Bring both style and safety to your culinary space with this double-thick crochet potholder. Engineered for maximum durability and heat resistance, this project uses a unique “working in the round” technique that naturally folds into a sturdy, dual-layered square, making it a reliable essential for any busy, cozy kitchen.
Essential Materials and Tools
To ensure your potholder is heat-safe and durable, the choice of fiber is critical. For this pattern, you will be holding two strands of yarn together throughout the entire process to achieve the desired thickness.
- Yarn: Two balls of #4 worsted weight cotton yarn (e.g., WeCrochet Dishy in “Linen”). Cotton is essential as it does not melt under high heat.
- Hook: 5.5 mm crochet hook.
- Notions: Darning needle for seaming and scissors.
Foundation and Initial Rows
- Holding two strands of yarn together, create a foundation chain of 36 chains.
- Row 1: Single crochet (sc) in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across (35 sc total).
- Row 2: Chain 1, turn, and work one sc in each stitch across.
Transitioning to the Round
To create the double thickness, the piece transitions from flat rows to working in a continuous spiral:
- At the end of Row 2, work an additional sc into the very last stitch.
- Rotate the piece to work along the side edge, placing one sc on the side.
- Rotate again to work along the opposite side of the foundation chain. Work sc in each stitch across the bottom.
- Upon reaching the start, work an extra sc in the final stitch, one sc on the side, and join with a slip stitch to the first stitch of Row 2 to close the round.
Building the Body
From this point forward, you will work in continuous rounds without slip stitching:
- Work 16 rounds of single crochet in the back loop only (BLO).
- As you progress, the piece will naturally begin to fold inward and take on a square shape.
- Once 16 rounds are complete, finish with a slip stitch into the back loop of the next stitch to even out the edge.
Finishing and Seaming
The final step transforms the crochet “tube” into a flat, double-thick square:
- Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail (roughly two to three times the width of the potholder) for seaming.
- Thread the tail onto a darning needle.
- Align the open edges and use the whip stitch method to sew the sides together. Ensure there are no gaps between stitches.
- Fasten off with a secure knot and weave in the remaining ends.
Choosing the Right Fiber
When making kitchen accessories, always opt for 100% natural fibers like cotton or wool. Synthetic fibers such as acrylic or polyester can melt when they come into contact with hot pans, which poses a safety risk. Cotton is the gold standard for potholders because it is heat-resistant, absorbent, and easy to machine wash.
Maintaining Your Potholders
Because these potholders are double-thick, they can hold moisture longer than a single-layer dishcloth. It is a good practice to hang them up between uses to allow for proper airflow. When laundering, a cold machine wash and tumble dry on low will help preserve the integrity of the cotton stitches and prevent excessive shrinking.
Color Coordination and Aesthetics
Using two strands of yarn doesn’t just add thickness; it offers a design opportunity. You can hold two different colors together to create a “marled” or “tweed” effect. This is an excellent way to hide minor stains that inevitably occur in a kitchen while matching your potholders to your existing decor.
The below video contains all the steps you need: