Furballs' Jelly Bean Hot Pad

Furballs' Jelly Bean Hot Pad by Tomato68Evony

What Is Being Made

The Furballs' Jelly Bean Hot Pad is a knitted pot holder or hot pad designed to protect hands and surfaces from heat when handling hot cookware. This intermediate-level knitting project produces a finished piece measuring approximately 8.5 inches by 6.5 inches (21.6 cm by 16.5 cm) before blocking, making it a practical kitchen accessory with a whimsical name.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques to create texture and structure. The primary technique featured is tubular stitch, which creates a dense, three-dimensional fabric ideal for insulation and heat protection in a hot pad. The pattern incorporates cable work, requiring the use of a cable needle to create twisted stitch patterns that add visual interest and structural integrity. Additional shaping and texture techniques include yarn overs and strategic stitch increases and decreases to form the final shape.

Stitches Used

The pattern utilizes a range of fundamental and intermediate stitches. Core stitches include knit and purl stitches as the foundation. Stitch manipulation techniques featured in the pattern include:

• Make one (m1l and m1r) — left-leaning and right-leaning increases for shaping
• Knit two together (k2tog) — a right-leaning decrease
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk) — a left-leaning decrease
• Knit front and back (kfb) — an increase that creates texture
• Slip stitches (sl1, sl1wyif) — used for edge definition and cable work preparation
• Modified knit two together (mk2tog) — a specialized decrease variation
• Pass slipped stitch over (psso and ppso) — decreases used in combination with slipped stitches

The pattern also incorporates yarn management techniques such as bring yarn to front (bytf) and bring yarn to back (bytb) to transition between knit and purl sections and create the tubular fabric structure.

Materials and Tools

Crafters have flexibility in yarn fiber choice for this project. The pattern accommodates worsted weight yarn in two fiber options:

• Non-mercerized 100% cotton — 1.0 ounce (29.7 grams) with a yardage of 47.4 yards (43.4 meters)
• Acrylic — 0.7 ounce (20.9 grams) with a yardage of 38.0 yards (34.7 meters)

Cotton is a natural, heat-resistant fiber particularly well-suited for kitchen textiles, while acrylic offers an economical alternative with good durability. The pattern calls for knitting needles in size 3.50 mm (US 4), available in straight, circular, or double-pointed configurations depending on crafter preference. A cable needle is required to execute the cable stitch work. Additional tools include scissors and a yarn needle for weaving in ends and finishing.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern specifies a gauge of 16 stitches by 24 rows over 4 inches by 4 inches (10 cm by 10 cm) measured in tubular stitch before blocking, consistent across both cotton and acrylic yarn options. The finished hot pad measures 8.5 inches by 6.5 inches (21.6 cm by 16.5 cm) before blocking, creating a compact, functional size suitable for gripping pot handles or protecting countertops.