Knitting Pattern: Grammy's Favorite Potholders

I have to thank my wonderful mother-in-law for providing the inspiration for this project! She recently sent me one of her favorite, handmade potholders. Hers was crocheted, likely by some lovely friend or family member. The pretty stripes and simple design inspired me to create my own knit version.

Don't blink, because the stitch pattern for this one is an easy linen stitch worked in the round.

Materials

• 1 - 2.5 oz skein of Lily Sugar 'N Cream Stripes
• US size 5 circular needles
• stitch marker
• tapestry needle

It is very important to use 100% cotton yarn for this project. Acrylics could burn and/or melt.

Gauge

To ensure the fabric is nice and firm, you will need to use needles that are slightly smaller than recommended on the yarn label.

24 sts or 36 rows = 4 inches in linen stitch

Finished Dimensions

approximately 7 inches square

Abbreviations

co - cast on
k - knit
yf - yarn to the front
yb - yarn to the back

Directions

CO 119 sts leaving a long tail.

Place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round. However, there's no need to count rounds.

*K1, yf, sl 1, yb* repeat until the piece measures 1/4 of the total cast on length ending at the stitch marker. Continue in the stitch pattern for 30 stitches (that's 1/4 of a round in case you are wondering).

My cast on edge was 19 3/4 inches around, so I worked the stitch pattern until my piece was slightly less than 5 inches from the from the cast on edge.

Bind off all stitches leaving a long tail. Notice that the yarn tails are offset.

Fold the cast on edge in half so that the yarn tail is at the beginning of the fold. Like magic, the cast on and bound off edges form perpendicular diagonals on the front and back of the potholder.

Use the first yarn tail to join the cast on edge. Then use the other yarn tail to join the bound off edge.

Of course, make sure to be careful when you are using potholders and working around hot pans and dishes in the kitchen because you don't want to burn yourself.