Review: 25+ Potholders to Knit

March 17, 2016 by Sarah White

When I think about knitting for the home, I usually think about things like blankets and pillows, but I also love knit washcloths, dishcloths and other items that I can use every day.

Potholders are a great thing to knit because, like washcloths, you can use all sorts of patterns and try new designs and techniques on them without having to devote yourself to a large project. They are great travel projects because they are pretty small, and if you knit them in cotton (which is really the best choice because it doesn’t melt or scorch in high heat) they’re even great summer knitting projects.

Lest you think that knitting potholders sounds boring, allow me to present Stina Tislius’ book 25+ Potholders to Knit: Classic, Playful, and Festive Patterns.

The book does have a lot of projects worked in Garter Stitch, but there is shaping or colorwork or something to make it more fun. The classic design, for instance, if just a Garter Stitch rectangle with crocheted edging (which is common in the book) to make places to hang the potholder from if you wish (in some cases the crochet also holds two layers of knitting together).

There’s a mitered square project and one worked on the bias. There are others with simple stitch patterns and colorwork. Some potholders are in fun shapes like a boat, a sheep, a ladybug, a troll (looks like an alien to me) and a monster. An oven mitt and projects shaped like hearts, Easter eggs and a ghost round out the collection.

Of course because these projects are worked in cotton you could use them as washcloths, too, which would be fun with the shaped ones. I also think they’d be great as appliques on another project, like the little boat stitched onto a baby blanket or pillow for a little boy’s room.

The book also includes basic knitting and crochet instructions for those who might need help with any of the steps involved. It’s a fun, pretty book with some great ideas that will fill your kitchen — and no doubt your friends’ kitchens as well — with knitting.

Book specifications: 116 pages, paperback with interior flaps, 29 patterns (by my count). Published September 2015, Trafalgar Square Books, suggested retail $19.95.

Have you read?

Knits for the Table for Thanksgiving and Beyond

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long.

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders.

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well.

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn.

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions.

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table.

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter.

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.