Anchor Embroidered Pot Holder - ANC0003-64 - Downloadable PDF

Anchor Embroidered Pot Holder – ANC0003-64 by Arorua

This charming Embroidered Pot Holder, design number ANC0003-64, is a free downloadable PDF pattern designed by Arorua and published by Anchor via AnchorCrafts.com. Rated as Easy (beginner-friendly), it guides you through embroidering a decorative botanical motif — featuring stems, leaves, cherries, and flowers — onto a ready-made linen or cotton pot holder. The finished piece measures 20.5 x 20.5 cm, making it a practical yet beautiful addition to any kitchen or a lovely handmade gift.

What Is Being Made

The project transforms a plain linen or cotton pot holder into a decorative embroidered piece. The design features a botanical composition with stems, leaves, cherries, and flowers, worked in a palette of six carefully selected Anchor Stranded Cotton thread colours. Because the embroidery is applied to an existing pot holder rather than a fabric piece cut from scratch, this is an ideal project for beginners who want to practise hand embroidery on a functional, everyday item.

Materials Used

• Thread: Anchor Stranded Cotton 8m skeins (product base number 4635000), used in the following six colours:
  • #01035
  • #01034
  • #01032
  • #00387
  • #00013
  • #00009
• Base fabric: A linen or cotton pot holder (pre-made, size approximately 20.5 x 20.5 cm)
• Embroidery hoop: A No. 5 embroidery hoop to keep the fabric taut while stitching
• Scissors for trimming thread ends neatly

All Anchor threads are produced in accordance with Oeko-Tex standards, and all colour dye lots adhere to Global fastness standards, making them safe and high quality for use on household items.

Embroidery Techniques and Stitches Used

The pattern uses four classic hand embroidery stitches, each assigned to a specific element of the botanical design. The pattern sketch indicates both the stitch type and the number of strands to use for each area, giving clear guidance throughout the project.

• Stem Stitch – Used to embroider the stems. Stem stitch is a foundational embroidery technique where each stitch slightly overlaps the previous one, creating a smooth, rope-like line that is perfect for curved stems and outlines.
• Chain Stitch – Used to fill the leaves and cherries. Chain stitch creates a series of looped stitches that link together like a chain, producing a solid, textured fill that works beautifully for rounded and leaf-shaped areas.
• Woven Wheel Stitch – Used for the flowers. This stitch creates a raised, three-dimensional rose-like flower by first laying spokes of thread and then weaving the needle over and under them in a circular motion, resulting in a full, dimensional bloom.
• Satin Stitch – Also used for the flowers. Satin stitch involves placing parallel straight stitches closely together to fill a shape with a smooth, shiny surface, complementing the texture of the woven wheel flowers.

Transferring the Pattern

The PDF includes guidance on how to transfer the embroidery design onto the pot holder fabric. One recommended method is the light method, which is suitable for light-weight and light-coloured fabrics. This involves taping the printed design to a light table or window and securing the fabric over it so the design is visible through the fabric for tracing. The pattern notes that different transfer methods work better for different fabric types, giving makers the flexibility to choose the most appropriate technique for their chosen pot holder.

Washing and Care Instructions

Because Anchor Stranded