Whit's Knits: Fruity Trivets and Pot Holders
Late last summer we had dinner with our friend Mrs. Halby on her porch. She paraded many delicious plates of food out to us, among them, a hot baking dish of roasted fingerling potatoes. Of course, I was interested in the potatoes, but I was even more captivated by the adorable pot holder Mrs. Halby had used to transport them. It was a crocheted slice of watermelon that it turns out had been a gift from Mexico. I vowed to make my own version, and finally here it is, just in time for this summer's outdoor dinners.
Update!
This pattern is now available as a knitting pattern, too! You can find it right here.
We've also got Knit or Crochet Fruity Trivets + Pot Holder Kits that include both patterns and all of the yarn! You can find our kits right here.
Materials
NOTES: To make all three sets of Trivets and Pot Holders, you only need one skein of each color. You will also have enough yarn to make an orange, lime and watermelon Trivet and 2 Pot Holders (or 2 Trivets or 4 Pot Holders).
Orange
- 3 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca's Worsted Cotton, 100% Cotton. These colors are, from the left, Poppy (#601), Dandelion (#638) and Bone (#80). This last color is part of Blue Sky's organic collection and is located here on our web site.
- A size K crochet hook.
Lime
- 3 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca's Worsted Cotton, 100% Cotton. These colors are, from the left, Pickle (#633), Lemongrass (#607) and Bone (#80). This last color is part of Blue SKy's Organic collection and is located here on our web site.
- A size K crochet hook.
Watermelon
- 3 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca's Worsted Cotton, 100% Cotton. These colors are, from the left, Pickle (#633), Lotus (#617) and Toffee (#623).
- A size K crochet hook.
Patterns
Gauge
2 3/4 single crochets = 1 inch
Finished Sizes
9 inches in diameter
Trivet Pattern
Note
The yarn is used doubled throughout this pattern, which is a lot easier than it may sound. Because this yarn tends to cling to itself, I didn't experience any problems with splitting.
To double the yarn you can either pull from both the center and the outside of the ball, or you can wind the skein into two even balls and pull from each of those.
The Center
With the Main Color, chain 6 and slip stitch into the first chain to form a ring.
Round 1: Make 12 single crochets (sc) into the ring.
Note: Mark the first stitch of the next round with a removable marker. Reposition the marker at the beginning of each round to mark the new first stitch.
Round 2: *1 sc into next stitch, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (18 stitches)
Round 3: *1 sc into next 2 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (24 stitches)
Round 4: *1 sc into next 3 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (30 stitches)
Continue to work in this pattern, each round adding one stitch between the increases until there are 9 stitches between the increases. Do not make the last single crochet of the last round . (65 stitches)
Change Colors
Still using the Main Color, do the first half of the final single crochet of the round.
Now using the Contrast Color, finish the single crochet by pulling the new yarn through the two loops on the hook. Cut the Main Color yarn.
The Rind
Using the Contrast Color, continue to crochet the circle in the same pattern:
Next Round: *1 sc into next 10 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (70 stitches)
Next Round: *1 sc into next 11 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of round. (77 stitches)
Final Round: Slip stitch into each single crochet.
Cut the yarn and pull it though the final stitch.
The Seeds
Fold a 72 inch piece of the Accent Color in half, and thread it onto a tapestry needle.
1. Bring the needle up from the back to the front, coming out of one of the natural holes in the work. Leave a six inch tail in the back that you can later weave in.
2. Bring the needle to the back through a hole two rounds up and slightly to the left of the starting point.
3. Now bring the needle to the front through the hole directly to the right of the last entry point.
4. Next bring the needle to the back through the original starting hole.
5. Bring the needle to the front at the top left of the "V".
6. Bring the needle to the back through the top right of the "V".
7. Again, bring the needle to the front through the original starting point.
8. Now bring the needle to the back through the stitch at the center top of the triangle.
9. Complete the seed by bringing the needle to the front, again, through the original starting point.
This last step is so that the back of the Trivet looks as nice as the front. Here is the finished seed on the back side...
Sew the needle through the stitches to the next place you want to start a seed. Make sure that the Accent Color doesn't pop through anywhere!
Repeat these steps until you have sewn/sown as many seeds as you like.
Weave in the ends, block your Trivet and move on to the Pot Holder!
Pot Holder Pattern
The Center
With the Main Color doubled (see the Note at the beginning of the Trivet Pattern), chain 2.
Row 1: Make 3 single crochets (sc) into the first chain.
Chain 1 and turn the work. (It doesn't matter if you turn the work toward or away from you as long as you are consistent throughout the project.)
Row 2: Make 2 sc into each stitch. (6 stitches)
Chain 1 and turn the work.
Row 3: *1 sc into next stitch, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of row. (9 stitches)
Chain 1 and turn.
Row 4: *1 sc into next 2 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of row. (12 stitches)
Chain 1 and turn.
Row 5: *1 sc into next 3 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of row. (15 stitches)
Chain 1 and turn.
Row 6: *1 sc into next 4 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of row. (18 stitches)
Continue to work in this pattern, each row adding one stitch between the increases until there are 9 stitches between the increases. Do not make the Chain 1 of the final row. (33 stitches)
Change Colors
Cut the Main Color yarn and use the Contrast Color to make the Chain 1 of the last row.
Turn the work.
The Rind
Using the Contrast Color, continue to crochet the semi-circle in the same pattern:
Next Row: *1 sc into next 10 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of row. (36 stitches)
Chain 1 and turn.
Next Row: *1 sc into next 11 stitches, 2 sc into next stitch, repeat from * to end of row. (39 stitches)
Chain 1 and turn.
Final Row: Slip stitch into each single crochet.
At the end of the row, chain 6.
Insert the hook back into the starting point of the chain and slip stitch.
Cut the yarn and pull it through the last loop.
The Seeds
Use the Accent Color to make the seeds, as explained above in the "Seed" section of the Trivet Pattern.
Weave in the ends, block your Pot Holder, and you have a set!
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