Hi guys! If you’re looking for something cute and functional for your kitchen, this double thick circular crochet potholder is for you. It is made up of 2 identical circles that are joined together as you crochet. This double layer protects your fingers and counters!
Can you believe that we are halfway through the 2023 Pot Holders Galore Crochet-along? This month’s pot holder is the Encircle Me Potholder, which is very similar to the Stargazer Potholder. Like the Stargazer, the Encircle Me Potholder uses front-post stitches to create fun colour blocks and stripes. So if you enjoyed the Stargazer, I think you’ll really like this pattern!
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 Circular Crochet Potholder 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
- Potholder #1: Stargazer
- Potholder #2: Houndstooth
- Potholder #3: Stained Glass
- Potholder #4: Mabel
- Potholder #5: California Dreaming
- Potholder #6: Encircle Me (this post)
- Potholder #7: Making Waves
- Potholder #8: Flower Power Hexagon
- Potholder #9: Zig and Zag
- Potholder #10: Serendipity
- Potholder #11: Granny Diamond
- Potholder #12: Sweater Weather
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Materials:
- Any medium 4 worsted weight cotton yarn
- 4.0 mm crochet hook
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
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: Butterscotch B: Swan | A: Sunbaked B: Swan |
Yardage:
- Colour A: 70 yds / 64 m
- Colour B: 105 yds / 96 m
- Total: 175 yds / 160 m
*The Ad-free Printable PDF for the Encircle Me 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.
How Does this Pot Holder Look in a Single Colour?
This circular crochet potholder looks a bit weird when worked in a single colour. This is because the front-post stitches are not used for texture, but are instead used to highlight the secondary colour and create a fun colorwork design.
Abbreviations:
- Ch – chain
- St – stitch
- Sl st – slip stitch
- Sc – single crochet
- Reverse Sc – reverse single crochet (a.k.a crab stitch)
- Hdc – half double crochet
- Dc – double crochet
- Fpdc – front post double crochet
- Fptc – front post triple crochet
- Yo – yarn over
- Rnd – round
Gauge:
If you’d like to check your gauge as you crochet, the diameter is measured from one end of the potholder to the other, after each rnd listed:
- Rnd 5: 4.5” in diameter
- Rnd 6: 5.75” in diameter
- Rnd 9: 8.5” in diameter
- Rnd 10: 9.25” in diameter
If your gauge is too small, try using a thicker weight 4 yarn or a larger crochet hook. However, 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:
This circular crochet potholder measures 9.5″ in diameter! If you’d like to crochet a smaller or larger version of this pot holder, you can find instructions below under the “Customize the Size of your Pot Holder” heading.
Customize the Size of your Encircle Me Pot Holder:
To make your circular crochet potholder smaller or larger, you can change your hook size by going up or down a hook size (going down a hook size makes a smaller pot holder, and going up a hook size makes a larger pot holder). However, you can also follow the customization instructions below:
Smaller: To make the potholder smaller, follow the pattern and stop when you are satisfied with the size of your circle. Make a second circle, and join them together.
Larger: To make the potholder larger, stop after Rnd 9, and continue on with these extra rnds until satisfied with the size. Make a second circle, and join them together:
- Rnd 10: With Colour A, ch 2, [2 dc in st, dc in next 7 sts] 12 times. Join with a sl st. <108 dc>
- Rnd 11: With Colour B, ch 2, dc in first 4 sts, [2 dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts] 11 times, 2 dc in next st, dc in last 4 sts. Join with a sl st. <120 dc>
- Rnd 12: With Colour A, ch 2, [2 dc in st, dc in next 9 sts] 12 times. Join with a sl st. <132 dc>
- Rnd 13: With Colour B, ch 2, dc in first 2 sts, [fptc around next st 2 rnds below – leave the st behind the fptc unworked, dc in next 11 sts] 11 times, fptc around next st 2 rnds below – leave the st behind the fptc unworked, dc in last 9 sts. Join with a sl st, but do not change colour. <132 dc, 12 fptc>
- Rnd 14: Ch 2, [2 hdc in st, hdc in next 11 sts] 12 times. Join with a sl st. <156 hdc>
*The Ad-free Printable PDF for the Crochet Along 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.
Colour Change Tutorial:
Colour changes happen in the last st of the rnd before the final YO.
- Before the final YO of the last st of the rnd, drop the current colour.
- Pick up the new colour and pull it through the remaining loops on the hook to complete st.
- With the new colour, sl st into the first st of the rnd to join.
Front Post Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial (Fpdc):
The front post double crochet is worked AROUND a stitch, instead of through the front and back loops of a stitch.
- YO and insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated st. (Pictures 1 & 2)
- YO and draw up a loop – you should have 3 loops on the hook. (Pictures 3 & 4)
- [YO and pull through 2 loops] 2 times. (Pictures 4, 5 & 6)
Front Post Triple Crochet Stitch Tutorial (Fptc):
The front post triple crochet stitches are always worked 2 rnds below.
- YO 2 times, and insert hook from front to back to front around the indicated st. (Picture 1 & 2)
- YO and draw up a loop – you should have 4 loops on the hook.
- [YO and pull through 2 loops] 3 times. (Pictures 3, 4, & 5)
Reverse Single Crochet (Crab Stitch) Stitch:
The reverse single crochet (also known as the crab stitch) is crocheted exactly how it sounds: in reverse. Regular single crochets are worked to the left (for the right-handed stitcher); however, the reverse single crochet stitch is worked to the right. Changing direction creates a beautiful, simple texture!
- Step 1: Ch 1, and insert hook into first st to the right of the ch-1 (Picture 1 & 2).
- Step 2: Yarn under, and draw up a loop (Picture 3).
- Step 3: YO, and pull through both loops on hook to complete the sc (Picture 4 & 5).
- Step 4: [Sc in next st to the right] around (Picture 6).
Video Tutorial:
Here is the video tutorial for the Encircle Me circular crochet potholder. It walks you through Rnds 1 – 10, and joining the 2 circles together.
Pattern Notes:
- This pot holder is made up of 2 identical circles that are crocheted together to create a double thick pot holder.
- Yarn is not carried in the pattern. After joining the new colour, drop the old colour to the back of the work, and leave it for future rnds if needed; otherwise, leave a tail, and cut the strand.
- Do not turn at the end of each rnd.
- Stitch counts are given at the end of each rnd in <> brackets.
- The beginning ch does not count as a st.
- The first st of each rnd is worked into the SAME st you made the sl st into in the previous rnd.
Circle (Make 2):
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, 12 dc in ch-circle. Sl st in the first st of the rnd. Pull the tail to tighten the ch-circle center. <12 dc>
Rnd 2: Ch 2, dc in first st, fpdc around same st, [(dc, fpdc around same st) in next st] 11 times. Change to Colour B before the final YO, then join with a sl st – see tutorial for changing colour above. <12 dc, 12 fpdc>
Rnd 3: With Colour B, ch 2, [fpdc around st, 2 dc in next st] 12 times. Change to Colour A, then join with a sl st. <24 dc, 12 fpdc>
Rnd 4: With Colour A, ch 2, [2 dc in fpdc, dc in next 2 sts] 12 times. Change to Colour B, then join with a sl st. <48 dc>
Rnd 5: With Colour B, ch 2, [dc in 3 sts, fptc around next st 2 rnds below – leave the st behind the fptc unworked] 12 times. Change to Colour A, then join with a sl st. <36 dc, 12 fptc>
Rnd 6: With Colour A, ch 2, [dc in 3 sts, 2 dc in fptc] 12 times. Change to Colour B, then join with a sl st. <60 dc>
Rnd 7: With Colour B, ch 2, dc in first 2 sts, [2 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts] 11 times, 2 dc in next st, dc in last 2 sts. Change to Colour A, then join with a sl st. <72 dc>
Rnd 8: With Colour A, ch 2, [dc in 5 sts, 2 dc in next st] 12 times. Change to Colour B, then join with a sl st. <84 dc>
Rnd 9: With Colour B, ch 2, dc in first 2 sts, [(dc in next st, fptc around same st 2 rnds below), dc in next 6 sts] 11 times, (dc in next st, fptc around same st 2 rnds below), dc in last 4 sts. Join with a sl st, but do not change colour. <84 dc, 12 fptc>
Rnd 10: Ch 1, [2 hdc in st, hdc in next 7 sts] 12 times. Join with a sl st. <108 hdc>
Fasten off and weave in ends.
*Repeat this process to make a second circle, but do not fasten off because we will join the 2 circles together with the working yarn! Weave in all ends (except the working yarn from circle 2) before joining the circles together. *
Joining the 2 Circles Together:
To join the circles together, I chose to use the reverse single crochet (a.k.a the crab stitch); you can find the tutorial and instructions below. However, I know this stitch can be finnicky, and hurt your hands, so here are a couple of alternatives:
1. Twisted Single Crochet Stitch – Video Tutorial HERE: This stitch looks exactly like the crab stitch, but it’s worked right to left, and it might be easier on your hands.
2. Single Crochet Stitch: To join the circles together, make a single crochet going through the both loops of Circle 1 and 2, in each stitch around!
Joining Tutorial:
These pictures are from the Stargazer Potholder, but the technique is the same!
- Line up the front and back circles making sure that the wrong sides are touching and the right sides are facing outward.
- With Colour B, ch 1, insert hook into first st to the right of the ch 1, going through the front and back loops of Circle 1 and the matching st of Circle 2. Make a sc.
- Reverse single crochet in each st around, going through the matching sts of Circle 1 and 2.
- To close the rnd, see instructions below for creating a seamless join.
Close the Rnd Seamlessly:
- Once you’ve finished the last reverse sc st, pull up the loop on the hook to make a long tail for seaming, and cut the strand. (Picture 1, 2, & 3)
- Thread a yarn needle with the tail, and insert needle from back to front through the 2 loops of the first st of the rnd (Pictures 4 & 5).
- Insert needle from front to back into the nearest st to bring the tail to the back of your work. Now weave in your end normally. This creates a seamless join! (Pictures 6 & 7)
Questions?
If you have any questions about the pattern, please reach out to me. I am happy to help! Send me an email through my contact page or ask in the Facebook CAL Group.
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End Notes:
Congratulations! You just finished your first Encircle Me Circular Crochet Potholder. Now you can put it to good use and start protecting your counters from hot pots. If you’d like to make more potholders, or other crochet home decor items with your cotton yarn, explore some patterns by clicking on the button below.
Potholder #7 will be released on July 14, 2023!
Disclaimer: You are welcome to sell items that you’ve made from this pattern; however, you are not allowed to use my pictures or sell my pattern as your own (Copyright @ ThisPixieCreates).
Please share pictures of anything and everything related to the 2023 Pot Holders Galore Crochet-along in the Facebook Group HERE. I cannot wait to see how you take this pattern and make it your own.
If you prefer to participate on Instagram, please tag me @thispixiecreates or use the hashtag #potholdersgalorecal.
I hope you have an amazing day!
Love, Dayna
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