Extra Thick Crochet Potholder – Thermal Stitch

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If you ask me what’s the best stitch to make a crochet potholder – I’ll say it’s definitely the Thermal stitch. Thermal stitches create that beautiful thickness that potholders need in order to give you proper protection from heat.

These double thick crochet potholders would be fantastic as trivets to keep your table safe from hot pots and oven trays. They’re also perfect for safely removing hot trays from the oven.

The nature of the Thermal stitch is that it is worked on two rows at the same time, which creates a double thick crochet potholder. It’s like making two squares and joining them together, but with this technique, you’re doing it all in one go.

There are a few versions of the thermal stitch that I know of, using single crochets, double and half double crochets. And there may be even more.

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Difficulty

The skill level for this pattern is Intermediate. Thermal stitches are easy, but you’ll need to pay extra attention to the stitches you work into. It’s easy to make mistakes in the beginning as you need to work into the stitches on the current row and on the row below at the same time. But once you know how to do that, it’s super easy.

If you are a beginner or trying thermal stitches for the first time, I would recommend starting with this single crochet thermal stitch tutorial first. The thermal single crochets are easier, in my opinion, as you have fewer loops on your hook to deal with. Once you get a feel for how the thermal stitch works, you’ll know that you can use it with other basic stitches too.

The Extra Thick Crochet Potholder pattern uses thermal half double crochets. I made some tweaks and ended up with a really gorgeous texture. Now, I didn’t exactly invent this stitch. I’m sure someone else has done it before me. But I haven’t come across the exact version online, and I’m not sure if it even has a specific name. Anyway, just thought I’d share my version with you! 🙂

There is also a more common version of the thermal half double crochet like in this potholder, with a slight difference that creates a more ridged texture.

About the Yarn

I believe 100% cotton yarn is the best choice for crochet potholders. It is low maintenance, durable, heat-resistant, and absorbent. And most importantly, it won’t melt when exposed to heat.

I went with Fiddlesticks Finch cotton yarn (#4 medium worsted weight/10ply) from a local store, but feel free to use any medium worsted cotton yarn you love. The most important thing is that it’s 100% cotton.

You can also use light worsted (#3/DK/8ply), which will produce slightly lighter, more flexible potholders. I’ve used it in my single crochet thermal stitch potholder, and it works great! It still offers enough thickness to use as a trivet or potholder.

The Thermal stitch naturally creates double thickness, and using half double crochets in this pattern makes it seem even thicker than the single crochet thermal stitch. Or maybe it just appears chunkier because the textured surface created by the half double crochets is different from the smooth surface of the single crochet thermal stitch. Either way, why not give both versions a try and see which one you prefer? It’s all about finding what works for you! 🙂

Crochet Thick Potholder Free Pattern

Please scroll down for the free pattern or get the ad-free & print-friendly version with step-by-step photos and written instructions for a small fee from my Etsy or Ravelry stores.

Or get the Thermal Crochet Potholder Bundle (includes three thermal stitches) from Etsy here.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Material

Yarn: Any 100% Cotton medium worsted/weight #4/10ply. (I used Fiddlesticks Finch 100% cotton, 10ply, 119yds/109mts, 2.5 oz/71g. Colours Pink and Rose)

Alternative 100% cotton yarn options: Lion Brand Pima Cotton Yarn or 24/7 Cotton yarn.

Hook: 5mm (H-8)

Yarn needle (for weaving in ends)

Dimensions:

8” x 6.5” (20cm x 16cm)

Gauge:

15 stitches x 22 rows* in Thermal HDC = 4″ (10cm)

*Rows are counted as worked. Only 11 will be visible on one side as the other 11 will be on the other side of the potholder.

Abbreviations:

Ch = chain

St = stitch

Sl St = slip stitch

HDC = half double crochet

Th HDC = Thermal half double crochet. Yarn over, insert hook into the back loop plus into the back loop (unworked) stitches on the row below, yarn over pull through 3 loops on hook, yarn over pull through all loops on hook. You can find a more detailed explanation of this stitch in the video demonstration below.

Double Thick Crochet Potholder Written Instructions

Ch 28 (or chain more or less if you like your potholder bigger/smaller)

Row 1: HDC into the second Ch from hook and across the row (total 27 throughout the pattern)

Row 2: Chain 2 and turn your work vertically as pictured below. Th HDC into the first st and across. (Th HDC = yarn over, insert your hook into the back loop only of the first stitch plus the first chain loop (or both unworked chain loops) below. See the picture below or watch a video demonstration for more visual guidance.

Note: It’s easier if you turn your work the way it’s in the picture below so that you can see the stitches better. It’s important to work into the right stitches so that all stitches on both rows match up at the end of the row.

Row 3-35: Ch 2, Th HDC into the first stitch and across.

Note: From this row on – insert your hook into the back loop and the back loop + third loop of the row below, as you see in the picture below. It looks like the letter V.

After making a few rows, the stitches on both rows will be much easier to see!

It may seem that the stitches in the row below are slightly behind the current one. Best to double-check by turning your work so that you can see them better. I frequently count the top and bottom stitches, especially in the beginning to make sure they match up.

LOOP (optional):

Ch 15 to make a loop and continue to LAST ROW.

LAST ROW:

After you’ve chained 15 for the loop, instead of working into the back loop only, insert your hook under the third loop (as in the picture below) and into the ‘V’ (back loops from the row below as you did all the previous rows). Slip stitch through all the loops and across the row.

Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Double Thick Crochet Potholder Video Demonstration

https://youtu.be/_QCtcvPKOZg

If you like this pattern and want a nicely formatted version to print or save for later, check out the printable PDF of this pattern on Etsy. I’ve also bundled all three versions of the Thermal Stitch Potholder patterns together to make it even easier for you. You can find that bundle here.

More Kitchen Related Free Crochet Patterns

• Crochet Easy Washcloth – Free Pattern
• Textured Washcloths – Free Crochet Pattern
• Easy Crochet Dishcloth Pattern
• Crochet Kitchen Towel Pattern
• Crochet Tea Towel – Free Pattern
• Free Crochet Coasters / Mug Rugs

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