Hot Pads

Now I know that this is not edible. However, it you're going to cook, you're going to need hot pads.....more than one, and more than one size, and they need to be washable.

I know that lots of stores have hot pads, but it seems to me they are all stamped out of the same mold (so to speak), and most of them just don't suit.

So, what's an enterprising cook to do? Well, if you have other skills (in this case, crochet), you just build what ever it is you need. (And, I might add here that this particular item was made out the yarn from a sweater that had become too worn to wear, so I unraveled it and have been using the yarn for other things!)


The nice thing about this pattern is that there isn't much to it. Select whatever yarn (remember, WASHABLE!) you have available -- okay, if you must, buy some.

And use whatever size crochet hook you have on hand that works well with the yarn. As I said, I used some cotton yarn I unraveled from a sweater, and a size "H" (U.S.) hook.

You begin be deciding how big a hot pad you want to make. This one measures 6 1/4 inches by 7 inches, but the important measurement is the diagonal one through the middle. This one measures 9 inches diagonally.



To make your hot pad:

Chain for the desired length of the diagonal measurement.





Turn and work one single crochet in each chain stitch to the next to last chain, work 3 single crochet stitches in the end chain,




continue working one single crochet in the other side of each chain to the end chain, work 2 more single crochet in that end. (Foundation made.)




Continue round and round working 1 single crochet in each single crochet below. DO NOT Increase at the ends, you want it to “curl”.







As you go, it will begin to slowly create a square.

You can add stripes by working alternating colors for each round.






When your edges meet, use a yarn needle to stitch the two edges together and then run the yarn end inside.



That's it!

When you make the first one, you'll be sure that it isn't going to work (even tho' you've seen the pictures), but it just happens like magic!!

Enjoy making a whole variety to match your kitchen decor, or to be your favorite color, or to use up your odds and ends of yarn pieces.