Do you want to save money on textiles for your kitchen? Do you want to create a more homey feel in your kitchen? Let’s see how easy it is to make your own hot pads.
Easy Crocheted Hot Pad
Do you want to learn to make textiles for your kitchen? I am starting here with an easy square hot pad my 12-year-old made years and years ago. I kept it because I love the colors! They are perfect for my kitchen and I am trying to make it more homey. You can use any two colors you like. Try out several colors in a swatch if you want first and see what catches your eye. To make a swatch, start with 8 single crochet stitches.
Our pattern today will begin with 13 chain stitches (13 ch). You can use any type of yarn you have on hand and want to use up. That is what they did in traditional homesteads, I imagine. You can even use fabric that you tear into strips if that is what you need to use up. In a pinch, you could use t-shirts that are old or stained. I have made coasters from old T-shirts. Although, this will take more work, use what you have. That is how I save money instead of going out and buying new items.
I chose to use some T-shirt yarn I made and some wool I was gifted. In the other picture down below I used 2 strands of cotton yarn.
How to Begin Crocheting Your Crocheted Hot Pads
If you are a beginner, I would recommend practicing some chain stitches until you have mastered it. It might take a while, but you can always pull out the stitches after you practice. I am using pictures from a book I taught from called Kids Crochet by Kelli Ronci. You can find the book here. I used to teach crochet to all ages at our homeschool coop. I would suggest they chain-stitch the whole ball of yarn. You might not need to go to that extreme. After you are comfortable with a chain stitch. Try a single crochet stitch here. Once you have begun to get the idea, then keep practicing. I used a size K hook because I always crochet so loose, but this pattern suggests using a J. It won’t really matter that much because you won’t be wearing it.
Creating a Slip Knot
- First, as you can see by the photo you will wrap yarn around the index and middle fingers of one hand, and it will be looped around your fingers. Leave the tail about 5″ long.
- Next, with your other hand, slip your fingers under the loop and pull the “working yarn” (the yarn that is attached to the ball) up, and create another loop.
- Put the hook through the second loop and pull your fingers out of the first loop.
- You can then gently pull on the tail and working yarn to tighten your slip knot.
Then we will start the chain. turn your hook towards the working yarn in your hand and hook the yarn. Pull the yarn into the yarn around your hook, and now you’ve made one chain. When you’re done with your first chain, move your thumb and middle finger up to hold the chain stitch you just made. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have 13 chains on your hook.
Single Crochet
1 When you make your first row of single crochet you will skip over the first chain stitch next to the hook and put your hook through the second stitch.
2 Grab the yarn from back to front, and pull through the first loop on the hook, now you will have 2 loops on the hook
3 Grab the yarn from back to front again, and pull it through both loops on the hook.
4 One single crochet stitch made! After repeating steps 1-3, make one single crochet stitch in each chain stitch. This will create your foundation row.
5 At the the end of the row, turn your work on its top to view the V-shaped stitches. Count them to make sure you only have 12. Since you started with 13 and skipped the first stitch in the row.
6 To begin the next row, turn your work from right to left like you would pages in a book. Then make one chain stitch, so you can build your next row.
7 This next row you will NOT skip the first stitch, only do this on your foundation row. Continue with single crochets going underneath both strands of the “V” on top of each stitch. Continue with step 2 and 3 for making a single crochet stitch.
8 Continue making this as large as you want, I made 16 rows so my hot pad could be a little longer. You could stop when it becomes a square. It’s up to you.
Decide on a Size For Your Crocheted Hot Pads
Lastly, you can decide on a size. Do you want it to be a perfect square or more of a rectangle? I stopped here to show you what a square looks like, but I decided I wanted it to be longer so I could fold it over the handles of my Cast Iron pots. Then cut the yarn at about 5″ and pull the tail all the way through the last hook. Tighten the knot. Now is the fun part, NOT. Weave in the tails. I like to use a metal yarn needle with a large eye. weave in an “S” pattern so your tail won’t pull out when washing. You can also “block” your finished product by spraying it down with water and laying it flat on a towel. I’m going to be washing and drying mine so much I chose to skip this step.
I hope you enjoy! This is also a good project for your kids as the weather turns cooler and it is so good for the brain.
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