It’s Kristen from Verity Vintage Studio, back again with another crochet project! I’m squeaking it under the wire with my December feature for Chunky Thread – but it’s a fun one this time, as I’ve written out a FREE pattern for this sweet square motif that pairs perfectly with a quilted potholder!
I made mine in a fun combo of vintage-Christmas colors since it’s that time of year, but really they can be made in any combination for housewarming gifts or kitchen decor any time of year.
The motif finishes at just over 5″ square, and features a lovely texture with a 4-point popcorn stitch star in the center. Edged with pretty scallops and striking post-stitch corners, it’s a great way to be both decorative and provide extra padding for the hot dishes on your table.
A foam blocking board and some stitch markers are not absolutely necessary, but they sure come in handy!
Since Chunky Thread is 100% cotton, you can use it without fear of melting or other damage. Pair with quilting cotton and cotton quilt batting to make a washable potholder you can use year-round.
While I usually double up the quilt batting layers when making potholders, since the motif is thick and adds extra padding, just one batting layer is sufficient for these.
I made the samples in a variety of colors to demonstrate its versatility. Can you pick a favorite?? I can’t!
Chunky Thread comes in so many pretty colors, it’s hard to choose which one to use. But this is a great way to use up half a skein if you have leftovers, or want to sample a color.
I also quilted all the sample potholders differently, just to show how many fun ways there are to use a regular or walking foot for small projects – no free-motion quilting needed, if that’s scary for you! (Right now I’m really feeling this straight-line plaid pattern, and want to do it as an edge-to-edge on a quilt next.)
The pattern can be downloaded here. It comes in pdf format, and gives the written instructions for crocheting the Petal Star motif along with plenty of photos, and also walks you through the steps for making a basic, non-pieced quilted potholder as a background.
(Of course you can also apply the motif to a purchased potholder if you prefer, to make the process even faster.)
It’s addictive and fun to make – and makes a lovely holiday project if you do it in holiday colors! Over here at my house, we celebrate Christmas for 12 days, so my holiday projects are just getting started. 🙂
Round 4 
Round 7 
Round 8 – finished!
Don’t need a potholder? Get creative with the motif sewn on a pillow, jacket, or other applications!
Happy crafting, and Merry Christmas season to all!
