Arvensis Pot Holder
The Arvensis Pot Holder is a double thick hot pad that actually works. It’s worked in two separate squares and joined in a simple border. Keep reading to find out the inspiration behind the Arvensis Pot Holder, and get the free crochet pattern.
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Inspiration
One of my goals this year is to try a new recipe each week. It started as a New Year’s Resolution when I released the Brioche Bun Pot Holder in January because I wanted to challenge myself in the kitchen this year. Well.. I might not be on the new recipe per week train anymore (what’s a resolution if you don’t break them….. right?). However, I am in the kitchen every day practicing my cooking skills.
So, with this new habit, I wanted to spruce up my kitchen accessories. My current pot holder stash is stained, burned, and ancient. But what do I also have a stash of? YARN. Specifically oodles of cotton yarn. After a deep dive in my yarn stash, I surfaced with two semi-skeins of I Love This Yarn Cotton, and a drive to make another pot holder that actually protects your hands while grabbing hot handles and pans.
Design
Now, this stitch sequence – the Arvensis Stitch – is one of those stitches you’ll want in your crochet arsenal. It’s textured, just a touch see through, and easy to grasp. As I have been playing with stitches and designing in 2022, I keep coming back to simplicity. Like, do I really have the capacity to create a complex garment or wall hanging by changing stitches every row? Nope. Not right now. If that kind of crochet project is your jam, I have a beautiful scarf pattern – the Carmen Scarf – learn more here.
Half Double Crochet is my current jam in 2022. My latest patterns have focused around the HDC, and this one does, too. My biggest tip in creating the Arvensis Stitch is to be patient, and place the HDCs between the posts of the stitches. Learning something new uses your brain in ways that you don’t normally use it in on a daily basis.
Yarn + Substitutes
The name of this pot holder – Arvensis – is inspired by the colors I picked for this pattern. The colors remind me of tall prairie grass turning tan, and itsy bitsy purple flowers I find along the rocky trails in Oklahoma. Naming the pattern “the Prairie Pot Holder” became a no brainer… until I realized how many patterns contain the word prairie in their name. Spoiler Alert – A LOT. So then I googled “tiny purple flowers that grow in grass” and stumbled upon Arvensis. It is a Latin adjective for “in the fields”. It was the perfect word to describe that prairie inspiration without using “prairie”.
The yarn I picked for this pot holder is a 100% cotton — I Love This Cotton Yarn from Hobby Lobby. It is a worsted weight (category 4 yarn), and works up soft in your hand. Substituting this yarn is easy. However, only substitute with another 100% cotton yarn. Synthetic yarns (like acrylic, and nylon) tend to melt when in contact with heat.
Other Great Cotton Yarns…
- Paintbox Yarns Aran Cotton (my all time favorite cotton!) from LoveCrafts
- Lily Sugar ‘n Cream
- 24/7 Cotton Yarn from Lion Brand
Save this Arvensis Pot Holder to your favorite Pinterest Board!
PATTERN
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Materials
- Yarn
- I Love This Cotton Yarn, worsted/category 4, 100% Cotton
- You will need two colors total
- MC (Spunky, 153yds/85g) = 60yds
- CC1 (Periwinkle, 180yds/100g) = 45yds
- Substitutes : Any other worsted/category 4 yarn will work, preferably cotton
- You will need two colors total
- I Love This Cotton Yarn, worsted/category 4, 100% Cotton
- Crochet Hook – H/ (5.00mm) or correct hook to meet gauge
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
- Tape Measure
- Stitch Markers
Skill Level
Level 1 – Beginner
You will need to know how to chain, single crochet, half double crochet, and place stitches between posts before you begin. However, if you get stuck, please send me an email at hello@highdesertyarn.com
Notes
Check your gauge! This is important if you want your pot holder to be the same size as the pattern.
CH 1 at the end of a row DOES NOT count as a stitch.
Construction Tips. This pot holder is crocheted in two separate squares, and joined together with a Single Crochet Border. Each square has its own Single Crochet Border. Be sure to make the stitch count equal for all the row edges. This will make the final border even. If you mess up, and skip (or add) a SC, SC two together as needed to make the border even.
Substituting Yarn. Don’t substitute the fiber content with a synthetic (acrylic, nylon) yarn. These fibers tend to melt when they get hot. I suggest substituting with another cotton, or wool, yarn to make pot holders.
Starting Chain Alternative. Feel free to substitute the starting chain with a Foundation Half Double Crochet (FHDC).
Gauge + Finished Size
14 STS x 10 Rows = 4″ x 4″ square
- Create gauge using the Half Double Crochet Stitch
- Gauge is measured BEFORE blocking.
Finished Size
- Length – 7.5 inches
- Width – 7.5 inches
Stitch Abbreviations
American (US) terms used throughout.
- CH – chain
- SC – single crochet
- HDC – half double crochet
- ST(S) – stitch(es)
- SL ST – slip stitch
- MC – main color
- CC – contrasting color
Special Stitches
The Arvensis Stitch (Row 2)
For this row, make sure you’re going BETWEEN the posts of the stitches (under all 3 loops of the half double crochet in the previous row). Do not place any stitches in the row below. This isn’t a Spike Stitch, but a cluster of 2 HDCs. Also, there are no chain spaces in this stitch sequence, just well placed stitches.
Start Row 2 with a HDC in the 1st ST. Now the repeat begins. [Skip the 2nd ST. Skip the 3rd ST. Then, put 2 HDCs between the 3rd and 4th STS.] Repeat the […] until there is one stitch left in the row. Put a HDC in the last stitch.
Once you repeat this row a few times, you’ll begin to see the separation between the spaces and the placement of the 2 HDCs will become easier.
Here is a video tutorial to help with the Arvensis Stitch.
Pattern Instructions
Make the Arvensis Square in the MC
CH 23
Row 1 : HDC in 2nd CH from the hook. HDC in each CH. CH 1. Turn. (22 STS)
Row 2 : HDC in 1st ST. [SK 2 STS. 2 HDC between the next 2 STS.] Repeat […] 9 times. HDC in the last ST. CH 1. Turn. (22 STS)
Repeat Row 2 until the pot holder reaches Row 20, or it reaches 7.5″ in height.
Begin the Border
After the last row of the square, CH 1 and turn. SC in each ST across the last row. At the corner, place 2 SC STS. SC evenly along the next edge. Place 2 SC STS in the next corner. SC into each ST along the starting CH. Place 2 SC STS in the next corner. SC evenly along the next edge. Join with a SL ST. Do not cut yarn. This end will be used to attach the two squares together.
Make the Second Square in the CC
CH 23
Row 1 : HDC in the 2nd CH from the hook. HDC in each CH. CH 1. Turn. (22 STS)
Rows 2 : HDC in each ST across. CH 1. Turn. (22 STS)
Repeat Row 2 until the pot holder reaches Row 20, or it reaches 7.5″ in height.
Begin the Border
After the last row of the 2nd square, CH 1 and turn. SC in each ST across the last row. At the corner, place 2 SC STS. SC evenly along the next edge (this stitch count needs to be the same as the edge stitch count in the previous square). Place 2 SC STS in the next corner. SC into each ST along the starting CH. Place 2 SC STS in the next corner. SC evenly along the next edge. Join with a SL ST. Cut yarn, and weave in the end in the back of the work.
Crochet the Squares Together
Place squares wrong sides together. If you need to, place stitch markers in the corners to hold the squares together. With the MC still attached to the Arvensis Square, CH 1 and SC in both stitches (one stitch from each square) to join the squares together. SC in each stitch of the squares’ borders. Take care to make sure the stitches align properly. Place 2 STS in each corner.
Here is a video tutorial on how to crochet the squares together.
Crochet the Hanging Loop (optional)
After the squares are crocheted together, do not cut the yarn. Instead CH 10, and SL ST into the 1st ST of the final border. Cut yarn, and tie off. Weave the end into the inside of the pot holder (between the two squares).
Where to find the Arvensis Pot Holder Pattern
Springtime Crochet Blog Hop
The Arvensis Pot Holder is a featured pattern in the Springtime Crochet Blog Hop hosted by Crochets by Trista. On March 14, 2022, you can download the PDF on Ravelry for free! Head over to the Crochets by Trista blog to get your coupon code, then come back here to get the link to the pattern on Ravelry. Coupon code is valid from 7AM EST (New York Time) for 24 hours on March 14, 2022.
