rnd 2 of Edging.

Rose (make 5)
Rnd 1: With Shaded Pinks, ch 4, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 1, (sc in ring, ch 3) 6 times, join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 2: Sl st in first ch sp, (sc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1, sc) in each ch sp around, join. (6 petals made)
Rnd 3: Ch 3, (sl st in next sp between petals, ch 3) around, join.
Rnd 4: Sl st in first ch sp, (sc, ch 1, 5 dc, ch 1, sc) in each ch sp around, join. Fasten off.
Finishing
1: Spray Potholder with spray starch and allow to dry.
2: Glue Roses to green Blocks on one side of Potholder.

Checkerboard Cherries

Materials:
Size 10 Crochet Cotton Thread:
  100 yds each Black (A) and Cream (B)
  75 yds Red
  50 yds Green
Sewing needle and matching thread
Fabric glue
Spray Starch
Stitch markers
Size 7 crochet hook

1: Make Basic Potholder following General Directions using Black as color A and Cream as color B.
2: With Black, work Rnd 1 of Edging.
3: With Red, work Rnd 2 of Edging.

Cherry ( make 5)
For each Cherry, cut one strand of Red thread 36” long to use as stuffing.
Note: Work in rounds, do not join or turn work; mark first st of each rnd.
Rnd 1: With Red, ch 2, 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12)
Rnds 3-5: Sc in each st around.
Rnd 6: (Sc next 2 sts tog) 6 times; leaving a long (about 12”) end of thread, fasten off.
Stuff Cherry with Red thread. Weave long end through sts of last rnd. Pull end  to close top of Cherry. Secure end.
First Leaf
With Green, ch 11, 3 sc in second ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 chs, tr in each of next 2 chs, dc in each of next 2 chs, hdc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch; working on opposite side of ch, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 chs, tr in each of next 2 chs, dc in each of next 2 chs, hdc in next ch, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.
Second Leaf
Work same as First Leaf, but do not fasten off.
To join Leaves, ch 2, hdc in first sc of First Leaf, ch 1, sc in space between ch-2 and hdc just made, do not fasten off(this sc will be the stitch that all Stems are worked into).
For First Stem, ch 10, sl st in top of one Cherry, sl st in each ch of ch-10, sl st in sc.
For Second Stem, ch 15, sl st in top of next Cherry, sl st in each ch of ch-15, sl st in sc.
For Third Stem, ch 20, sl st in top of next Cherry, sl st in each ch of ch-20, sl st in sc.
For Fourth Stem, ch 15, sl st in top of next Cherry, sl st in each ch of ch-15, sl st in sc.
For Fifth Stem, ch 10, sl st in top of last Cherry, sl st in each ch of ch-10, sl st in sc. Fasten off.

Finishing
1: Spray Potholder with spray starch and allow to dry.
2: Glue Cherries and Leaves under hanging loop on one side of Potholder.

Checkerboard Hearts

Materials:
Size 10 Crochet Cotton Thread:
  100 yds each Cream (A), Blue (B) and Burgundy
Sewing needle and matching thread
Fabric glue
Spray Starch
Size 7 crochet hook

1: Make Basic Potholder following General Directions using Cream as color A and Blue as color B.
2: With Burgundy, work Rnd 1 of Edging, at end of rnd, join, do not fasten off.
3: Continuing to work with Burgundy, ch 1, work Rnd 2 of Edging.

Heart (make 5)
Row 1: With Burgundy, ch 4, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 3, (5 dc, 3 tr, 6 dc) in ring, turn.
Row 2: (Ch 3, dc) in first st, 2 dc in each of next 6 sts, 3 tr in next st, 2 dc in each of last 7 sts, turn.
Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, (ch 3, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st) 4 times, ch 3, skip next 2 sts, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, (ch 3, skip next 2 sts, sc in next st) 5 times; working in ends of rows across top, ch 3, sc in end of Row 2, ch 3, sc in end of Row 1, sl st in starting ch-4 ring, sc in next end of Row 1, ch 3, sc in next end of Row 2, ch 3, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Finishing
1: Spray Potholder with spray starch and allow to dry.
2: Glue Hearts to Cream blocks on one side of Potholder.


Copyright BellaCrochet 2005. All rights reserved. This pattern may not be copied, shared, sold or distributed in any form or fashion.