Crocheting must be in my genes. My maternal grandmother, Julia, did a lot of crocheting, as did my mother, Dorothy. One of my paternal aunts taught me to crochet when I was young.
My mother had a few thread crochet potholders that I remember her using when my sisters and I were younger. I was lucky enough to get one of them when I moved out of the nest.
I don't know for sure if my grandmother or my mother made the potholders. I think of my mother every time I use it though.
Using the one that I have as a guide, I was able to work out a pattern. I've since made a few that I have shared with some of my sisters and my two sons.
Dorothy's Potholder
Measures approximately 7 1/2 inches across
Materials:
1 ball solid color size 10 crochet thread, 1 ball variegated color size 10 crochet thread, size 5 steel crochet hook (adjust hook size if work curls)
Stitches:
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
dtr = double treble
sl st = slip stitch
Instructions:
Using solid color size 10 bedspread crochet cotton, make 2
Ch 6, sl st to form ring.
Round 1
Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1),
dc in ring, ch 1, 15 times
join with sl st in 3rd chain of beginning ch-4 (16 dc, ch-1 spaces)
Round 2
Sl st in first ch-1 space,
ch 4, dc in same ch-1 space,
dc, ch 1, dc in each ch-1 space around
join with sl st in 3rd chain of beginning ch-4
Round 3
Sl st in first ch-1 space,
ch 3, dc, ch 1, 2 dc in same ch-1 space,
2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in each ch-1 space around
join with sl st in top of first ch-3
Round 4
Sl st in next dc, sl st in first ch-1 space,
ch 3, dc, ch 1, 2 dc in same ch-1 space,
2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in each ch-1 space around
join with sl st in top of first ch-3
Round 5
Sl st in next dc, sl st in first ch-1 space,
ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in same ch-1 space,
3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in each ch-1 space around
join with sl st in top of first ch-3
Round 6
Sl st in next 2 dc, sl st in first ch-1 space,
ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in same ch-1 space,
3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc in each ch-1 space around
join with sl st in top of first ch-3
Round 7
Sl st in next 2 dc, sl st in first ch-1 space,
ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 4 dc in same ch-1 space,
4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc in each ch-1 space around
join with sl st in top of first ch-3
Round 8
Sl st in next 3 dc, sl st in first ch-1 space,
ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, 4 dc in same ch-1 space,
4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc in each ch-1 space around
join with sl st in top of first ch-3
Round 9
Sl st in next 3 dc, sl st in first ch-1 space,
ch 3, 4 dc, ch 2, 5 dc in same ch-1 space,
5 dc, ch 1, 5 dc in each ch-1 space around
join with sl st in top of first ch-3
Weave in loose ends securely
Holding the two pieces together, wrong sides facing, match the ch-2
spaces, work the following through both thicknesses:
Using variegated size 10 crochet cotton, join thread with sl st in any
ch-2 space,
ch 5 (counts as first dtr - double treble), work 12 dtr in same ch-2
space,
work [1 dtr in space between the two shells, 13 dtr in next ch-2 space]
around
join with sl st to top of first ch-5.
Fasten off.
Using solid main color, attach thread with sl st to any dtr,
ch 3, dc in same st
2 dc in each dtr around
join with sl st to first ch-3.
Fasten off.
Using variegated color, attach thread with sl st to any dc,
ch 1, sc in same st
sc in each dc around
join with sl st to first sc.
Fasten off.
Weave in all loose ends securely.
Margaret Galus Sandlier, 20 August 2006
