Potholder Filling

http://quilting.about.com/b/2007/12/18/tell-us-your-potholder-making-techniques.htm

A quick post to link you to the above site for some interesting ways to line potholders.

Janet Wickell writes many interesting quilting articles and is easy to understand, As well, she responds to her people who comment - a rare on-line courtesy. The comments in her article site above show some money-saving and easy ways to accomplish potholder fillings.

Here's a link to an interesting and sturdy-looking potholder from an old pair of jeans, that serves as an oven mitt, as well.

Let us know how you fill your potholders..to give that "old time" safety, assuring you receive no red spots or blisters along with that tasty recipe you just brewed up for your family!

You can never have enough potholders...there's always room for one more.

A Quick, Crocheted Potholder Pretty

This quick, crocheted potholder pretty is a snap to make and looks elegant - while filling a utilitarian purpose.

I found a lovely colored cotton yarn at a local (WM) store. Basically beige - almost ecru, with flecks of deep brown and rust. I used 2 strands for extra thickness and safety of use.

The potholder pattern I chose made up quickly and gave me a feeling of some purpose during my recuperation from the recently popular bug-crud. Not having much energy - but not sleepy, I created/crocheted something useful. (Not that the gazillions of potholders filling my linen closet at this point don't already fit that bill!)

Who cares! It was fun, and I have a girlfriend with an upcoming birthday.

Recipe for a quick potholder;

-2 2-oz. balls cotton yarn (I used Lily Sugar 'n Cream, "Sonoma Print"
- Size H crochet hook
-About 4 hours

1. (FIRST ROW) crochet chain stitch 33 stitches.
2. (SECOND ROW) SC (single crochet) into BACK of third stitch from hook, continue SC into BACKS of stitches across first row, chain 2, turn.
3. (THIRD ROW) SC in BACK of next stitch and repeat second row for a total of 31 rows.
4. After last SC, chain approximately 10 stitches, ST (slip stitch) into last SC, weave threads into back of potholder for 8 to 10 stitches, cut off.

To make these crocheted potholders safer for use, I do three things:

• -Use double threads
• -Crochet into back of stitches of previous rows, giving the surface more depth and thickness
• -Use cotton thread so the potholders can be shrunk a bit in hot water and a hot dryer.
  

For shrinking purposes, they begin life a bit bigger than a normal potholder.

Try this easy pattern; let me know how you may have changed it...or not? Send me a picture and I'll post it.

daniellesimone0@gmail.com

This potholder is basically the same pattern as mine except the stitches do not go into the back stitches of the previous rows. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biGbmVULdNw

These potholders are octagonal - very pretty and easy to put together, as well. http://mylittlekitchen.blogspot.com/2007/12/crochet-old-fashioned-potholders.html

This pattern has fascinated me for years! These blogs makes this look like a snap to create. Let me know if it is as easy as it looks; leave a comment.
http://theboringknitter.com/?page_id=30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9wXDWgrJsI (this has 3 U-Tube videos)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwPmG2bFrYM&feature=related

Happy crocheting!

As always, Nature prevails.

Potholders...Plus...healing

I have received several questions in my e-mail, daniellesimone0@gmail.com, regarding information related to this site and the making of the lowly potholder. Please accept my apologies for the lack of input to this site for over a year. Serious, ongoing illness in our family, in addition to a move to Missouri, has pulled me in numerous directions with no time left for serious writing.

My plans include returning to this site shortly, with weekly, detailed photos and directions for special potholders and other small, easy-to-make items. There will be continued, numerous links to related potholder sites for each post, such that readers can have numerous and different methods available for each project. I believe every crafter has varying ways to approach a similar idea such that the more information they have to fashion a particular item, the better their chances of success.

My intentions remain for creating a site which gives pertinent information for creating pretty, easy-to-make and unique potholders including lots of detail and photos. I want to give all crafters and quilters alike, the opportunity for learning and growing in their abilities and capacities with quilting, sewing and crocheting potholders. A small project such as a lowly yet useful - sometimes most necessary potholder, can give quick quilting or crafting results...building confidence and inventory for their creators - with a small amount of effort, time and expense.

See you in a few weeks. Get your machines ready and your supplies handy. The lowly potholder will arrive - stage left...soon.

As always, Nature prevails.

Danielle

Creative Crocheted Potholders

Potholders come in all manners of creation. Some of the prettiest I've seen are crocheted. This week, several crocheted cuties stood out. They look a bit complex, but obviously - doable.

Getting prepared for Christmas can be stressful - particularly in these economically troubled times. Crocheting a couple pretty potholders that your friends will enjoy for years to come, is a feasible, inexpensive way to show your Love. A homespun project such as a beautifully crafted potholder will give smiles and enjoyment. Yarn is fairly inexpensive and you probably have crochet needles already. Crochet patterns are straightforward; we'll cover some in the next post.

Sarah London has a "wooleater" pattern that she displays as a potholder or a blanket on her site. Beautiful work Sarah!

Want a detailed, colorful Poinsettia to widen your friend's eyes on Christmas morning? This crocheted Poinsettia potholder is the perfect choice. (Read this touching story about Maria and Pablo, and how the Poinsettia became a symbol of Christmas).



Are roses your passion? This complex looking Rose potholder and hot-pad set will test your crochet talents, but appears a worthy project. How delicate and classy this will appear on your friend's kitchen wall!









If you want to touch the heart of a friend this Christmas, this sweet-looking heart-shaped potholder is your key.





Want a quick, weekend project to assist your Christmas list? Check out the sites above to engage your creative side. You'll relax, create, produce and check off your holiday list - all in a few, enjoyable hours.

Happy crocheting!

CRAFTY CROCHET; Pretty Potholders

Most of us want something to do while we watch TV, sit by the fireplace or just feel creative. Most of us crochet, at least the basics such as single and double crochet stitches. There you are; potholder pretties comin' up!

The following sites have some creative ideas with fairly simple patterns.

http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa071297.htm This little cutie will catch the eye of everyone who visits your kitchen, especially the kitty lovers in your circle. There are several more patterns on this site.

http://www.netw.com/~rafter4/knitpad.htm This heart-shaped potholder is not only pretty, but uses rags for its creation, a utilitarian project.

http://potholderswap.blogspot.com/
This site gave me pause; these may be the prettiest potholders ever! So many patterns, so little time.

http://www.mielkesfarm.com/diagonal_hotpad.htm If you go to craft shows, you've probably seen this potholder already. The pattern directions are easy and well photographed.

http: //www.freevintagecrochet.com/potholders/multicolored.html This log cabin quilt block look-alike is unusual and classy, definitively one from the 'guesthouse' potholders. Towards the bottom left of the page, they have a list of other patterns, very much worth your time if you're looking for unique patterns.

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/noahsatticantiques/item/PT301?gbase=1
These crochet books from 1944 and 1950, might interest you if you enjoy making potholders of various shapes such as cowboy boots, strawberries, gingerbread men, etc.

I wanted something different for my last craft show. A pattern for a 'scrubby' popped up and looked so intriguing, I made it as a potholder (just made it a bit larger). After one row of single crochet stitches, I alternated triple crochet stitches with single ones. The effect is a 'bumpy'/'nubby' texture, quite lovely and unique. Let me know if you try it, we'd enjoy hearing your thoughts about it.



"Tangled Yarns" has the pattern at the link below. http://www.tangledyarns.ca/crochet/2009/6/11/free-crochet-pattern-nubby-dishcloth.html

Happy crocheting, from Potholders Plus.