Free Checkered Pot Holder Knitting Pattern

The perfect gift for your favorite chef! These checkerboard pot holders are knitted using the intarsia technique and then felted in the washing machine to make them good and sturdy.

Image of Checkered Pot Holders in finished form.
The eye-catching design of
the Checkered Pot Holders
stands out in any kitchen.

Size

Before felting: Approximately 11x131/2 inches (28x34cm)
After felting: Approximately 8x81/2 inches (20x21.5cm)

What You'll Need

Yarn: 100% wool worsted weight yarn, about 121 yards (111m) each in 2 colors (makes 2 pot holders)

We used: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (100% wool; 110 yards [101m] per 50g skein): #23420 Coal (color A), 2 skeins; #23775 Fog (color B), 2 skeins

Needles: US size 8 (5mm) straight; US size 9 (5.5mm) double-pointed, set of 2

Notion: Tapestry needle

Gauge

18 stitches and 24 rows=4" (10cm) in stockinette stitch before felting

Note: When changing colors, drop the old color and bring the new color up from under the old color, twisting them together to avoid gaps. For each section being worked, you will need 2 balls color A and 2 balls color B.

Making the Pot Holder

With color A and straight needles, loosely cast on 48 stitches.

Rows 1 and 2: Knit.
Row 3 (right side): With first ball of color A, knit 13, drop color A; attach first ball of color B, knit 11, drop color B; attach second ball of color A, knit 11, drop color A; attach second ball of color B, knit 11, drop color B; attach third ball of color A, knit 2, turn work.
Row 4: Still working with third ball of color A, knit 2, drop color A; pick up color B, purl 11, drop color B; pick up color A, purl 11, drop color A; pick up color B, purl 11, drop color B; pick up color A, purl 11, knit 2, turn work.
Rows 5-20: Repeat rows 3 and 4 eight times more.
Row 21: Repeat row 3 once more. Turn work. Cut all yarn except for the ball of color A that is at the working end of your needle.
Row 22 (wrong side): With attached ball of color A, knit 2, purl 11, drop color A; attach first ball of color B, purl 11, drop color B; attach second ball of color A, purl 11, drop color A; attach second ball of color B, purl 11, drop color B; attach third ball of color A, knit 2, turn work.
Row 23: Still working with third ball of color A, knit 2, drop color A; pick up color B, knit 11, drop color B; pick up color A, knit 11, drop color A; pick up color B, knit 11, drop color B; pick up color A, knit 13, turn work.
Rows 24-39: Repeat rows 22 and 23 eight times more.
Row 40: Repeat row 22 once more. Turn work. Cut all yarn except for the ball of color A that is at the working end of your needle.
Rows 41-78: Repeat rows 3-40 once more.
Rows 79 and 80: With attached ball of color A, knit all stitches.

Bind off all stitches very loosely. Weave in all yarn ends to wrong side of work.

Knitting diagram for checkered pot holders.
View Enlarged Image
The diagram for our checkered pot holders.

Make the Hanger

Using double-point needles and color A and leaving a 4" (10cm) tail at beginning, cast on 4 stitches. Work in I-cord for 6" (15cm); cut yarn leaving 4" (10cm) tail. With both yarn tails threaded on tapestry needle, stitch both ends of I-cord securely to upper left corner of pot holder to form a loop.

Felting

Felt pot holders in washing machine.

Most of the projects that we have looked at so far have been quite small and quick to make. For something that might take a little longer, try the next pattern -- the zigzag throw.

For more helpful knitting tips and interesting patterns, try: