Hi guys! We are about to start our 5th pot holder in the 2023 Pot Holders Galore Crochet-along – woo-hoo! Introducing the California Dreaming Pot Holder – this is a granny square pot holder that has a beautiful sunburst center, and a camel stitch border! Are you excited?
The California Dreaming Pot Holder is made up of two squares (front and back) that are joined together as you crochet, before a camel stitch border is added! You can find the free pattern and video tutorial linked below.
If you prefer to print the pattern, you can find the the ad-free printable PDF here. I can’t wait to see how you put your unique spin on this pot holder!
Pin this Granny Square Pot Holder Pattern – HERE!
Pinning this pattern really makes a difference because it gets the pattern circulating, so other crocheters can see it. Thank you for taking the time to pin this pattern!
Important Links / Schedule:
- Facebook Crochet Along Group
- Join the Crochet Along Email List
- Youtube Channel
- Main Page of Crochet Along – Introduction Post
- Stargazer Pot Holder – January (Month #1)
- Houndstooth Pot Holder – February (Month #2)
- Stained Glass Pot Holder – March (Month #3)
- Mabel Pot Holder – April (Month #4)
- California Dreaming Pot Holder – May (Month #5 – this post)
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Materials:
- 4.0mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch Marker or Safety Pin
- Any medium 4 worsted weight cotton yarn
Yarn:
- Knit Picks Dishie Yarn, Weight 4 Medium Worsted Yarn (100% Cotton, 190 yd / 174 m, 3.5 oz/ 100 g)
| Colour Combination #1 | Colour Combination #2 |
| A: Navy B: Kenai C: Honeydew D: Creme Brulee E: Clarity | A: Conch B: Begonia C: Blush D: Kenai E: Linen |
Yardage:
- Colour A: 70 yds / 64 m
- Colour B: 85 yds / 78 m
- Colour C: 85 yds / 78 m
- Colour D: 85 yds / 78 m
- Colour E: 85 yds / 78 m
- Total: 155 yds / 142 m
Front and Back of the California Dreaming Pot Holder:
The left picture shows the front side of the California Dreaming pot holder, while the right show the back side.
*The Ad-free Printable PDF for the California Dreaming Pot Holder is available as an individual PDF pattern, or as a Crochet Along bundle which includes written instructions for all 12 patterns, step-by-step pictures, links to the video tutorial, and is ready to print and use! Each month, the next pattern will be ready to download.
Abbreviations:
- Ch – chain
- St – stitch
- Sl st – slip stitch
- Sc – single crochet
- Hdc – half double crochet
- Dc – double crochet
- Standing dc – standing double crochet
- 3-dc-cl – 3 double crochet cluster
- 4-dc-cl – 4 double crochet cluster
- Ps – puff stitch
- YO – yarn over
- Rnd – round
Gauge:
At the end of Rnd 5, each square should measure approximately 5” wide x 5” long.
- If your gauge is too small, try using a thicker weight 4 yarn or a larger crochet hook.
- If your gauge is too big, try using a thinner weight 4 yarn or a smaller crochet hook. You can also try adjusting your tension.
Pattern Measurements and Construction:
This granny square pot holder is made up of 2 squares (front and back), that are joined together as you crochet, before a camel stitch border is added.
- Each square measures approximately 5” x 5”, before the border is added.
- When laid flat, the finished pot holder measures approximately 7.75” wide x 7.75” long.
How to Make a Larger Pot Holder:
If you’d like to make your granny square pot holder larger than the original pattern, then there are two ways to do this:
- After Rnd 5, extend the front and back granny square by adding more rnds until you are satisfied with the size of your squares.
- Rnd 6: [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in corner ch-1 sp, dc in each st across until next corner] 4 times. Join with a sl st.
- Rnd 7: [(dc, ch 1, dc) in corner ch-1 sp, dc in each st across until next corner] 4 times. Join with a sl st.
- Extend the border after Rnd 3, by adding more rnds until you are satisfied with the size of your pot holder.
- Rnd 4: [(2 hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) in corner ch-1 sp, hdc in third loop only of each st across until next corner] 4 times. Join with a sl st.
- Rnd 5: [(hdc, ch 1, hdc) in corner ch-1 sp, hdc in third loop only of each st across until next corner] 4 times. Join with a sl st.
Special Stitches and Techniques
Here you’ll find a tutorial for each special stitch in the pattern: a standing dc, 3 double crochet cluster, 4 double crochet cluster, a puff stitch worked 2 rnds below, the half double crochet in the third loop only technique, and the seamless join method.
Standing Double Crochet (Standing dc):
- Step 1: Wrap the yarn around the hook twice.
- Step 2: Insert the hook into the indicated sp and hold the tail in place with your thumb.
- Step 3: YO and draw up a loop – there should be 3 loops on the hook.
- Step 4: YO and pull through the first 2 loops – there should be 2 loops remaining.
- Step 5: YO and pull through the last 2 loops to complete the double crochet.
3 Double Crochet Cluster (3-dc-cl):
- Step 1 (Standing 3-dc-cl): Wrap the yarn around the hook twice, insert hook into sp.
- Step 1 (Regular 3-dc-cl): YO, insert hook into sp.
- Step 2: YO, and draw up a loop – there should be 3 loops on the hook.
- Step 3: YO and pull through the first 2 loops.
- Step 4: [YO, insert hook into same st, YO and draw up a loop; YO and pull through the first 2 loops] 2 times.
- Step 5: YO and pull through the remaining 4 loops to complete the st.
4 Double Crochet Cluster (4-dc-cl):
The first 3 steps of the 4 double crochet cluster stitch are exactly the same as the 3 double crochet cluster, so please reference the tutorial above for pictures of Steps 1 – 3.
- Step 1 (Standing 4-dc-cl): Wrap the yarn around the hook twice, insert hook into sp.
- Step 1 (Regular 4-dc-cl): YO, insert hook into sp.
- Step 2: YO, and draw up a loop – there should be 3 loops on the hook.
- Step 3: YO and pull through the first 2 loops.
- Step 4: [YO, insert hook into same st, YO and draw up a loop; YO and pull through the first 2 loops] 3 times.
- Step 5: YO and pull through the remaining 5 loops to complete the st.
Puff Stitch:
- YO, insert hook into the st 2 rnds below; YO, and draw up a loop, pulling it up to the height of the current rnd – there should be 3 loops on the hook.
- YO, insert hook into same st; YO, draw up a loop, pulling it up to the height of the current rnd – there should be 5 loops on the hook.
- YO and pull through the first 4 loops.
- YO and pull through the remaining 2 loops to complete the st.
Half Double Crochet in Third Loop Only Tutorial:
- Each crochet stitch has a front and back loop; these are the two loops that we normally work into when completing a stitch. However, each stitch also has a “third” loop.
- When working in the round, the third loop appears behind and below the back loop of a stitch. Twist your work towards yourself, so you can see it. (Picture 1).
- You have worked into the third loop correctly if you can still see the front and back loop of the hdc in the previous round (Picture 2).
Close the Rnd Seamlessly:
This seamless join is used for joining the squares and Rnds 1- 3 of the border.
- Once you’ve finished the last st of the rnd, pull up the loop on the hook to make a long tail for seaming, and cut the strand. (Pictures 1, 2, & 3)
- Thread a yarn needle with the tail, and insert needle from back to front through both loops of the second st of the rnd (Picture 4).
- Insert needle from front to back into the back loop only of the last st of the rnd. Now weave in your end normally. This creates a seamless join! (Pictures 5, 6 & 7)
Video Tutorial:
Here is the video tutorial for the California Dreaming Pot Holder. It walks you through Rnds 1 – 5 of the front and back granny square, joining the squares, and adding a border and ch-circle. There are timestamps included in the video, so you can skip to the parts you need.
Pattern:
Notes:
- Do not turn at the end of each rnd.
- The beginning ch does not count as a st.
- This granny square pot holder is made up of 2 squares (front and back) that are joined together, before adding a border and a ch-circle.
- If you prefer not to start each rnd with a standing st, fasten on into the indicated st/sp, ch 2, and make a regular version of the st. Ex. Rnd 2: Ch 2, 3-dc-cl in any st to start.
Granny Square #1 (Front):
With Colour A, ch 4 and join last ch to first ch with a sl st (this creates a ch-circle).
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 16 dc in ch-circle. Join with a sl st. Fasten off. <16 dc>
Rnd 2: With Colour B, make a standing 3-dc-cl in any st, ch 1, (3-dc-cl, ch 1) in each st around. Sl st into first ch-1 sp to join. Fasten off. <16 3-dc-cl, 16 ch-1 sps>
Rnd 3: With Colour C, make a standing 4-dc-cl in any ch-1 sp, ch 2, (4-dc-cl, ch 2) in each ch-1 sp around. Sl st into first ch-2 sp to join. Fasten off. <16 4-dc-cl, 16 ch-2 sps>
Rnd 4: With Colour D, make a standing dc into any ch-2 sp to start – this counts as 1 of the 3 dc worked into the first corner.
[(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in ch-2 sp – this is a corner; 3 hdc in next ch-2 sp, 3 sc in next ch-2 sp, 3 hdc in next ch-2 sp] 4 times. Join with a sl st. Fasten off. <12 sc, 24 hdc, 24 dc, 4 ch-1 sps>
Rnd 5: With Colour E, make a standing dc into any corner ch-1 sp to start – this counts as 1 of the 2 dc worked into the first corner.
{(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 3 sts, [Ps in dc-cl from Rnd 3, sk 1 st – this is the first st after the Ps and it might be hidden, dc in next 2 sts] 4 times} 4 times. Join with a sl st. Fasten off and weave in all ends. <16 Ps, 60 dc, 4 ch-1 sps>
Granny Square #2 (Back):
With Colour E, ch 4 and join last ch to first ch with a sl st (this creates a ch-circle).
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 16 dc in ch-circle. Join with a sl st. <16 dc>
Rnd 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st around. Join with a sl st. <32 dc>
Rnd 3: Ch 2, [dc in first st, 2 dc in next st] around. Join with a sl st. <48 dc>
Rnd 4: Ch 2, [(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in st – this is a corner, dc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, dc in next st] 4 times. Join with a sl st. <12 sc, 24 hdc, 24 dc>
Rnd 5: Sl st to ch-1 sp; ch 1, [(2 hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) in ch-1 sp, hdc in each st across until next ch-1 sp] 4 times. Join with a sl st. <76 hdc, 4 ch-1 sps>
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Blocking the Squares (Optional):
Before joining the squares, you can block them by pinning them in place and spraying them with water, to straighten out the edges, and ensure they are the same size. This step is optional; I chose not to block my potholder squares.
Joining the Squares:
It’s time to join the 2 squares together. Place them on top of each other, making sure that the wrong sides are touching and the right sides are facing out. Line up the squares, so the stitches and ch-1 sps line up. To hold your squares in place, use 4 stitch markers to mark the first st after each ch-1 sp of Granny Square #1, and the matching st (last st before each ch-1 sp) of Granny Square #2.
Going through the matching stitches of the front and back squares:
Ch 1, [(hdc, ch 1, hdc) in ch-1 sp, hdc in each matching st across until next ch-1 sp] 4 times. Close the rnd with a seamless join (see tutorial under “Special Stitches and Techniques Heading”). The squares are joined! <84 hdc, 4 ch-1 sps>
Border:
For the border rounds, we will be crocheting into the third loop only – see the tutorial for this stitch under the “Special Stitches and Techniques Tutorials” heading.
Rnd 1: With Colour B, fasten on in any ch-1 sp; ch 1, [(2 hdc, ch 1, 2 hdc) in ch-1 sp, hdc in the third loop only of each st across until next ch-1 sp] 4 times. Close the rnd with a seamless join. <100 hdc, 4 ch-1 sps>
Rnd 2: With Colour C, fasten on in any ch-1 sp; ch 1, [(hdc, ch 1, hdc) in ch-1 sp, hdc in the third loop only of each st across until next ch-1 sp] 4 times. Close the rnd with a seamless join. <108 hdc, 4 ch-1 sps>
Rnd 3: With Colour E, fasten on in any ch-1 sp; repeat Rnd 2. <116 hdc, 4 ch-1 sps>
Proceed to the ch-circle, without fastening off.
Add a Ch-Circle:
- Do not fasten off at the end of Rnd 3.
- Sl st to the ch-1 sp.
- Ch 13
- Sl st into the ch-1 sp to make a loop.
- Fasten off, leave a tail, and weave in all ends.
Questions?
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