Pot Holder - Free Knitting Pattern for the Home in Paintbox Yarns Recycled Cotton Worsted - Downloadable PDF

Paintbox Yarns Recycled Cotton Worsted Pot Holder – Free Knitting Pattern

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Paintbox Yarns guides knitters through creating a classic square pot holder measuring 25 cm (9¾ inches) across. Designed as a practical and decorative home accessory, the finished pot holder is sturdy, heat-resistant in character, and makes an ideal beginner project or a quick, satisfying make for more experienced knitters looking for a relaxed weekend craft.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a single square pot holder worked to a finished measurement of 25 cm × 25 cm (9¾ in × 9¾ in). As a home accessory in the dishcloths project category, it is designed for everyday kitchen use — protecting surfaces from hot pots and pans while adding a handmade touch to the home. The two-colour design uses Steel Blue and Honey from the Paintbox Yarns palette, creating a visually appealing contrast that suits both modern and traditional kitchen settings.

Techniques Used

• Worked flat: The pot holder is knitted flat on a pair of straight needles, meaning the fabric is worked back and forth in rows rather than in the round. This is the most accessible construction method for beginners and requires no circular needles or double-pointed needles.
• Right side and wrong side rows: The pattern distinguishes between RS (right side) and WS (wrong side) rows, helping knitters maintain the correct orientation of the fabric and any stitch pattern throughout.
• Slipping stitches: The abbreviation sl 1 (slip one stitch) is referenced, a simple technique where a stitch is moved from one needle to the other without being worked. Slipped stitches are commonly used in pot holder patterns to create a neat selvedge edge or to build a woven or textured stitch pattern that adds thickness and structure to the fabric — both desirable qualities in a pot holder.
• Two-colour knitting: The use of two separate yarn colours (Steel Blue – Colour A and Honey – Colour B) introduces a basic colour-work element, likely worked in stripes or a woven slip-stitch pattern, adding visual interest without requiring complex colourwork techniques such as stranded knitting.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K): The fundamental knitting stitch, forming the basis of the entire pattern. The knit stitch is the first stitch most beginners learn and is used throughout this project.
• Slip stitch (sl 1): Worked with yarn in a specific position (wyaws — with yarn at wrong side), slipped stitches create structure and density in the fabric. In pot holder construction, this technique is particularly effective at producing a double-layered or tightly woven fabric that provides better insulation.
• Pattern repeat (patt / rep): The design is built around a repeating stitch pattern, making it easy to memorise once the sequence is established — a hallmark of beginner-friendly knitting patterns.

Tension and Gauge

The recommended tension is 24 stitches and 50 rows to 10 cm (4 inches), measured over the stitch pattern using 4mm (UK 8 – US 6) needles. Because the finished size of a pot holder is important for practical use, knitters are encouraged to check their tension before beginning and to adjust needle size if necessary to achieve the correct gauge.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Paintbox Yarns Recycled Cotton Worsted, a worsted weight yarn sold in 100g balls. The pattern calls for:
  • 1 × ball in Steel Blue (Colour A)
  • 1 × ball in Honey (Colour B)
• Needles: A pair of 4mm straight knitting needles (UK size 8 / US size 6).

The use of Paintbox Yarns Recycled Cotton Worsted is particularly well-suited to this project. Cotton yarn is naturally heat-tolerant