Double-Thick Pot Holder
Between our gorgeous new Sunshower Cotton with its delightful printed texture and Daniella Taylor’s clever design, our Double-Thick Pot Holder is a hot little hot pad to keep your hands cool!
Daniella’s super fun construction begins with a tube knit in the round that you seal at the top with a three-needle bind off. After you cast-on and bind-off for a little hanging loop, you open up the pouch, triumphantly flatten it into a square, and whipstitch a design-detail seam.
The garter stitch surface of the Double-Thick Pot Holders shows off the unique coloring of our new Sunshower Cotton. Like a ray of light filtering through the leaves of a tree, Sunshower Cotton has a gentle dappled appearance. Its white base shows through as the printed dye dances on the surface of the yarn, and each stitch is a beautiful little surprise as the hues shift under your fingers!
Soft and sturdy, Sunshower Cotton is made in Italy of 100% organically grown cotton. A worsted-weight yarn spun in four plies, it has a satisfying heft and a supple feel. In short, it makes for a beautiful and trusty heatproof pot holder… And you only need one skein to make one!
Sunshower Cotton’s palette of twelve colors ranges from lively Bright Watermelon to moody Rain Storm… And we couldn’t resist making a Double-Thick Pot Holder in each and every one!
Designed for Purl Soho by Daniella Taylor. Once a designer and art director for various household magazines, Daniella’s passion for knitting took over, and she became a knitting shop owner and now designer. Her delightful knit Foxy, inspired by her sister’s drawings of a fox who moved into her garden shed, is now a fully realized character (with his own handknit wardrobe!) who brings joy to children and adults alike!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoDoubleThickPotHolder, and #PurlSohoSunshowerCotton. We can’t wait to see what you make!
MATERIALS
To make one Double-Thick Pot Holder, you will need…
- 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Sunshower Cotton, 100% organically grown cotton. Each skein is 159 yards/ 100g; approximately 159 yards required. We knit one in every color!
- US 6 (4mm), 16-inch circular needles
- A spare US 6 (4mm) double pointed needle
- Stitch markers
GAUGE
19 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch, unblocked
SIZE
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 7 inches square
NOTES
CONSTRUCTION
You knit this pot holder in the round in garter stitch, then fold it and seam it closed with a 3-Needle Bind Off. At the end of the seam, you cast on and bind off for a hanging loop. You then fold the piece flat, seam the cast-on edge together with a whipstitch and secure the hanging loop. The result is a double-sided, thick, and heatproof pot holder.
PATTERN
BEGIN
Using the Cable Cast On method, cast 96 stitches onto circular needles.
Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Round 1: Knit to end of round.
Round 2: Purl to end of round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 twenty-one more times or until piece measures 5 inches from cast-on edge.
Remove marker and fold piece in half so needles are parallel and 48 stitches are on each needle. With a spare needle, bind off using a 3 Needle Bind-Off, leaving last stitch on needle.
Do not cut yarn.
MAKE HANGING LOOP
Using a Cable Cast On, cast on 25 stitches for Hanging Loop. [26 stitches]
Turn work and bind off all stitches knitwise.
Cut yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail.
You now have a tube with one end closed by a seam, and at the end of that seam, you have a little knit tail.
SEAM
Now, create a double-layer square by folding the piece so that half the cast-on edge is parallel to the other half, and both edges are perpendicular to the bound-off edge, as shown above.
With a new length of yarn, seam the two sides of the cast-on edge together using a whipstitch, taking care not to catch the bottom side of the pot holder as you go. To see whipstitch in action, check out our Sewing Crocheted Squares Together tutorial (it’s the same idea for seaming knit items)!
FINISHING
Use the Hanging Loop tail to secure the end of the loop to the corner of the pot holder.
Weave in the remaining ends and block if desired.
Hi, what is happening to your site? I’ve not been able to save patterns to “my favorites” for the past 2 days. Also I was wondering if it would be possible for your patterns to be more condensed. Just the pattern and maybe 1 photo instead of many. It makes it hard to print out. I love your patterns.
Hi Denise,
Thank you for reaching out to us and for bringing this to our attention! Our tech team is actively working on this issue and we are looking into it so that you can save this pattern to your favorites again soon! We will follow up with any updates and let you know when it has been resolved. The rest of our website is running smoothly, however, as it is just the Save to Favorites function that is currently down.
To adjust the printed pattern, you can edit the document before printing by clicking on the Print icon! In the preview window, hover over the photos in the pattern and click on the trash can icon that appears for any section you would like to omit. You can also delete all photos in the printed pattern by selecting 0% next to the image icon along the toolbar at the top of the print preview window.
We apologize for the inconvenience when saving to favorites and please feel free to let us know if you have any other questions or concerns in the meantime!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi Denise!
We wanted to follow up to let you know that the Save to Favorites function is now back up and running, so you should be able to save our newest patterns to your favorites again!
I hope this helps with your project planning, and please feel free to let us know if you have any other questions or concerns as well.
All the best,
Margaret
As one who has knitted since I was 6-years old, I’m always on the lookout for knitted dishcloths and or potholders. I knit cuz it’s “relaxing”. People think I’m crazy saying that, and at the same time tell them not to use dishcloths I’ll make for them “Ever” as a potholder, cuz I knit really loose.
Hi Joni,
Thank you for writing in! It sounds like it would helpful in your case to go down a needle size or two if you plan on giving these a try, and we hope you find them relaxing to knit, too!
All the best,
Margaret
I LOVE this pattern. My grandma used to crochet a version and I’ve been looking for a knitted pattern for years!
Thank you!
You are very welcome, Kathy, and thank you for your sweet comment! We hope you enjoy making these knit potholders!
All the best,
Margaret
I’m having trouble visualizing the work before it’s taken off the circular needle: what shape is it? And how to fold it? A few diagrams illustrating the shape and folds would help to clarify the directions.
Hi Susan!
Thank you for your question! We do have a few photos in the SEAM section to help illustrate how this design takes shape, but to help explain further, your knitting will look like a rectangular loop with one sealed side before seaming together. Then, you will press the fabric flat on the seam therefore turning the fabric into a pouch, and sew the other side of the loop together, creating a double layer square.
I hope this helps, and please feel free to let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Margaret
I have had and continue to have problems printing your patterns. There is always overlapping gibberish at the top. I have used the print options, etc., to no avail. My solution is to copy the entire pattern top to bottom (I leave out the top with ALL the pictures showing) and include the comments, paste it into a Word or WordPerfect (still the best program around) document, save it, and then edit it.
I change the font size as well as the picture sizes. It actually comes down to a manageable size document and pictures fit on the same page with the supporting text.
Obviously, it was not intended to be printed this way, but it works! I guess we all have to get a little creative to get what we want. . .
Hi Angela!
Thank you for writing in, though we are so sorry to hear you are having difficulty printing the pattern directly from our website! We would be happy to provide you with a printable PDF of any of our free patterns if you are interested. To request a PDF, please feel free to reach out to us at customerservice@purlsoho.com.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
Is there a way to leave the hanging loop off?
Thank you,
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
You can absolutely make your potholders without the hanging loop! Once you’ve finished the 3-needle bind-off, instead of working the hanging loop you can simply cut your yarn, making sure to leave an 8″ tail. Then, you can just skip ahead to the SEAM section of the pattern and complete your pot holder as written. I hope this helps you with your project planning, and if you have any other questions you can always reach out to us at customerservice@purlsoho.com!
Happy Knitting,
Kelsey
So clever! I love the unique construction. The yarn looks beautiful. Which color is closer to red, watermelon or cherry tomato? Sorry it’s not so clear on my phone.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Fran,
We’re so glad you’re enjoying this lovely little pattern and the beauty of Sunshower Cotton! It’s a wonderful new yarn that we’re thrilled to introduce! In terms of color, I wouldn’t say that we have a true red in the Sunshower Cotton, but between the Bright Watermelon and Cherry Tomato, I’d say the Cherry Tomato is the closest. While both are lovely shades, the Bright Watermelon definitely leans more into a bright pink tone, while the Cherry Tomato leans more into a red/orange tone. If you wanted to see some samples of each color before deciding on what’s best for your project, you could always get a couple of our color cards to see the yarn in person! I hope this helps you with your project planning and please let us know if there’s anything else we can help you with!
Warmly,
Kelsey
Thank you for your reply. Is there another yarn you can recommend for this pattern that has a red option?
You are very welcome, Fran! If you are looking for another yarn to use for this pattern, we suggest Tulip Cotton! Gladiola Red and Wild Watermelon are two vibrant red options we have in this yarn, but we also have Mulled Wine and Red Sequoia for two more muted, deep red colors.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Margaret
Thank you for that great recommendation – beautiful red choices. How much yarn should I purchase?
You are very welcome, Fran! You should be safe to knit one potholder with one skein of Tulip Cotton, though Tulip Cotton does have about 28 yards less than Sunshower Cotton, so it will be close! I recommend being conservative with tails if you would like to keep your potholder under one skein, or purchasing an extra skein of Tulip Cotton just in case!
All the best,
Margaret
To be on the safe side with one skein of Tulip Cotton, how can I make the potholder slightly smaller.?
Please advise on how many fewer stitches and the comparable decrease in the length of the tube. Thank.
Hi Fran!
To make a slightly smaller potholder with Tulip Cotton, you could cast on 86 or 76 stitches and knit for 4.5″ or 4″ respectively! You can test out the size of your finished potholder as you knit, too, by folding it while your needles are still along the top edge, which will help gauge whether you can knit any further or if you have come to a good stopping point.
All the best,
Margaret
I think your pattern might have a mistake. The cast on edge really becomes the diagonal distance of the back, which is approximately 10 inches, so you only need to knit five inches from the cast on edge for the diagonal 3 needle bind off to meet, not 9 1/2.
Hi Lori,
Thanks for reaching out and catching this! We’ve gone ahead and updated the pattern to reflect the correct information for that section. The pattern now says “Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 twenty-one more times or until piece measures 5 inches from cast-on edge.”
Thanks again for your attention to detail, and please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Carly
Thank you for this!! After attempting to finish mine last night I was baffled and thought it guage was way off or something then it wasn’t…I couldn’t have figure how 9.5 inches could ever make 7 inches….I’m going to pull out and make it right!
Hello,
Is it possible to know the Width in stiches of Double-Thick Pot The length Holder after 9 1/2 stiches of knitting
Merci from Québec city , . Canada
Hi Danielle!
Thank you for your question! When knitting the initial loop of fabric, the width of this loop when laid flat is 48 stitches or about 8″-9″ wide.
Please feel free to let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Margaret
Love the pattern and the yarn. I was wondering about laundering…. Is this can this go in the washer and dryer? Or, should I size it larger for easy washing?
Hi Liz!
Thank you for your question. Sunshower Cotton is machine washable and dyer friendly, so you can throw these in the washer and dryer! We recommend washing them on the gentle cycle to protect them for many years to come.
I hope this helps, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
Hi There, is the 9.5″ from cast on edge measurement correct? I checked my gauge and I’ve completed ~36 rows and am at ~4.5″ from cast on edge. If I knit the 41 rows as pattern indicates I will be nowhere near 9.5″ from cast on edge. Also, if I was to knit the tube to be 9.5″ tall I think that would be much too long…
Hi Katelyn!
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We went ahead and edited the pattern to say, “Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 twenty-one more times or until piece measures 5 inches from cast-on edge. (Note: We accidentally posted this pattern with an incorrect number of repeats and desired height of 9½ inches. We’re so sorry for any trouble this has caused!)”
I hope this helps clarify things, and happy knitting!
All the best,
Margaret
You mention this pattern is circular needles, knit row 1 purl row 2.
When knitting in round, it’s automatically stockinette not garter.
Do you really mean to “purl” row 2 or continue knitting in round?
Thank you.
Hi Susan!
Thank you for your question. Since this potholder is knit in the round, alternating knit and purl rows will create the bumpy ridges of garter stitch on both sides of the fabric! Stockinette stitch is created by knitting every row in the round, whereas garter stitch is created by knitting one row and then purling the next row when working in the round.
I hope this helps clarify things, and please feel free to let us know if you have any other questions!
All the best,
Margaret
Thank you for this pattern. Would there be a way to make the finished potholder bigger? Casting on more stitches and knitting more rows perhaps?
Hi Judy!
Thank you for your question! Yes, you are right, if you wanted to make a bigger potholder, you would need to cast on more stitches and knit the initial “tube” for a longer length. You will likely need another skein of Sunshower Cotton to do this, though, so that is something to keep in mind.
I hope this helps with your project planning!
All the best,
Margaret
This did not work for me. I cast on the 96 stitches, knit the pattern until it was 5″ from cast on edge and after doing the 3 needle bind off, when I folded it to stitch up the seam there was a gap. The edges don’t meet. If I pull them together the corners curl up. How can I fix it?
Hi Chantal!
Thank you for your question, though I am so sorry to hear your potholder isn’t turning out as you had hoped! I suspect that you may need to revisit your gauge, as this potholder will fold to meet together without any edge curling when knit at gauge. If you would like to learn more about how to measure and use gauge, we have a handy tutorial called All About Gauge to reference. You can even measure your gauge from the potholder progress you have already knit!
If you have checked your gauge and things are still not turning out quite right, please feel free to contact us or send us a photo at customerservice@purlsoho.com. We are always happy to help!
All the best,
Margaret
Thank you so much — not only for the pattern, but for the instructions on how to edit the PDF to make it a bit more printer friendly!
I am in the process of making this pot holder with sugar and cream—I do nothave your gauge—-36 rows to 4 inches
I have about 26 rows?????
Hi Alice,
Thanks for reaching out to us about this! The gauge for this project is very important for the construction, so we recommend knitting gauge swatches before casting on your pot holders to be sure you’re using the correct needles to achieve the gauge listed in the pattern.
Since you are getting less rows per inch than the pattern calls for, sizing down your needles will get you closer to the correct gauge. Here’s our tutorial about gauge that might help you with this project!
Please let us know if you have any questions!
All the best,
Carly
I see that the two side of the finished potholder are not tacked together. Will it maintain its shape? Would tacking be beneficial?
Hi Sandi,
Thanks for asking! We’ve found that these potholders do maintain their shape, since the two seams run perpendicular to each other and hold it all in place. But tacking the sides together definitely will not hurt, so you can absolutely go ahead and add that if you want!
All the best,
Lili
I am wondering if this pot holder can be made flat, knitting every row, then seaming to get the desired shape. It would help to not have to purl every other row in the round. I am trying to visualize this method, your answer would clarify it for me.
Thank you!
Lorraine
Hi Lorraine,
Thanks for reaching out. You can absolutely knit this pattern flat! After knitting a rectangle to the height indicated in the pattern, you can seam up the sides into a cylinder, and then proceed with the seaming that’s already in the pattern to form the potholder shape. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Thank you!
I made a pot holder with this pattern
and the double fabric when finished, was not dense or stiff enough.
If switching to knitting each round instead of purling every other round, will I get a denser fabric?
I also have gone down a couple of needle sizes.
Hi Laren,
Thanks for reaching out, and I’m sorry to hear that your potholder wasn’t as dense or stiff as you had hoped for! Have you knit a gauge swatch yet? It’s important to make sure you’re getting the correct gauge, as that will impact the density of the finished fabric of the pot holder. It could be that your gauge is a bit too large right now!
You might also want to try washing your finished potholder. Since Sunshower Cotton is a 100% cotton yarn, it will likely shrink a bit in the washer and dryer, resulting in a denser fabric!
Unfortunately, knitting each round will not work for this pattern. That would create stockinette stitch instead of garter stitch, which will change the look of the pot holder completely! Stockinette is also even less dense than garter stitch, so that wouldn’t likely solve the problem.
I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns!
All the best,
Lili
Can I use just straight needles for this patter I have trouble with circle needles or could you advise another patter I have done the crochet one that worked fine Thank You
Hi Peggy,
Thanks for reaching out. This pattern is designed in the round, so you will unfortunately not be able to use plain straight needles for it. However, you could certainly use a set of double pointed needles!
Alternatively, you could modify this pattern and work it flat with straight needles by knitting the cylinder as a rectangle and then seaming it together before forming it into the potholder shape. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I’m concerned that they might not be heat proof enough. Could they be made by inserting a layer of insulation, like Insul-Bright?
Hi Francesca,
That’s a great idea! You can definitely insert a layer of insulation before seaming the potholder together. Let us know how it goes, if you try this!
All the best,
Lili
I am presently knitting this pot holder. I am using Sunshower cotton 159 yds. on a size 6 circular needle 16” – I have completed round 1 (knit) and round 2 (Purl) 35 times. My piece measures
7 1/2”. I am supposed to knit 41 times (9 1/2”). I have very little yarn left on my spool so I know I will not make 41 rounds. I will need yarn to knit the hanging loop. What do you suggest I do? Just make it a smaller pot holder? Very disappointing that I don’t have enough yarn,
Thank you for your help.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for reaching out, and I’m sorry to hear that you’re running out of yarn! The reason that this is happening is because it looks like you’re working from an older version of the pattern that’s actually incorrect. We accidentally posted this pattern with an incorrect number of repeats and desired height of 9½ inches. This line now reads:
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 twenty-one more times or until piece measures 5 inches from cast-on edge.
We’re so sorry for the trouble this has caused!
All the best,
Lili
I’m working on my second potholder and wondering as a rule of thumb, can you measure the width of cast on stitches -say it measures 12” when folded in half then knit the length to 6-7” to get the right proportions so it folds correctly. These would be great a bit larger as trivets, thanks.
Hello,
Thanks a great question! The height you should knit to before folding will always be half the length of the diagonal seam (which itself is half the distance of the circumference at cast-on)! So if the length of the diagonal seam is 12 inches (so, a 24-inch cast-on circumference), then you would need to knit to 6 inches to get the right proportions for folding. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Perfect! Thanks
Just finished my first Hot pad!🤗
Not without a few flaws but I love it!
Super fun pattern!
Thank you!
Lisa🌻
Hi !
Would sugar and cream work for this ? Is that close to the yarn used here ? I just have a lot to use up 🙂 If so, would I use the recommended needle size for that yarn even if it’s smaller ?
Hi Laurie,
Sugar and Cream would work great for this project, since that yarn is also a worsted weight cotton! To determine the best needles to use, we recommend knitting a gauge swatch before casting on your project, especially when you are substituting yarns. You may need to size up or down your needles in order to get the correct gauge! If you would like to learn more about this, we have a handy tutorial called All About Gauge, which you can find right here.
All the best,
Lili
If you repeat rows 1 and 2 21 more times should you end up with 22 rows total or 44? Thanks!
Hi Anjuli,
Great question! You will end up with 44 rows, but 22 garter ridges (which are easier to count than rows, in my opinion). Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili