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Summer is upon us! I love summer and summer vacation. I love having my kids home and having much less of a schedule to adhere to. I love staying up a bit later and having the windows open for fresh air. Most of all, I love being able to send the kids outside and I love eating dinner on our back deck. And you know what screams summer? These adorable fruit potholders that are great for that back deck or anywhere else! My favorite part about these potholders is that there is a cork trivet inside which makes them firm and sturdy as well as super cute.
This free pattern from Durable Yarns is such a unique take on the crocheted potholder/trivet/hot pad/pot coaster. Plus, you can easily remove the crocheted cover portion and throw it in the washing machine without doing damage to the cork inside!
I made mine with 100% cotton yarn so it won’t melt when I plop a hot pot on top. I also changed up some of the colors from the original pattern to add a lime and an orange one just for fun.
In addition to the set I made myself, I am making sets to give as host/hostess gifts this summer when we travel and stay with family. I'm also going to make a set for the family who is moving into their new home nearby soon. Everyone needs potholders and this one is perfect!
Watch a video tutorial here:
Supplies for fruity potholders:
This post may contain affiliate links which means at no extra cost to you I may receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links.
Free pattern - Fruity Potcoasters | Durable (durableyarn.com)
100% cotton yarn medium weight - I used Crafter's Secret Cotton in White, Lime, and Bright Orange and Brown
I also used Lily Sugar and Cream in Red and Dark Pine and Black
For the yellow I used Yarn Bee Fundamental Cotton in Canary
G 4 mm hook - these are my absolute favorites
Optional:
Orange - Crafter's Secret White and Bright Orange
Kiwi – Crafter's Secret White, Lime, Brown and Black
Lime – Crafter's Secret White and Lime
Lemon - Crafter's Secret White and Yarn Bee Fundamental Cotton in Canary
Watermelon - Lily Sugar and Cream in Red, Dark Pine and Black.
Fruity Potholder Pattern:
The pattern is very easy. You start with a magic circle and do rows of double crochets with increases until you get to 84 stitches and then do a few more rows without increasing.
If you need a little help or a refresher on the magic circle/magic ring, I have a video tutorial here.
I have another video here that walks you step by step through increases.
And, if you want to know how to change colors, go here for another video.
Let's talk Fruity Potholder details:
After you crochet the base of your potholder cover, it's time to add either citrus lines or seeds to finish the details of the fruit.
To add citrus lines:
I have an optional step for you that will really help to keep the lines straight. Remember – this is optional but is VERY effective and easy.
Use a water-soluble fabric marker and a ruler to draw lines onto the top of the potholder. Think of it like a pizza. Draw one line from the top to the bottom, rotate the circle and draw another line from your new top to your new bottom and continue adding lines until you like the look of it. I added four lines to make eight different citrus wedges.
Use these lines with either of the following two methods and your fruit sections will be perfectly straight and even.
Embroider the citrus lines:
The first method for adding lines is to embroider them on.
Go here to watch a video tutorial.
Cut a length of yarn about 2 yards long of whatever color you are using for the lines. I used white.
Thread the yarn onto a darning needle.
Starting at the 7th row (the one white row if you followed the pattern) bring the yarn through the potholder from the back to the front. Don't pull the yarn all the way through – leave about 3-4 inches on the back.
Move your needle toward the center of the potholder to about the bottom of row 6. Pull the yarn through from the front to the back.
Knot the end you left on the back to the working yarn but don't pull too tight.
Move your needle toward the center of the potholder again at about the bottom of row 5 and pull the yarn through from the back to the front.
Move your needle closer to you and insert the needle at the top of row 5 and pull the yarn from the front to the back.
When you finish a line, without cutting your yarn, weave under either the white center, or the white row of stitches until you are at the start of another line you have drawn on.
Continue making lines until you are finished. Attach new lengths of yarn as needed.
Finish off and weave in ends.
Surface slip stitch the citrus lines:
The second method for adding lines is to surface slip stitch them.
Go here to watch a video tutorial.
Start by making a slip knot but do not insert your hook into it yet.
Put your hook through the potholder in the 7th row (the white one) and put the slip knot on the end of the hook.
Tighten up your slip knot by pulling gently on the working yarn.
Using your hook, pull the slip knot through the fabric from the back to the front and THROUGH the slip knot on your hook.
Now insert your hook into the middle of row 6 (the last colored row before the white) and grab the yarn from the back (yarn over) and pull it through the potholder and THROUGH the loop on your hook.
For the rest of the stitches in that “line”, insert your hook into the bottom of the stitch of the next row, grab the yarn from the back (yarn over) and pull it through the potholder and the loop on your hook. You are slip stitching from the back to the front.
Make your last slip stitch of that “line” just inside your first row (the white center).
Cut your yarn leaving about 3-4 inches to weave in at the end and finish off.
Weave in your ends. It helps to secure the last stitch in each line by going from the front to the back through the last stitch you made with your darning needle.
Cleaning off the fabric marker:
To clean any fabric marker off your potholder, you could throw it into the washing machine. But really, the easiest way to get rid of it is just to use a damp paper towel and rub lightly over the marks. They will disappear like magic.
Add seeds to your Fruity Potholders:
Cut a length of yarn about 2 yards long in whatever color you want to make the seeds. I used black.
Thread the yarn onto your darning needle. Insert your needle from the back to the front and bring the yarn through the potholder. Don't pull the yarn all the way through – leave about 3-4 inches on the back. Knot the end you left on the back to the working yarn but don't pull too tight.
Move over a bit and insert your needle from front to back to finish forming one seed.
Continue this process to create seeds until you like the look of your potholder.
Finish off and weave in the ends.
Add elastic to the Fruity Potholder:
Thread your elastic onto your darning needle. I like to start this at the seam where I joined the rows, but it doesn't really matter. I don't cut the elastic at this point. I like to thread it through the project and cut at the end so I know I have just the right amount.
Thread the needle and elastic under both loops of a stitch going from the inside to the outside.
Skip the next stitch and thread the needle and elastic under both loops going from the outside in.
Continue working around the outside until you get back to the start.
With both ends next to each other on the inside of the potholder, insert the cork trivet and then tighten the elastic until the crocheted cover itself is tightened. Make sure the potholder isn't too loose on the cork but don't pull so tight that you stretch out the stitches.
Knot the ends of the elastic together. You could add a dot of crazy glue to secure this.
Weave the ends of the elastic through the last row of the project and trim off any excess.
Ta da! Cute and oh so useful. I just love, love, love these. I can't wait to give them away this summer!
For more free crochet patterns, go here.
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Happy crafting!
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