When a few weeks ago I was playing with Tunisian crochet, I came up with a stitch that I called “Tunisian crochet straw stitch“. While we can all agree that the name is not the best, the stitch was actually very interesting as it creates a very compact and solid texture. This, I thought, was ideal for potholders, and so I decided to try and use this new stitch to crochet a couple of hot pads. And this is how the design of the Tunisian crochet Cottage Potholder came to life. To add even more thickness, I crocheted the Tunisian Crochet Cottage Potholder using two strands of yarn held together.
What Yarn to Choose for Potholders?
In general, cotton is always a good and safe choice when it comes to potholders. The main reason is that cotton surely doesn’t melt in contact with very hot pans and pots. If you use acrylic, you cannot be this confident about the durability of your potholder…
Another safe option for potholders is wool, best if felted.
Construction
The cool thing about this potholder is that you can totally crochet it using your regular crochet hook. The potholder is crocheted in two steps. First, one strip is crocheted. Then, a second strip is attached directly to the first one using the basic principle of Tunisian entrelac to join as you go.
Lastly, I added a simple crochet border and a loop to hang the potholder. Also, I added some crochet appliques to embellish my potholders.
And look at them rocking in the kitchen with my cow hangers!
Given that you are here, you might also check these other blog posts.
You can add this pattern to your Raverly queue
or Pin it for later using this Pin!
Materials
– Light 3/DK cotton yarn (15 wpi) in two contrasting colors. I will refer to them as the main color (M) and secondary color (S).
– 8.0-mm (L/11 US, 0 UK) Crochet Hook
– 6.5-mm (K/10.5 US, 3 UK) Crochet Hook
Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)
Ch – Chain
Return – Standard Tunisian Return
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
St – Stitch
Tss – Tunisian Simple Stitch
TssBL – Tunisian Simple Stitch in the Back Loop
Yo – Yarn Over
Special Stitches
Standard Tunisian Return
Yo, pull through the first loop on your hook, *yo, pull through two loops*. Repeat in between * for all the loops until you will only have one remaining loop on your hook.
Size
The finished Tunisian Crochet Cottage Potholder measure 6.3″ by 6.3″ (16 by 16 cm).
Gauge
16 sts for 14 rows in 4″ (10 cm).
Notes
- Always skip the very first st.
- The first stitch is included in the stitch count.
- The last stitch is worked under both loops of the final ch from the previous row.
Tunisian Crochet Cottage Potholder
Strip One
Using your 8.0-mm crochet hook and two strands of sport-weight yarn in color M, ch 10.
1. Working in the back bumps, insert your hook into the second ch from the hook, yo, pull up a loop. Pull up a loop in every ch. (10 loops on your hook). Return.
2. Sk the very first st. (Tss, TssBL) seven times, crochet the last loop by inserting your hook under both edging loops.
Return. Standard Tunisian Return.
How to Crochet the Tunisian Simple Stitch in the Back Loop (TssBL)
The TssBL is essentially the same as a Tss with the only difference that it is worked in the back vertical bar (see pink arrow in panel 1 of the picture below) on the designed stitch.
- Insert your hook from front to back in between the st you just worked and the next, unworked st (yellow arrow in panel 2 of the picture below).
- With the tip of your hook, grab the back vertical bar of the stitch and pass the hook under it with a movement from right to left (panels 3 and 4 in the picture below).
- Yo, pull up a loop.
3-8. Repeat row 2.
9. Repeat row 2.
Return. Yo, pull through the first loop on your hook, *yo, pull through two loops* eight times. When you have two loops remaining on your hook, drop one strand of yarn and join the new color in. Yo, pull through the last two loops on your loop.
10-18. Repeat row 2 nine more times using one strand of yarn in color M and one in color S.
Return. Standard Tunisian Return.
Close your work by sl st into each stitch across.
Strip Two
Join two strands of yarn, one M and one S, at the right, bottom corner of your first Tunisian crochet strip. Ch 10.
1. Working in the back bumps, pull up a loop from each ch.
Anchor the nascent strip to the first one by making a sl st into the side ch of row 1 of the first strip.
Return. Yo, pull through two loops ten times.
2. Sk the very first st. (Tss, TssBL) seven times, tss into the last st, sl st into the side ch of the corresponding row on the first strip.
Return. yo, pull through two loops ten times.
3-8. Repeat row 2.
9. Repeat row 2.
Return. *Yo, pull through two loops* nine times. When you have two loops remaining on your hook, drop one strand of yarn and join the new color in. Yo, pull through the last two loops on your loop.
10-18. Repeat row 2 nine more times using two strands of yarn in color M.
Return. yo, pull through two loops ten times.
Close your work by sl st into each stitch across. Join the last sl st of strip two to the first sl st of strip one.
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Tip: Flatten Your Tunisian Crochet Potholder
As with all Tunisian crochet pieces, your Cottage Potholder will tend to curl quite a bit. Adding a border and blocking will help to relax your potholder and keep it flat. However, you can already start “convincing” your work to stay flat with this easy trick!
When weaving in your ends, just weave them in the direction of the curling, as shown by the pink arrow in the image below.
Since there are ends at most corners and sides, this will give extra sturdiness to your edges and help keep the potholder flat!
Tunisian Crochet Cottage Potholder Border
1. Join the yarn in color M at one of the corners.
2. Make 2 sc in the first and last st on each side and 1 sc in all the other sts.
3. Sc 1 in the space between the two strips.
4. Once the round is complete, join with a sl st on top of the first st. Then, Join the yarn in color S in the first st made with M.
5. Sl st in each st around.
6. Pick up the yarn in color M again and sc all around.
7. Join with a sl st at the end of the round and ch 10. Turn your potholder, sk 1 st and sl st into the nxt one.
8. Turn your work again and sl st in each ch.
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
A Final Touch
You can embellish your Tunisian Crochet Cottage Potholder with a little applique.
I used one Small Heart Applique, one In Love with Apples Crochet Applique, and one Ice Cream Applique!
Your Tunisian Crochet Cottage Potholder is ready!
I hope you enjoyed crocheting the Tunisian Crochet Cottage Potholder. Please, do not hesitate to contact me if you need any help or support. I am looking forward to seeing all your beautiful makes on Facebook and Instagram.
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