How to Crochet a Potholder

By
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson is a professional needlecrafter with over 10 years of hands-on embroidery, sewing, and knitting experience. She is the author of “Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small." Mollie also designs and sells stitching projects, co-hosts a crafting podcast, and has taught online embroidery courses.
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Updated on 09/01/20
How to Crochet a Potholder With a Miter

The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

Project Overview
  • Yield: 1 7-inch square potholder
  • Skill Level: Intermediate

You may have woven loom potholders as a kid, but you can upgrade to crocheted potholders. These striped and scalloped potholders come together with half double crochet stitches for an easy and cute project. These potholders are a good size for pulling things out of the microwave or oven, holding hot handles, and even as trivets on your table. You can also make them larger for using under larger pots and casserole dishes. 

While two colors give this a classic look, you can also use more colors for a rainbow potholder. This design is based on a vintage potholder but worked up in cotton yarn for a faster finish. You can work up a complete potholder in an evening or two.

DIY Vintage-Style Crochet Potholder
The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Size F/4-millimeter crochet hook
  • Yarn needle

Materials

  • 2 Colors of DK-weight cotton yarn

Instructions

  1. Form a Ring of Chain Stitches

    Start with a slip knot. Chain 4 and slip stitch to join. 

    A ring of chain stitches and a gray crochet hook
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  2. How to Work the Rows

    Each row consists of a turning chain (these count as a half double crochet), half double crochet stitches, chain stitches, and more half double crochet stitches. Each row adds stitches to increase and grow the potholder, and the chain stitches form a space that creates the miter. 

    For quick reference, each row goes like this:

    • Chain 2
    • Half double crochet in each stitch
    • Half double crochet in the space
    • Chain 2
    • Half double crochet in the space
    • Half double crochet to the end
    • Turn

    Every third row has an extra stitch to increase the rows evenly. In these rows, work a half double crochet into the chain at the beginning of the space, then the half double crochet in the space, and continue as usual.

    A half double crochet stitch in the ring to form a square
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  3. Work the Rows of Half Double Crochet and Chain Stitch

    With color A:

    • Row 1: Chain 2. Half double crochet 2. Chain 2. Half double crochet 3. Turn.
    • Row 2: Chain 2. Half double crochet 2. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 2. Turn.
    • Row 3: Chain 2. Half double crochet 3. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the ch from the space. Half double crochet 3. Turn.
    • Row 4: Chain 2. Half double crochet 4. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 4. Turn.

    Change to color B, and then:

    • Row 5: Chain 2. Half double crochet 5. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 5. Turn.
    • Row 6: Chain 2. Half double crochet 6. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 6. Turn.
    • Row 7: Chain 2. Half double crochet 7. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 7. Turn.

    Change to color A, and then:

    • Row 8: Chain 2. Half double crochet 8. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Hdc in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 8. Turn.
    • Row 9: Chain 2. Half double crochet 9. Half double crochet in the ch from the space. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 9. Turn.

    Change to color B, and then:

    • Row 10: Chain 2. Half double crochet 10. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 10. Turn.
    • Row 11: Chain 2. Half double crochet 11. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 11. Turn.
    • Row 12: Chain 2. Half double crochet 12. Hdc in the ch from the space. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 12. Turn.

    Change to color A, and then:

    • Row 13: Chain 2. Half double crochet 13. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 13. Turn.
    • Row 14: Chain 2. Half double crochet 14. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 14. Turn.

    Change to color B, and then:

    • Row 15: Chain 2. Half double crochet 15. Half double crochet in the ch from the space. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 15. Turn.
    • Row 16: Chain 2. Half double crochet 16. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 16. Turn.
    • Row 17: Chain 2. Half double crochet 17. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 17. Turn.

    Change to color A, and then:

    • Row 18: Chain 2. Half double crochet 18. Half double crochet in the ch from the space. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 18. Turn.
    • Row 19: Chain 2. Half double crochet 19. Half double crochet in the space. Chain 2. Half double crochet in the space. Half double crochet in the chain from the space. Half double crochet 19. Turn.

    End off.

    A red piece of yarn being hooked on to a gray crochet hook
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  4. Make Two Pieces and Weave in Ends

    Make two matching potholder pieces with the pattern above. Weave in all the ends.

    The two sides are different, so turn the pieces so the matching sides face each other.

    Two crochet potholders
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  5. Begin the Shell Stitch Edging

    Hold the two potholder pieces together and draw up a loop through the starting ring. Chain 1. Work 4 single crochet stitches into the starting ring. 

    Red yard hooked through white crocheted yarn
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson
    Single Crochet 4 Into the Starting Ring
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  6. Add HDC Shell Stitch Border Around the Edge

    Work a half double crochet shell edging around the potholder, working through both pieces to secure them. Crochet seven shells on each side, with a shell at each corner.

    On the row edges, space the shells evenly, working between the rows. On the finished edge, skip a stitch from the corner, work a shell, then work a single crochet anchor in the next stitch. Skip a stitch, then place another shell, and so on.

    A half Double Crochet Shell Around the Edges of a crocheted potholder
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

  7. Join the Edge and End Off the Yarn

    When you reach the beginning of the edge, join the edging to the first single crochet stitch with a slip stitch. Weave in the ends.

    Join to the First Single Crochet With a Slip Stitch
    The Spruce / Mollie Johanson