String Pot Holders

Take a Ball of String

Posted by GMC Group

About

These generously sized pot holders are invaluable for saving burnt fingers and can also be used as mats to protect your tabletops. The ‘tumbling block’ pattern is taken from a traditional design found in Ancient Greek and Roman mosaics.

Size:
Approximately 12 x 10½in (30 x 26.5cm)

Tension:
Not crucial, but the example was worked to a tension of 4dc x 4 rows to 1in (2.5cm) square.

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You Will Need (8 things)

  • For each pot holder

  • 70 Yds (64m) medium tone (grey) bakers’ Twine or household string (A)
  • 60 Yds (55m) light tone (neutral) bakers’ Twine or household string (B)
  • 45 Yds (42m) dark tone (red) bakers’ Twine or household string (C)
  • 4 mm (UK8:USG/6) Crochet Hook
  • Cotton Embroidery Thread in a neutral shade
  • 2 .5mm (UK12:USC/2) crochet hook or large Darning Needle to finish off ends
  • Sharp Scissors

Steps (8 steps, 60 minutes)

  1. 1

    Special instruction:
    Dec1
    Insert hook in next ch or dc and draw a loop through; insert hook in foll ch or dc and draw a loop through, wrap yarn and draw through three loops.

  2. 2

    Zigzag strip 1 (make 2)
    Using the 4mm hook and A, make 13ch.
    Row 1: Dc in third ch from hook, dc in each of next 8 ch, dec1 in dc over next 2 ch, 2ch, turn.
    Row 2: Dc in second dc, dc in each of next 8 dc, dc in turning chain of previous row, 2ch, turn.
    Row 3: Dc in first dc, dc in each of next 8 dc, dec1 in dc over next dc and turning ch, 2ch, turn.
    Rows 4 and 6: As row 2.
    Rows 5 and 7: As row 3.
    Row 8: Dc in second dc, dc in each of next 8 dc, dc in turning ch.
    Change to B, 2ch, turn (one lozenge made) (1).

  3. 3

    Row 9: Dc in second dc, dc in each of the next 8 dc, dc in turning ch, 2ch, turn (2).
    Row 10: Dc in first dc, dc in each of next 8 dc, dec1 over next dc and turning ch of previous row, 2ch, turn.
    Row 11: Dc in second dc, dc in each of the next 8 dc, dc in turning ch of previous row, 2ch, turn.
    Row 12: As row 10.
    Row 13: As row 11.
    Row 14: As row 10.
    Row 15: As row 11.
    Row 16: As row 10.
    Row 17: Dc in second dc, dc in each of next 8 dc, dc in turning ch of previous row changing to A in last st, 2ch, turn (3).

  4. 4

    Row 18: Using A, dc in second dc, dc in each of next 8 dc, dc in turning ch, 2ch, turn.
    Row 19: Dc in first dc, dc in each of next 8 dc, dec1 over next st and turning chain of previous row, 2ch, turn.
    Continue like this, changing colour appropriately until five sections have been made (three A and two B).
    Final row: Dc in second dc, dc in each of next 8 dc, dec1 over next st and turning ch.
    Cut string leaving a 4in (10cm) tail. Pull through loop on hook to finish off (4).

  5. 5

    Zigzag strip 2 (make 1)
    Using the 4mm crochet hook and B, make 13ch.
    Work as for zigzag strip 1 but making three B and two A sections.
    You should now have three zigzag strips – 2 of strip 1 and 1 of strip 2 (5).

  6. 6

    Diamonds (make 4)
    Using C, make 13ch.
    Work rows 1–7 of zigzag strip 1.
    Row 8: Dc in second dc, dc in each of next 8 dc, dc in turning ch.
    Cut string leaving a 4in (5cm) tail and pull through loop on hook to finish.

  7. 7

    Triangles (make 2)
    Row 1: Using the 4mm crochet hook and C, make 13ch.
    Row 2: Dc in third ch from hook, dc over each of 
the next 8ch, dec1 over next 2 ch, 2ch, turn.
    Row 3: Dc in second dc, dc over each of the next 
6 dc, dec1 over next dc and turning ch, 2ch, turn.
    Row 4: Dc in second dc, dc over each of the next 
5 dc, dec1 over next dc and turning ch, 2ch, turn.
    Row 5: Dc in second dc, dc over each of the next 
4 dc, dec1 over next dc and turning ch, 2ch, turn.
    Row 6: Dc in second dc, dc over each of the next 
3 dc, dec1 over next dc and turning ch, 2ch, turn.
    Row 7: Dc in second dc, dc over each of the next 
2 dc, dec1 over next dc and turning ch, 2ch, turn.
    Row 8: Dc in second dc, dec1 over next dc and turning ch, 2ch, turn.
    Row 9: Dec1 over second dc and turning ch.
    Cut string leaving a 4in (5cm) tail and pull through loop on hook to finish off (6).

  8. 8

    Making up
    Assemble the three strips, four diamonds and two triangles following the photo (7) and sew together from the back using neutral thread. Using the small crochet hook or large darning needle, finish off the string ends by hooking them through stitches at the back of the work. Trim ends flush.