Knit Potholder Pattern Using the Linen Stitch
Enjoy this free knit potholder pattern that uses the linen stitch for its lovely and flat design.
Several readers said they had enough knit washcloth and dishcloth patterns but could really use some knit potholder patterns. Thank you to those readers! It makes my job so much easier when I know what you want and need!
Table of Contents
So, without further ado, here’s the first Knit Potholder pattern to appear on this site. And if you would prefer a crochet potholder, here’s one for you!
I wanted a flat stitch without much surface texture for this first knit potholder pattern, and linen stitch was what made the most sense. Coupled with the fact that the linen stitch will always lay flat, making it an even better choice for potholders.
are you a visual learner?
I’ve gotcha covered!
I made a Pinterest Video for you to see the stitches and techniques involved with knitting the linen stitch knit potholder. You can watch it here. Save it to your Knit board on Pinterest to refer to it in the future and to help others find our work.
What type of yarn should you use for a potholder?
While you can use wool or heat-resistant synthetic yarn, I recommend 100% cotton yarn for any potholder. Here’s why:
- It won’t melt! Rather significant when handling hot things.
- It is washable! For the same reason that cotton is great for knit and crochet washcloths, it is also great for potholders. It is a fiber that withstands multiple washings without felting, like wool.
- Cotton will hold its shape when wet, given its inelasticity.
I tried several different cotton yarns for this pattern. I wanted it to be a quick knit, so I was looking for bulky cotton yarn. Truthfully, there just aren’t many choices, but I did land on Hoooked Spesso 100% cotton yarn. This yarn is similar to a soft and pliable cotton rope, which is good when trying to knit. Some of the other rope-ish materials were too stiff, making them very difficult to knit.
Full disclosure: I like how the Spesso knit up, but it did twist while I was knitting. I had to untwist it a couple of times for each potholder. I finally unwound it from the spool and formed a ball, which helped. Maybe balancing out the twisty nature, a $12 spool of yarn will knit 4 potholders, so that’s pretty good economics.
If you are looking for handmade gifts for Christmas or housewarmings, these potholders will fit that bill perfectly!
Subscribers to Nourish and Nestle can nab the free, printable pattern in the Library. If you would like to receive the printable pattern pdf directly to your email inbox, click the button below.
Materials Needed for a 7″ by 7″ Knit Potholder
Some of these links may be Amazon affiliate links and I may earn a small commission off of the sale of these products to help defray the costs of operating this site, but the price you are charged is not affected. You can see my full disclosure policy here.
- 33 yards of Bulky, Cotton Yarn. I used Hoooked Spesso in Almond
Stitches Used
- K -Knit
- P – Purl
- sl1k- slip one knitwise
- wyib—with yarn in back
- sl1p- slip one purlwise
- wyif—with yarn in front
Gauge
- 11 stitches in linen stitch and 19 rows over 4 inches.
Instructions to Knit a 7″ by 7″ Potholder
- Cast on 22 stitches (or a multiple of 2)
- Row 1 and all odd rows: sl1k, k, *wyif sl1p, wyib k* (you will end with a k)
- Row 2 and all even rows: sl1p, p, *wyib sl1p, wyif p* (you will end with a purl)
- Repeat until work is 7” long (approximately 31 rows) or as long as it is wide.
- Bind off in the linen stitch pattern and work in ends.
- Attach faux leather hook (optional)
Other Potholder Patterns
- Here’s a loom potholder if you’d prefer to weave.
- Or, here’s a crocheted potholder pattern if you’d like to crochet.
Bookmark this page or pin the following image to return to this Knit Potholder pattern in the future.
Thanks so much for spending a few minutes of your busy day with me!
To ensure you don’t miss future content, pop your email in the pale green box on the right or click here. I usually send one email weekly, so I won’t inundate your inbox. I’m sensitive to an overflowing email inbox!
We will only use your email address to send you emails, no more than 1-2 weekly. In addition, you will have access to my growing library of knit & crochet patterns and other printables. Check back often as this library will continue to grow. You can unsubscribe anytime by emailing me or clicking on the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of all emails.
And you can access many of the products I refer to on my Nourish and Nestle Amazon Page. You can access it here.
So, if you’d like to participate in the ‘subscriber benefit’ action, simply subscribe to Nourish and Nestle here or use the form on the right sidebar. It’s slightly towards the top.
I have sent all my subscribers the link to the Subscriber Benefits Library. If you missed it or misplaced it, let me know.
Until next time…
I bought some 75% cotton and 25% recycled fibers Cora’s Craft Cord listed as 5 Bulky with size 13 needles for knitting. It is hand wash cold, lay flat to dry. Will it work for this type of project?
Good Morning Helen!
My gut tells me it’ll be fine. But, I would do a quick burn test to make sure you don’t have acrylic as some of the recycled fibers. To do the burn test, simply place a piece of the cord in a fireproof container and ignite one end. Cotton smells like burning paper and will leave a gray/white ash residue.
And truthfully, I can’t imagine that if it is mostly cotton, you couldn’t machine wash it. Its up to you, but I’d want to be able to wash it regularly.
Let me know how you proceed.
Hugs, Lynn
It’s me again! I wanted to get the faux leather hook and screw for potholder like the one you used. I went to the Etsy link and was overwhelmed with so many choices. Can you please show me the one you got (i.e. item number or name)? I couldn’t find it.
Thanks again,
Connie
HI Connie, sorry for the late response. We’ve been traveling for the past two days. I used these tags in color brown. I bought them with the rivets. And I didn’t print anything on them. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/886039664/long-and-skinny-tags-for-knitted-items?source=aw&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=us_location_buyer&utm_content=136348&utm_term=0&awc=6220_1682164816_721be2e5b0d6f5e2090ccfa98c7d7a6f&variation0=1617283988
Lynn