let’s get cooking!

Thank you for coming to get this free pattern! The pattern is a FREE download through Ravelry. CLICK HERE to get the pattern.

The Potholder Swap 2010 is in full swing—what fun potholders are you making? I can’t wait to receive mine from the swap, and making the ones I’ll contribute has been a lot of fun, too. I have even tried my pattern out, and they function pretty darn well!

52.flames! flames on the side of my face!

I took the opportunity to look through some crochet technique and pattern books to try something new just for this swap. The moment I found directions for a 4-color spiral, I knew it was the technique for me! The source where I read about it made only a tiny spiral, and it didn’t even lay quite flat, so I had to work out how to do the increases to keep it flat, as well as devise a method to taper off each of the spirals to maintain a circle but not make it feel as if each color just “stopped.”

firey potholder

It wasn’t overly challenging, but it was a fun little crochet puzzle. I am loving the structural, physics-like way I can approach crochet. (Knitting is more garment design, crochet is more product design—the way I approach them.) With 4 colors at play in each potholder, the color combinations seemed endless, all of them fun and kitcheny.

potholder 2, re-shot

If you’re interested, my pattern for the Stir Me Up Potholders is available free via Ravelry, so you can download now and have a finished potholder in no time (each one takes me about 2.5 hours total—one hour each for the front and back, and half an hour to do the edging). That’s just one day of commuting, plus some time while I unwind at the end of the day.

mai tai potholder

I don’t think I’m going to be able to stop at the 5 required for the swap. I have more worsted-weight cotton yarn to use up! I have more color combinations I want to see realized! I’m sure everyone I know needs even MORE potholders, right? Despite the fact that so many of my friends are already doing the swap?

53.pink potholder

Someone described the spirals as being like candy—and perhaps that’s what making them feels like to me. Just a sweet diversion with happy-making results.

it's so . . . kitcheny!

How can you resist?

49 Responses to let’s get cooking!

  1. Heather says:

    Ok, so feel free to keep going, make five more, and put my name on them! Heh heh. Sadly the busyness of the semester will prevent me from learning to crochet in time to make potholders for this project. But I am standing from the sidelines and just loving all the different iterations I’m seeing!

  2. Julie says:

    wow, those potholders are fantastic! And you can’t often say that about pot holders. And look at you with the la crueset pot- lucky girl!! :)

  3. emily says:

    I don’t know what I’m more excited about. The potholders, or the le creuset! : ) I agree, they do look a lot like candy. I will definitely be knitting a few of these up!

  4. grumperina says:

    I’m having a very difficult time resisting. I love all things spiral. And even though I would typically gravitate towards something a bit more ornate, the tight deadline this year is pushing me towards your design, which I’m certain will work without any fuss :).

  5. Niki says:

    What a great pattern. They will make excellent gifts for the cooks in my family. Thank you for sharing the pattern! My crochet skills are rusty, but hopefully I can figure it out.

  6. Laurie says:

    Resist? Not a chance! I haven’t crocheted potholders in a bazillion years, but I just downloaded your pattern and will be whipping some up very soon. Gorgeous!

  7. Etike says:

    Hi, it doesn’t go stricktly to this topic, but I am just wondering, if a knitting needle counts as weapon in a hand baggage on a plane or I shouldn’t worry? :)

  8. Sheri Cleveland says:

    Hi…I just love the look of these and would like to give them a try but am not very good at matching colors. Would it be possible for you to list the colors you used in the potholders you have pictured? Thank you for sharing this pattern!!

  9. Janet says:

    Your instructions are calling for “reverse order,” do you mean just reverse it or reverse crochet? Your potholders are gorgeous and I would like to make some as gifts.

  10. MARY ANN GIOVANNONE says:

    I REALLY LOVE THESE POT HOLDERS, THEY’RE ARE AMAZING. BUT PLEASE POST OR EMAIL ME A PATTERN. WHERE CAN I FIND THE PATTERN? COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN “REVERSE ORDER”? THESE WOULD MAKE WONDERFUL PRIZES FOR A SHOWER.

  11. Patricia Mathes says:

    I have looked and looked at this info but do not find the pattern for the spiral potholders. Where have I gone wrong??

  12. Nancy says:

    Thank-you for the cute potholder pattern-can’t wait to get to the yarn store! I love the way you tapered the colors-much nicer than having them just stop.

  13. Emma says:

    I love these sooo much! Im going to make them for my mom and MIL but I was wondering if you could tell me the color combos you used for them… I really want them to match up right but have to order the yarn off the internet and dont want to get ones that dont match! Thanks a ton!

  14. Judy says:

    These are beautiful. The pattern shows the colors for the orange ones. I’m interested in the red ones. Would you mind sharing the colors used for those?

  15. jody says:

    I’ve just made the front and back but can’t figure out how to align them to begin the edging. You mention that: “Note that holes will not align unless you have the potholders placed exactly right…” but I am unclear how exactly to position them. Are the “steps” matching up colors B with B or does the longer color A overlap some of the steps made by B/C/D?) A photo would be extremely helpful. I’m puzzled since we made them both exactly the same and then flip them wrong sides together, I can’t see how it’s possible to “align” them when they spiral in opposite directions. I’d so appreciate your help or any other crocheter’s help so I can finish these adorable potholders! I do love them! Thank you.

  16. robertra oswalt says:

    I love these but somehow can”t download the pattern. Internet explorer keeps telling me it”s stopped working. Is their any way you could e-mail me the pattern? These would make great Christmas gifts for my sisters who just love to cook and would adore these! I’d sure appreciate it. I love to crochet and am always looking for something new to do and this is just great. Thanks! Roberta skipstitchbert@gmail.com

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  18. Dawn Dayton says:

    I am sitting here sick in bed, and the only thing I can really do is drink gingerale and crochet. I’m loving this pattern!! I’m loving that the use of the pins allow me to set it down after a couple of rows and pick it back up later. Although it’s a small challenge to start, once you get past the first round, it’s pretty easy and repetative. By the time I’m healthy again, I should have my kitchen well stocked. :-)

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