Here's My Heart Valentine Potholder Free Crochet Pattern!
Valentine Potholders Are Fun To Use Or Give!
I've designed these crocheted potholders so that they will not only be pretty, but useful! They're crocheted in a close single crochet stitch in a double layer which will adequately serve as a functional potholder.
Wouldn't it be pretty to crochet a set of these up in pink, red and white and give them to your dearest friend, your sister, or perhaps your daughter, son, or a special niece! They would also be a delightfully unexpected surprise gift in a bridal shower gift basket for a February wedding.
These potholders were crocheted with Bernat Handicrafter Cotton's holiday sparkle yarn, because I have a thing with sparkle! It's also a very durable yarn and holds up well under repeated washings. Potholders that are going to actually be used as potholders should be made out of 100% cotton yarn.
Some of the heart motifs pictured here are done for decorative purposes only in Enchantress yarn, available only at Hobby Lobby. I'll provide a link to there website where you can order it online below.
If you've always wanted to learn to crochet, the plain heart center of the potholder would be a good starting project because it uses only single crochet stitch. It's also a good practice piece for gaining experience with crocheting in the round.
Whatever your reasons and whatever colors you choose, I hope you enjoy crocheting lots of these pretty potholders!
The Front & Back Sides
The Schnauzer Difficulty Rating!
What You Will Need
Small amounts Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Red and White (I used their Holiday from Dec. 2012)
Or Peaches n' Creme, Sugar n' Cream or other 100% cotton yarn
Optional: For the potholders shown, I wanted just a touch of pink in border and hanger chain so I held two strands of size 20 cotton crochet thread in two different pinks along with the yarn.
Crochet hook size G or preferred
Shown in this photo are motifs done in Hobby Lobby's Enchantress Yarn.
Great Crochet Accessories From Amazon - My Hand Picks!
A Word About Yarn & Thread Selection...
You may use different yarns such as scrap yarns on this pattern with good results as long as they are the same brand of yarn. If they're different brands, they should be almost exactly the same weight and thickness or they may throw off your pattern.
Here's What Happened To My First Attempt! - The Grandpuppy Ate My Homework!
Read the story in my blog, link at right!
Speak The Crochet Lingo!
Let's Make The Magic!
We'll start by making two center heart pieces. Next we will add a simple border to one piece which will serve as the holder for the hanging chain. After that, we will create a border that also stitches the two heart pieces together. And finally, we will create a chain which will lace through our inner border then tie in a bow above the potholder for hanging.
Potholder Heart Center (Make 2)
With MC, Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.
Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.
Round 1
Work 8 SC in ring. Join with sl st to first st.
Round 2
In next stitch, work (SC, ch 2, SC). SC in next 2 SC. Work 2 SC in each of next 2 SC. Sl st in next SC. Ch 1, Work 2 SC in each of next 2 SC. SC in next 2 SC. Do NOT join. Instead of joining each round at the end as usual, we will simply continue with the next round. So… work (SC, ch 2, SC) in ch 2 space….
Round 3
SC in next 3 SC. Work 2 SC in next SC. Work SC in next SC. Work 2 SC in next SC. Ch 1, sl st in next sl st. Sl st in next sl st. Ch 1, SC in next SC. Two SC in next SC. SC in next SC. Two SC in next SC. SC in next 3 SC. Work (SC-ch 2- SC) in ch 2 space…
Round 4
SC in next 4 SC. (Work 2 SC in next SC, work SC in next SC) 3 times. SC in next stitch. Ch 1, sl st in sl st. Ch 1, SC in next st. (Work 2 SC in next SC, work SC in next SC) 3 times. SC in next 4 SC. Work (SC-ch 2- SC) in ch 2 space…
Round 5
SC in next 5 SC. (Work 2 SC in next SC, work SC in next SC) 4 times. SC in next 3 stitches. Ch 1, sl st in slip stitch. Ch 1, SC in next 3 stitches. (Work 2 SC in next SC, work SC in next SC) 4 times. SC in next 5 SC. Work (SC-ch 2- SC) in ch 2 space…
Round 6
SC in next 6 SC. (Work 2 SC in next SC, work SC in next SC) 5 times. SC in next 5 stitches. Ch 1, sl st in slip stitch. Ch 1, SC in next 5 stitches. (Work 2 SC in next SC, work SC in next SC) 5 times. SC in next 6 SC. Work (SC-ch 2- SC) in ch 2 space…
Remaining Rounds
You can make this heart any size you wish, all the way up to an afghan if you want! Here's what you do:
- On each new round, you will add one SC to the number of SC's crocheted up the bottom side of the heart. For example... on Round 7, the instructions would say "SC in next 7 SC."
- Increase the parenthetic instructions by one repeat each new round. Example - Round 7 would be (Work 2 SC in next SC, work SC in next SC) 6 times.
- Add one SC to the number of SC's crocheted after the slip stitch at top of the heart, starting down the left side. Example - Round 7 would read, "... Ch 1, sl st in slip stitch. Ch 1, SC in next 6 stitches."
In other words... up every instruction by an increment of one for each new round. There! Now that was easy!
Ending
When heart is desired size, end with a single crochet in bottom point of heart. CH 1, sl st in ch 2 space and fasten off.
Note:
You will see that on one of my hearts I did a different color (red) for the last few rounds of the heart. Nothing different was done there except changing the color.
Inner Criss-Cross Border
Attach White to bottom ch 2 space of heart. *Ch 4, SC in the SC 4 rounds inward and 2 SC to the left. Ch 4, SC in 5th SC to left of your last SC on top round. Repeat from * around, ending with ch 4, sl st in first SC. Fasten off.
Outer Border Option #1 (Shown In Main Photo)
Attach White held with optional 2 strands of #10 crochet thread in ch 2 space at bottom of heart. *Ch 2, work 4 DC in same space, complete Popcorn. Ch 2, SC in next 3 SC. *Ch 2, work 4 DC in same st, complete Popcorn. Ch 2, SC in next 3 SC. Repeat from * around. End with sl st in base of first ch-2. Fasten off.
Outer Border Option 2 (not shown)
Attach White into the last SC made. Ch 2, SC in same space. *Work 5SCP in next SC. Ch 1 tightly to close. CH 1, SC in next SC. Repeat all around. When you reach the slip stitch on top of the heart, SC in the slip stitch on the previous round. Ch 1, work your popcorn in the next stitch after the slip stitch, then continue in pattern until you reach the ch 2 space at bottom of heart. Work 4 of the 5 SC's for popcorn in that space. Slip stitch to the first SC. Remove hook, create popcorn as usual including the first SC of round in the popcorn. Fasten off.
Hanging Chain
Make a chain in desired color combination (I used both red and white and the #10 crochet threads all together). Make it your desired length - at minimum It needs to be long enough to weave in and out of the inner border all around heart, pull through the top and tie into a bow to use as a hanger.
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