Saturday, July 28, 2012

Heavy Duty Potholder

This pattern is in homage of my knitting mentor. 
This was the first thing she showed me how to do.


What You Need:
Cotton Yarn - I used Bernat Handicrafter
Size 11 needles
Yarn needle
Scissors
Size I (5.5mm) crochet hook (optional)

For this project I used a large ball of cotton yarn because I was making a set for a present.
 Read down for details.


Potholder:
Make 2

K-knit
M1- make one
K2tog: knit two stitches together

Cast on 2 stitches using double yarn
K2
K1 M1 K1 - 3 st
K1 M1 K2 - 4 st
K1 M1 K3 - 5 st
K1 M1 K4 - 6 st
K1 M1 K5 - 7 st
K1 M1 K6 - 8 st
K1 M1 K7 - 9 st
K1 M1 K8 - 10 st
K1 M1 K9 - 11 st
K1 M1 K10 - 12 st
K1 M1 K11 - 13 st
K1 M1 K12 - 14 st
K1 M1 K13 - 15 st
K1 M1 K14 - 16 st
K1 M1 K15 - 17 st
K1 M1 K16 - 18 st
K1 M1 K17 - 19 st
K1 M1 K18 - 20 st
K1 M1 K19 - 21 st
K1 M1 K20 - 22 st
K1 M1 K21 - 23 st
K23
K1 K2tog K20 -22 st
K1 K2tog K19 -21 st
K1 K2tog K18 -20 st
K1 K2tog K17 -19 st
K1 K2tog K16 -18 st
K1 K2tog K15 -17 st
K1 K2tog K14 -16 st
K1 K2tog K13 -15 st
K1 K2tog K12 -14 st
K1 K2tog K11 -13 st
K1 K2tog K10 -12 st
K1 K2tog K9 -11 st
K1 K2tog K8 -10 st
K1 K2tog K7 -9 st
K1 K2tog K6 -8 st
K1 K2tog K5 -7 st
K1 K2tog K4 -6 st
K1 K2tog K3 -5 st
K1 K2tog K2 -4 st
K1 K2tog K1 -3 st
K1 K2tog -2 st
Cast off
Weave in ends

This should give you a nearly perfect square.
I found I needed to block these.

To assemble:

Lay the two square on top of each other making sure to match the similar ends.
I opted to sc the back and front together but you could sew them together if you choose.
Before finishing off I chained 10 and SCed back to the same stitch.
This makes a hanger for your potholder.

Since these potholders are double layer double yarn they are a great heavy duty potholder.
I gave a set to my husband to use when he grills. I also like to have a set in the kitchen to use when I cook in cast iron.

A quick and easy wedding gift:

Have a friend's wedding coming up and don't have a clue what to give them?

Try this: make a pair of potholders and a market bag then buy a cookbook and a gift card to a grocery store. If the couple is young I like to get a Southern Living or Betty Crocker cookbook, if the couple is older I get them a cookbook that relates to a favorite style of cooking or a favorite region.
Although this is not an expensive gift the couple will be appreciative of a gift that they can actually use.
Does the bride or groom knit or crochet? Include a card with the name of yarn you used and the web address of the pattern you used. That way they can make more themselves.





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Thank you.