Brioche Bun Pot Holder
The Brioche Bun Pot Holder is your next go-to kitchen accessory. It’s a double sided pot holder that’ll add charm to your cooking space while keeping your hand protected from the heat. Keep reading to learn how to make this free crochet pot holder.
Inspiration
Over the last few years, baking bread has become one of my favorite hobbies. Kneading the dough makes for a meditative workout, and crusty bread fresh-from-the-oven is delightful. However, there is one type of dough that eludes me – the brioche dough. It’s a sweet, billowy dough that I tried to make two Christmases ago. Fresh, homemade cinnamon rolls sound *perfect* for Christmas morning. Unfortunately, those rolls failed, but the inspiration for the Brioche Bun Scarf was planted. Curious about this scarf pattern? You can read about it here.
As I thought about changes and challenges I’d like to take on for 2022, one idea kept surfacing — more cooking adventures. Since my whole family loves to cook, I decided to design a pot holder to refresh our kitchen this year, and help spur on my goal of cooking one new recipe a week in 2022.
Therefore, I revived the favorite Brioche Bun Scarf Pattern into a double sided hot pad — the Brioche Bun Pot Holder. If you’re curious about the two main stitches, read the next section, or skip down to the free pattern below.
Design
The Brioche Bun Pot Holder is designed with two main stitches to give it plenty of texture and grip.
- Paired Half Double Crochet
- Puff Stitch
Both stitches are a little tricky for beginner crocheters, but both add depth and intrigue to a crochet pattern. If you need any help with either of these techniques, please see the linked tutorials under the Special Stitches section of the Pattern.
Double Sided for Extra Protection
As much as I love a crocheted pot holder, or dish cloth, I also don’t like burning my hands on hot pans. This pot holder the made with two separate squares to protect hands from heat. The first square features the Brioche Bun stitch pattern, and the second square is stitched in Half Double Crochet. Then, the squares are attached with a Single Crochet border.
Save the Brioche Bun Pot Holder to Your Favorite Pinterest Board!
Yarn + Substitutes
Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran is my new go-to cotton yarn. It’s affordable, and they come in the whole rainbow! Psst… they often go on sale, too! But, how does this cotton yarn work up, and what makes it better than say Lily Sugar n Cream, or Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn Cotton? The “stickiness” factor, and “pill” factor.
The Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran lands somewhere between sticky to the point it’s frustrating, and so soft it’ll pill after one wash in the washing machine. A kitchen pot holder needs to withstand heavy use, and frequent washing. The Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran is a durable, easy-to-work-with cotton yarn that holds up against hot pans, food spills.
PATTERN
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Materials
- Yarn – Paintbox Yarns Cotton Aran, worsted/category 4 (93yds/50g), 100% Cotton
- You will need two colors total
- MC (Vanilla Cream) = 70yds
- CC1 (Peach Orange) = 50yds
- Substitutes : Any other worsted/category 4 yarn will work, preferably cotton
- You will need two colors total
- Crochet Hook – G/6 (4.25mm) or correct hook to meet gauge
- Scissors
- Tapestry Needle
- Tape Measure
- Stitch Markers
Notes
Experience Level = Advanced Beginner. You will need to have an understanding of the Single Crochet, Half Double Crochet, and how to Yarn Over to begin.
Check your gauge! This is important if you want your pot holder to be the same size as the pattern.
CH 2 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.
Gauge + Finished Size
16 STS x 11 Rows = 4″ x 4″ square
- Create gauge using the Half Double Crochet Stitch.
- Gauge is measured BEFORE blocking.
Finished Size
- Length – 7 inches
- Width – 7.5 inches
Stitch Abbreviations
American (US) terms used throughout.
- CH – chain
- SC – single crochet
- HDC – half double crochet
- PHDC – paired half double crochet
- PUFF5 – puff stitch (5 loop)
- PUFF7 – puff stitch (7 loop)
- YO – yarn over
- ST(S) – stitch(es)
- SL ST – slip stitch
- MC – main color
- CC – contrasting color
Special Stitches
Paired Half Double Crochet (PHDC)
YO and insert hook into the previous ST, YO and pull up one loop. (3 loops on the hook.) YO and insert hook into next ST, YO and pull up one loop. (5 loops on the hook.) YO and pull through all loops on the hook.
If you need help with this stitch, please use the following resources.
- Photo Tutorial
- Video Tutorial*
- *Please note that this video tutorial only covers the PHDC, not the entire stitch pattern for the Brioche Bun Pot Holder.
Puff Stitch (5 Loop) (PUFF5)
YO and insert hook into next ST. YO and pull up loop through ST. (Three loops on hook.) YO and insert hook into same ST. (Four loops on hook.) YO and pull up loop through ST. (Five loops on hook.) YO and pull through all loops on hook.
The Puff Stitch is complete. Do not CH 1 to “lock” the stitch. This will give the stitches a slight slant. For this pattern, the next HDC will “lock” the Puff Stitch.
If you need help with this stitch, please use the following resources.
Puff Stitch (7 Loop) (PUFF7)
YO and insert hook into next ST. YO and pull up loop through ST. (Three loops on hook.) YO and insert hook into same ST. (Four loops on hook.) YO and pull up loop through ST. (Five loops on hook.) YO and insert hook into same ST. (Six loops on hook.) YO and pull up loop through ST. (Seven loops on hook.) YO and pull through all loops on hook.
The Puff Stitch is complete. Do not CH 1 to “lock” the stitch. This will give the stitches a slight slant. For this pattern, the next HDC will “lock” the Puff Stitch.
If you need help with this stitch, please use the following resources.
Pattern Instructions
Make the Brioche Bun Square in the MC
CH 27
Row 1 : HDC in 2nd CH from the hook. HDC in each CH. CH 2. Turn. (26 STS)
Row 2 : HDC in the 1st ST. PHDC in each ST until 1 ST remains. HDC in the last ST. CH 2. Turn. (26 STS) *Double check your stitch count on this row.*
Row 3 : HDC in each ST across the row. CH 2. Turn. (26 STS)
Row 4 : PUFF5 in the 1st ST. [Skip next ST. HDC in the next ST. PUFF7 in the skipped ST.] Repeat […] until 1 ST remains. PUFF5 in the last ST. CH 2. Turn. (12 HDC, 2 PUFF5, 12 PUFF7)
Row 5 : Repeat Row 4
Row 6 : HDC in each ST across. CH 2. Turn (26 STS)
Repeat Rows 2-6 2 times or until the scarf reaches 7″ in height.
Begin the Border
After Row 16, CH 1 and turn. SC in each ST across the Row 16. 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.
Make the Second Square
CH 27
Row 1 : HDC in the 2nd CH from the hook. HDC in each CH. CH 2. Turn. (26 STS)
Rows 2 – 17 : HDC in each ST across. CH 2. Turn. (26 STS)
Begin the Border
After Row 17, CH 1 and turn. SC in each ST across the Row 17. 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 Brioche Bun Square, 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.
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).
New Years Resolutions Blog Hop
The Brioche Bun Pot Holder is featured in the New Years Resolutions Blog Hop hosted by Cosy Rosie UK. This event is over, but you can still purchase the pattern bundle here.
