You can combine Tunisian crochet with traditional crochet to create gorgeous potholders that are both pretty and practical. The potholder includes a fancy V-stitch edging that is easy to crochet.
We hate wimpy potholders around here; we do a lot of baking, and nobody at our place wants burned hands when removing hot dishes from the oven. So, these are extra large, double-thick potholders worked in a hefty, worsted weight cotton yarn. The potholders are big and substantial enough to use as hot pads if you prefer. They coordinate well with the lacy crocheted dishcloth pictured below.
Similar Free Crochet and Knitting Patterns: Potholder Patterns
Crochet Skill Level— Easy
Supply List for Crocheting Pretty Afghan Stitch Potholders:
Yarn — For each potholder, you’ll need approximately 3 oz. of worsted weight cotton yarn. I crocheted the sample potholder in the Cream color of Lily Sugar ‘n Cream kitchen cotton.
Crochet Hooks — For the Body of the Potholder: You’ll need an afghan crochet hook measuring 10+ inches long. I recommend starting with a size J / 10 /6.0 mm and adjusting if necessary to get the right gauge.
For Crocheting the V-Stitch Edging — A traditional crochet hook in size J is a good starting point, but you may need to adjust if you notice a significant difference in tension between the body of the potholder and the edging as you begin crocheting the edging.
Other Craft Supplies Needed — Tapestry needle and safety pins
Crochet Abbreviations Used in This Pattern:
- ch = chain
- ea = each
- RS(s) = Right Side(s)
- Rnd = Round
- sc = single crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- dc = double crochet
- WS(s) = Wrong Side(s)
Special Crochet Stitch: The V-Stitch — (dc, ch 1, dc) all worked in the same stitch
Size of Each Finished Crochet Potholder — Each potholder measures approximately 9 1/4 inches square before washing. This measurement includes the edging. The potholders might shrink slightly when you launder them.
Gauge — 11 stitches = 3 inches working in afghan stitch. The row gauge isn’t critical for this project.
Afghan Stitch Note — Afghan stitch has a tendency to curl up, so do not worry if your work curls. The potholder will lie flat once you join the individual pieces together.
How to Crochet the Potholders:
Ch 30.
Work in afghan stitch until you’ve created a square. After about row 25, measure your work occasionally to check the progress.
When you’ve determined that your piece is square, work one sl st in ea vertical bar all the way across the row. Work one last sl st into the end of the row, in the same spot you’d ordinarily work the last afghan stitch in the row. (29 sl sts worked.)
Work 2 of these squares for each potholder you want to make. If you’d like to make a matching pair of potholders, you’ll need four squares all together.
How to Transform the Squares into Potholders
For each potholder you are making, detach the ball of yarn from one square (leaving a long tail of yarn to be woven in) but leave the yarn attached to the other square. Weave the loose ends into the wrong sides of all the squares.
How to Crochet the V Stitch Edging on the Potholder
You’ll crochet the edging in the round using single crochet and V-stitches. The edging is used to hold the two pieces of the potholder together.
Rnd 1 — Ch 2 using the ball of yarn attached to a potholder square.
Place the WSs of the squares together. The RS of the fabric is the side that was facing you as you were crocheting each square. You want the RSs facing outwards. Be sure that you hold both the top edges together, as there is one stitch less on the top than the bottom.
You might find it helpful to safety pin the corners of the squares to help you hold them together as you join them.
Working through the front and back loops of both squares, work one sc st in ea st, all the way around. When you get to the corners: (sc, ch 2, sc in the same stitch) and then continue working sc. At the end of the round, join the work in the corner with a sl st.
Rnd 2: — Ch 3, which counts as the first dc. (Skip 2 sc, work V-stitch in next sc.) Repeat sequence in parentheses until you get to a corner. In the ch-2 corner space, work 1 dc, then ch 2, then work 1 more dc in the same space. (Skip 2 sc, work V-stitch in next sc.) Continue working V-stitches and corners in this way all the way around the potholder. Join the last st to the beginning of the round with a sl st. End off, leaving a tail of yarn at least 6 inches long.
How to Finish the Afghan Stitch Potholders
Weave in the end carefully using a tapestry needle. Your work will be visible, so be as neat as possible.
Finishing Tip — After you’ve woven in 4+ inches of the tail of yarn, you can hide the end in between the layers of the potholder as follows:
- Insert your hook in between the layers of the potholder, starting from a spot in the middle.
- Bring the hook up to the surface again in a spot that is really close to the tail of yarn.
- Grab the tail of yarn with your crochet hook.
- Pull it through one layer of the potholder.
- Carefully remove your crochet hook, leaving the tail of yarn buried inside the potholder.
More Free Patterns for Knitting and Crocheting Potholders
- Diagonal Stripes Potholder Pattern
- Crochet Cupcake Potholders — Free Crochet Pattern
- Find More of the Best Knit and Crochet Potholder Patterns
More Kitchen Crochet Patterns
- Find Patterns for Knitting and Crocheting Dishcloths Here at Knittingcrochetcrafts.com
- Snowflake Crochet Trivet — Free Pattern
- Coaster Patterns
- Placemat Patterns
Learn More About Tunisian Crochet
- Discover a Variety of Tunisian Crochet Stitches
- Get Free Instructions for How to Increase in Afghan Stitch
- Learn the Easy Tunisian Crochet Mesh Stitch
- Afghan Stitch Bangle Bracelet Crocheted With Wire
- Tunnisian Crochet Meets Bullion Stitch: The Coiled Treble Stitch
This page was last updated on 12/31/2017.