Shells form the look of columns on the front piece of this potholder.
Abbreviations: ch = chain, dc = double crochet, ea = each,
sc = single crochet, st = stitch, sts = stitches
Materials: cotton worsted weight yarn - about 1/2 oz. for front piece in color A and about 3/4 oz. for back piece and edging in color B, US size H hook
Special Techniques: 3-dc shell worked in the space between 2 shells - see photo how-to. Used in outside round: see sc around post of dc photo how-to.
Pattern Notes: It's important to use cotton yarn for a potholder because cotton will not melt when in contact with something hot. Potholder is about 9 inches, including the edging.
Turn at the end of each row.
Front Piece:
Starting Chain: With color A, leaving a length to weave in later, chain 22.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in ea ch across. (21 sc)
Row 2: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in ea of next 2 sc, skip next sc, 3 dc in next sc, (skip next 2 sc, 3 dc in next sc) 4 times, then skip next sc, dc in ea of next 3 sc.
Row 3: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next dc, skip next dc, 3 dc in next dc, skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in space between next two 3-dc shells, skip next 2 dc, dc in ea of next 5 dc, skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in space between next two 3-dc shells, skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc, skip next dc, dc in ea of next 2 dc.
Row 4: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in ea of next 2 dc, skip next 2 dc,
3 dc in space between next two 3-dc shells, skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc,
skip next dc, dc in ea of next 3 dc, skip next dc, 3 dc in next dc, skip next 2 dc,
3 dc in space between next two 3-dc shells, skip next 2 dc, dc in ea of last 3 dc.
Row 5: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next dc, skip next dc,
3 dc in next dc, skip next 2 dc,
3 dc in space between next two 3-dc shells, skip next 2 dc, dc in ea of next 5 dc,
skip next 2 dc, 3 dc in space between next two 3-dc shells, skip next 2 dc,
3 dc in next dc, skip next dc, dc in ea of last 2 dc.
Rows 6 - 9: Repeat Rows 4 and 5.
Row 10: Repeat Row 4.
Row 11: ch 3, dc in ea of next 2 dc, skip next dc, 3 dc in next dc, (skip next 2 dc,
3 dc in next dc) 4 times, then skip next dc, dc in ea of last 3 dc.
Row 12: ch 1, sc in first dc, sc in ea dc across the row. (21 sc)
Outside Round: ch 1, then (working down the side of the piece), sc in end of sc row, make 2 sc around post of ea dc along the side until you come to the next sc row at the end of this side, sc in end of that sc row, ch 2 for corner, sc in remaining loop of ea starting ch along bottom side, ch 2 for next corner, sc in end of sc row, 2 sc around ea dc post on that side, sc in end of sc row, ch 2 for corner, then sc in ea sc across the top, ch 2 for corner, ending with a slip stitch in the first sc of this outside round.
End off, leaving a length to weave in. Weave in ends securely, weaving back and forth
several times on the back of the piece, working under back part of a number of stitches
so that the ends will not unravel over time.
Back Piece:
Starting Chain: With color B, leaving a length to weave in later, chain 22.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in ea ch across. (21 sc)
Rows 2 - 22: ch 1, sc in ea sc across. (21 sc)
Outside Round: ch 1, then (working down the side of the piece), sc in end of
ea sc row, ch 2 for corner, sc in remaining loop of ea starting ch along bottom side,
ch 2 for next corner, sc in end of ea sc row, ch 2 for corner, sc in ea sc across the top,
ch 2 for corner, slip stitch in first sc of this round. Weave in the end from the start of
this piece before doing the joining round.
Joining Round: Hold the two pieces together, with the wrong sides together and the right sides facing outward. Line up the edges evenly. Make an outside round in single crochet, to join the two pieces together, in this manner: insert hook through the sc on the front piece then insert hook through the sc on the back piece, yarn over hook, pull yarn through the loops of both pieces, then complete as a single crochet in the usual manner. This will join the two pieces. Each time that you reach a corner space, insert the hook through both the front and back corner space at the same time to make (sc, ch 2, sc) in the corner space. When you reach the beginning of the round, slip stitch in the first sc of this round.
Next Outside Round: ch 1, sc in ea sc around with (sc, ch 2, sc) in each corner space.
One More Outside Round: Do one additional outside round in single crochet, in the same manner.
End off, leaving a length for weaving in. Weave in ends.
Edging: Attach yarn in top left-hand side ch-2 corner space. ch 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in same corner space, * sc in next sc, skip next 2 sc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next sc, skip next 2 sc **, repeat the directions between * and ** 3 more times, then sc in ea of next 2 sc, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner space, sc in ea of next 2 sc, skip next 2 sc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next sc, skip next 2 sc, sc in next sc, skip next 2 sc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next sc, skip next 2 sc, sc in ea of next 2 sc, skip next 2 sc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next sc, skip next 2 sc, sc in next sc, skip next 2 sc, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next sc, skip next 2 sc, sc in ea of next 2 sc ***, (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner space, repeat the directions between * and *** one time, then slip stitch in beginning sc of this round.
