It’s customizable in both size and direction, which means that before you add a chain circle to complete the potholder, you can decide if you prefer the pattern to be vertical or horizontal facing.
Pin this Star Stitch Potholder – HERE!
Important Links / Schedule:
Potholder Patterns:
Materials:
Yarn:
- I Love this Cotton Yarn, Weight 4 Medium Worsted Yarn (100% Cotton, 180 yd / 165 m, 3.5 oz / 100 g)
- Option #1: 1 Skein of Aqua (A)
- Option #2: 1 Skein of Warm Blush (A)
*Yarn Note:
Yardage:
- Colour A: 150 yds / 137 m
Front, Back and Seam of the Potholder:
Horizontal vs. Vertical Star Stitch Potholder:
One of the fun things about this potholder is that you can change the direction of the pattern, depending on your preference. Before you add a chain circle to complete the potholder, you’ll need to figure out whether you’d like the pattern to be vertical or horizontal.
Below, you can see an example of the potholder shown vertically (Aqua) and horizontally (Warm Blush). Which direction do you prefer?
Abbreviations:
Gauge: Approximately 16 sts x 9 rows = 4” x 4”
16 stitches are equivalent to 16 sc, 16 hdc, and 8 star stitches.
- If your gauge is too small (more than 16 sts or 9 rows), try using a thicker weight 4 yarn or a larger crochet hook.
- If your gauge is too big (less than 16 sts or 9 rows), try using a thinner weight 4 yarn or a smaller crochet hook. You can also try adjusting your tension.
Pattern Measurements & Construction:
Customize the Size of your Star Stitch Potholder:
- Width: The width of the potholder is determined by the starting chain. Chain any number until satisfied with the width of the potholder.
- Length: To make your potholder longer or shorter, repeat Rnds 2 – 5, until satisfied. The potholder should always end on a Rnd 5 repeat.
The Ad-free Printable PDF for the Written in the Stars Potholder is available as an individual PDF pattern on Ravelry or Etsy; or as a Crochet Along bundle, which includes written instructions for all 13 patterns on Ravelry or Etsy!
Third Loop Only:
- Each crochet stitch has a front and back loop; these are the two loops that we normally work into when completing a stitch. However, the half double crochet stitch also has a “third” loop.
- The third loop appears in front and below the front loop of the hdc.
- In Rnd 5, we crochet into the third loop only to create a ribbed texture. You can tell that you’ve done this right, if you can see the front and back loop of each hdc on the right side of your potholder.
Right Side (RS) vs. Wrong Side (WS):
In the pattern, the RS of the potholder is when the even rnds are facing you, and you can see the star stitch texture and ribbed edge of the hdc rows.
The WS of the potholder is when the odd numbered rnds are facing you, and the stitches are flat and lack texture.
Video Tutorial:
Pattern:
- The beginning ch of each rnd does not count as a st.
- Odd numbered rnds are considered the WS, and even numbered rnds are considered the RS.
- The seam shifts slightly with each new rnd of star stitches. This is normal and will become the back side of our potholder when we close the top.
- Different colours are used to highlight the stitch placement.
- Always turn your work before starting a new rnd.
With Colour A, ch 32.
Rnd 1 (WS):
- Hdc in second ch from hook – mark with a stitch marker.
- Hdc in each ch across until 1 chain remains.
- 2 hdc in last ch.
- Rotate your work 180 degrees clockwise, so you are working along the bottom of the chain.
- Sk last ch with 2 hdc. Hdc in next ch and in each ch across. Mark the last hdc with a stitch marker.
- Sl st into the first hdc of the rnd to join. Turn.
Stitch Count: 62 hdc
Rnd 2 (RS):
First Star Stitch:
- Ch 3. Insert hook in second ch from hook, YO and draw up a loop – there should be 2 loops on hook.
- Insert hook in next ch, YO and draw up a loop – there should be 3 loops on hook.
- Insert hook in first marked st, YO and draw up a loop – there should be 4 loops on hook.
- Insert hook in next st, YO and draw up a loop – there should be 5 loops on hook.
- YO and pull through all 5 loops.
- Ch 1. Mark ch-1 sp with a stitch marker.
Second Star Stitch:
- Insert hook in ch-1 sp of last st, YO and draw up a loop – 2 loops on hook.
- Insert hook in the bottom of last st, YO and draw up a loop – 3 loops on hook.
- [Insert hook in next st, YO and draw up a loop] 2 times – 5 loops on hook.
- YO and pull through all 5 loops.
- Ch 1.
Third Star Stitch and On:
- Repeat “Second Star Stitch” around.
- For the last Star Stitch, do not ch 1. Mark the last Star Stitch with a stitch marker.
- Sl st into the first Star Stitch before the first ch-1 sp of the rnd to join. Turn.
Stitch Count: 31 Star Stitch
Note:
For Rnd 3, if you have any trouble finding the ch-1 sp, turn your work, so you can find it from the other side.
Rnd 3 (WS):
- Ch 1, 2 sc in first marked Star Stitch. Mark first sc with a stitch marker.
- 2 sc in each ch-1 sp around. Mark last sc with a stitch marker.
- Sl st into the first sc of the rnd to join. Turn.
Stitch Count: 62 sc
Rnd 4 (RS):
- Ch 1, hdc in first st. Mark first hdc with a stitch marker.
- Hdc in each st around. Mark last hdc with a stitch marker.
- Sl st into the first hdc of the rnd to join. Turn.
Stitch Count: 62 hdc
Rnd 5 (WS):
- Ch 1, hdc in third loop only of first st. Mark first hdc with a stitch marker.
- Hdc in third loop only of each st around. Mark last hdc with a stitch marker.
- Sl st into the first hdc of the rnd to join. Turn.
Stitch Count: 62 hdc
Rnds 6 – 21:
Repeat Rnds 2 – 5, 4 times.
At the end of Rnd 21, fasten off and weave in all ends.
Noticeable Seam:
The seam shifts slightly with each new rnd of star stitches. This is normal. The front side will have a jagged edge. Lay the potholder flat and flip it over, so that the back side (without the seam) is facing you. This will become the front side of the potholder.
Crocheting the Potholder Closed:
- With Colour A, fasten on in the first st in the top-right corner on the back side of the potholder – this is the side without the seam.
- Ch 1, insert hook into first hdc on the front, and the matching hdc on the back of the potholder, and make a hdc to join.
- Hdc in each st across, inserting the hook into the matching front and back st to join.
Stitch Count: 31 hdc
Vertical or Horizontal Star Stitch Potholder:
It’s time to decide which direction of the pattern you like best. If you prefer the pattern horizontally, then do not fasten off before making your chain circle. If you prefer the pattern when it’s vertical, fasten off and weave in your end before making the chain circle.
Adding a Ch-Circle:
- Vertical Only: Rotate your potholder, so that the pattern is going in a vertical direction. Fasten on by inserting your hook into the top-left corner.
- Horizontal: After closing the potholder, keep your yarn attached.
- Horizontal & Vertical:
- Ch 13 (Picture 1).
- Insert hook into first ch. Make a sl st to close the ch-circle. (Picture 2 & 3)
- Fasten off, leave a tail, and weave in the last end (Picture 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).
Questions?
If you have any questions as you work through 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.
Other Crochet Potholders You’ll Love!
End Notes:
Congratulations! You just finished your first Written in the Stars Crochet Potholder. I hope you enjoyed making it.
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:
The 2024 crochet-along is now complete! Thank you so much to everyone who participated.
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 2024 Potholders Galore Crochet-along in the Facebook Group HERE. I can’t wait to see your lovely potholder(s)!
I hope you have a wonderful day, and happy crocheting!
Sincerely,
Dayna