Dorothy's Potholder

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

Pocket Prayer Shawls, aka Pocket Prayer Cloths

I subscribe to a weekly e-newsletter from Lion Brand that highlights new patterns and contains articles about knit and crochet projects.  In a one of their newsletters was an article about Pocket Prayer Shawls.  I was familiar with Prayer Shawl projects, but had not heard about the smaller, very portable prayer cloths, which are small enough to carry in a purse or pocket.

The idea appealed to me, since the pocket prayer cloths work up very quickly. 

The Lion Brand newsletter article mentioned Southern Belle Crochet, which has easy instructions for a Mini Prayer Cloth.

I searched the web for other patterns available.  One site suggested making a granny square to use as a pocket prayer cloth.  While the center of a granny square does look like a cross, it isn't well defined.

I played around a bit with the granny square idea and came up with my own design.

August 2017: A few months back a person asked if this could be modified so it could be made into a baptismal blanket.  Here is my rectangular Cross Granny Square. 

Granny Pocket Prayer Cloth

Before you begin, say a prayer for the person who will receive the prayer cloth.

Materials:
About 10 yards worsted weight yarn, size G crochet hook

• Use cotton or 100% wool instead of acrylic if the prayer cloth will be sent to someone in the military, a police officer, firefighter or other first responder.  Acrylic melts and adheres to the skin, causing severe burns. 
• Some worsted weight yarns are heavier than others.  I switched to an H hook and changed the first ch 5 to ch 4. 

Stitches - U.S. terms:
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
dtr = double treble
sl st = slip stitch

Instructions - please note, this is made just like a traditional Granny Square except one of the "arms" is longer to form a cross.  I posted a few photos below, 1 of round 1 and several for round 2:

ch 5, join with sl st to form ring
r1      ch 3, 2 dc in ring (ch 3 counts as 1 dc)
    ch 3, 3 dc in ring
    ch 5, 3 dtr in ring
    ch 5, 3 dc in ring
    ch 3, join in top of 1st ch-3 with sl st
    do not turn

See photo below of round 1

r2    ch 3, dc in next 2 dc
    2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in ch-3 sp
    dc in next 3 dc
    5 dc (or 6 dc *see below), ch 1, 2 dc in ch-5 sp
    dc in next 3 dtr
    2 dc, ch 1, 5 dc (or 6 dc *see below) in ch-5 sp
    dc in next 3 dc
    2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc in ch-3 sp
    join with sl st in back loop of 3rd ch of 1st ch-3
(* Vanna's Choice yarn was lighter than what I originally used.  I added an extra dc to keep the cloth from curling.)

See photos below of round 2

 
r3  loosely sl st in back loop of each st around
    sl st in joining sl st from prev round

fasten off, weave in ends 

This is round 1. To start make ch 3 then 2 dc in initial ring.

Beginning of round 2

This and subsequent photos show round 2

End of round 2. Work round 3 next (no photo)

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Links to other sites:
Prayer Cloth Ministry/Sending Troops Prayers
Cross Pocket Prayer Cloth
Angel Prayer Cloth

Notes:
4 Apr 2016 Revision: Changed the last joining stitch on round 2.  Added round 3.

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Blessings and peace.