Crochet Checkerboard Potholder

Say goodbye to boring potholders and hello to the charming Crochet Checkerboard Potholder! This delightful crocheted kitchen essential not only adds a pop of style to your cooking space but also protects your hands from those hot pots and pans. The fun checkerboard pattern is not only visually appealing but also offers a thick layer of protection.

Materials

Worsted weight cotton yarn - 1oz. each of colors A, B, and C, straight pins; yarn needle

Crochet hook size G

Gauge: 5 sc = about 1 1/2” (not really important)

Skill level: Very easy

Stitches used: Sc, sl st

Creating the Potholder Strips

Make 5 of these in color A and 5 in color B:

With color A or B and size G hook, ch 6

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across; ch 1, turn. - 5 sc

(Mark row 1 with a straight pin - this is the right side of the work.)

Row 2: Sc in each sc across; ch 1, turn. - 5 sc

Rows 3 - 24: Repeat row 2.

Row 25: Sc in each sc across; fasten off. Weave in ends.

With color C and size G hook, ch 101

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across; ch 1, turn. - 100 sc

Row 2: Sc in each sc across; ch 1, turn. - 100 sc

Rows 3 & 4: Repeat row 2.

Row 5: Sc in each sc across; fasten off. Weave in ends.

Using short pieces of contrasting yarn for markers, count and mark the piece (by pulling the piece of marker yarn through) in these three places: between stitches 25 & 26; between stitches 50 & 51; between stitches 75 & 76.

Forming the Ring

With color C and size G hook, ch 10; join with a sl st to the 1st ch to form a ring.

Round 1: Work 15 sc in ring; join with a sl st to the 1st sc.

Round 2: Sl st in each sc around; join with a sl st to the 1st sl st; fasten off. Weave in ends.

Assembly Instructions

Step 1: Lay Out the Strips

Lay your 5 strips in color A side by side, with right sides up and the marked row at the bottom to form a “square”. Remove marker pins.

Step 2: Weaving the Strips

Using your first strip in color B (right side up and marked row to the right), weave the strip over and under the strips from step 1, pinning as necessary to keep it all together. (This is just like the construction paper weaving we did in elementary school.) Continue weaving and pinning with all the strips in color B until you have a “checkerboard” square. With color C and working through both layers of the strips, work 100 sc evenly around the square (25 sc on each side) to hold it together. Remove pins.

Step 3: Adding the Border

The long piece we made in color C is the border for the “checkerboard” square, and forms a rolled hem. Lay one end of the long border piece at any corner of the “checkerboard” square, and pin. The marked stitches of the border piece indicate where the border piece should be pinned to the corners of the square. Continue pinning the border piece around the square until the entire square is “framed” by the border piece. The beginning and end of the border piece should meet in the first corner of the square. This is the front side of the piece.

Step 4: Finalizing the Assembly

Turn the work over to the back side. Fold the border piece over to the back side and pin all the way around.

Step 5: Sewing the Border

Thread your yarn needle with a long piece of color C yarn. Beginning at the corner where the ends of the border piece meet, sew the border piece to the square, going through all layers of the square and both sides of the border piece. Continue sewing until you reach the corner where the two border piece ends meet; sew the ends of the border piece together. Do not fasten off.

Step 6: Attaching the Ring

Sew the ring made in color C to the corner where the border pieces are sewn together. Knot and cut yarn. Remove all pins. Weave in ends.