Why Should You Knit Potholders? Plus: 11 Free Patterns

Potholders make great gifts for yourself and others! This collection is chock-full of knitting delight

Let’s talk about why we might want to knit potholders.

We have, of course, the usual reasons:

• Potholders are an ideal way to try out a new knitting technique on a smaller scale.
• They are endlessly practical; if you cook, you need at least one potholder, and preferably two. That means you can knit them for yourself or as gifts.
• When you knit them yourself, you can make them just as you like them–the color(s) you want, the design you want, and so on.

Now, let’s talk about why I, personally, want to knit new potholders for myself.

As of this writing, we have a nearly-19-month-old dog. But she’s still a puppy in many ways. One of those ways is a tendency to chew on things she shouldn’t.

(I’ll bet you already see where this is going, don’t you?)

Currently I have a drawer full of potholders that used to have little loops of fabric attached so that you can hang them from a hook or a cabinet handle.

They do not any longer because, well… the puppy. Apparently all 3 of the potholders in my drawer somehow fell to the floor, and our little brat adorable puppy went to town on them. The holders themselves are still good. But the little loops are history.

Do I need to knit entirely new potholders, complete with hanging loops, to replace these? No, of course not. I could probably knit little I-cords and sew them onto these potholders.

But after looking at the collection of potholders I’ve gathered below, do I want to do this? Heck yeah, I want to knit at least one and maybe more! 😍

Want to join me? Meet me in one of the sections below, and let’s do this!

This collection includes two sections: mitts and hot pads.

Potholder Mitts to Keep Your Hands Safe

1. Scrappy Felted Oven Mitts

• What you’ll need to make it: 130 yards (for one mitt, 260 for 2) bulky weight wool yarn (double this amount, to hold worsted weight wool yarn double); US Size 10.5 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; tapestry needle

• Why you’ll want to: If you have a lot of leftover bulky wool yarn, especially from previous felting projects, this could be the perfect project for you. Put them all together and make a charming pair of oven mitts. (You can also use hold worsted weight wool yarn double, for the same effect.)

2. Out of the Frying Pan

• What you’ll need to make it: 220 yards worsted weight wool yarn; US Size 9 circular needles and/or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round

• Why you’ll want to: Another felted mitt pattern, but unlike the previous patterns, this one requires just worsted weight wool. This is an excellent pattern to try if you tend to have trouble achieving an even gauge throughout a project, because gauge doesn’t matter.

3. Galway Worsted Felted Oven Mitt

• What you’ll need to make it: 420 yards worsted weight wool yarn; US Size 11 circular needles and/or DPNs (depending on how you prefer to knit in the round); stitch markers

• Why you’ll want to: This is a very simple felted mitt pattern. You’ll hold the worsted weight wool yarn double, which means it will knit up much more quickly!
  Note: if you struggle with the instructions for this pattern, the supplier of this photo, rosary615 on Ravelry, has some helpful pattern alterations that you can read here.

Hot Pads for a Little Help (and to Protect Your Counter)

4. Potholders: Knitting Project for Beginners

• What you’ll need to make them: 360 yards sport weight cotton yarn; US Size 7 needles; crochet hook (optional)

• Why you’ll want to: This is probably the easiest set of patterns of the bunch. It has 4 variations, going from “so-easy-you-could-almost-knit-them-in-your-sleep” to “still pretty easy.” You can crochet a loop at one corner, or you could knit an I-cord or create a small yarn braid and loop that at the corner, if you prefer.

5. Mitered Hot Pads

• What you’ll need to make one: 150 to 200 yards worsted weight washable wool or cotton yarn; US Size 7 circular needles or DPNs, depending on how you prefer to knit in the round; crochet hook (optional)

• Why you’ll want to: This is a fun way to create a double-thickness hot pad with a mitered stitch pattern! With this pattern, you’ll knit a square-shaped tube in the round, and then you’ll sew the top and bottom edges. Voila! (As with the Potholders for Beginners pattern, you can crochet a chain, knit an I-cord, or make a yarn braid to attach to one corner and create a hanging loop.)

6. Easy Chunky Potholder

• What you’ll need to make it: 140 yards super bulky weight wool yarn (or double the amount for worsted weight yarn held quadruple) to make 2 potholders; US Size 17 needles

• Why you’ll want to: These might be the chunkiest potholders imaginable, as you’ll use super bulky yarn held double. As an alternative, you can knit these with 4 strands of worsted weight yarn held together. It’s a fun way to knit up potholders really fast!

7. Magic Stripe Hot Pad or Scarf

• What you’ll need to make it: For the hot pad: About 100 yards (divided into 2 colors) worsted weight cotton yarn; US Size 2 needles; for the scarf: 400 to 600 yards (divided into 2 colors) worsted weight yarn; US Size 8 needles

• Why you’ll want to: This is a delightful two-in-one pattern. The simple slipped stitch pattern can create a hot pad square, or you can follow the pattern a little longer to create a scarf. Both are beautiful and functional.

8. Owl Pot Holder

• What you’ll need to make it: About 100 yards worsted weight cotton or wool yarn (to be held double); US Size 8 needles; cable needle or spare DPN

• Why you’ll want to: If you love owls as much as I do, this pattern could be something to cherish! You’ll create two square panels, one with an owl and one without, and sew them together. (This also makes a delightful pattern for afghan blocks, dishcloths, or washcloths.)

9. & 10. Double Knit Butterfly Hot Pad and Coffee and Tea DK Pot Holders

• What you’ll need to make them: About 100 to 120 yards worsted weight wool or cotton yarn in two colors; US Size 7 needles (or whatever size you need to create a tight knit)

• Why you’ll want to: Both of these hot pad patterns are double-knitted, which creates reversible designs. The first pattern creates a butterfly image; the second creates either a coffee mug or a teapot design.
  Note: if you’re new to double knitting, I highly recommend beginning with Coffee and Tea DK Pot Holders. The Butterfly Hot Pad offers little more than a chart, while Coffee and Tea offer some suggestions for achieving double knitting success.

11. Toasty Plus Pot Holder

• What you’ll need to make it: 380 yards worsted weight cotton or wool yarn (in 2 different colors); US Size 5 32-inch circular needles

• Why you’ll want to: Stranded colorwork creates the lovely plus-sign pattern featured in this pretty potholder. The pattern is knitted in the round to offer a little extra protection for the hands.

With these free potholder patterns, you can knit some quick gifts or help stock a nearby shelter. Which is your favorite?