Crochet Maple Leaf Potholder

Celebrate autumn with this charming tapestry crochet hot pad. Featuring a striking maple leaf motif, this dense potholder uses the tapestry crochet technique where the unused yarn color is carried along inside your stitches.

This double-layer strand method creates a thick, heat-resistant fabric perfect for protecting your hands and countertops.

Materials & Specifications

Hook Size: 3.5 mm (US E/4)
Yarn: Aran weight (Category 4) 100% cotton yarn
- Main Color (Color A – Natural): ~29.5 yards (27 m)
- Contrasting Color (Color B – Brown): ~32 yards (29 m)
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 6.2″ x 6.3″ (15.7 cm x 16 cm)
Gauge: 22.5 single crochet stitches by 21 rows = 4″ (10 cm) square

Pattern Guidelines

The entire main body is worked in single crochet (sc) across 34 stitches per row.
Chain 1 at the end of each row to turn; this turning chain never counts as a stitch.
Reading the numbers: A notation like “(A) 5, (B) 4” means you will work 1 single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches using Color A, then switch to Color B and work 1 single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches. Change colors on the final yarn-over of the stitch before the color swap.
Odd rows represent the Right Side (RS); even rows represent the Wrong Side (WS).

Body Instructions

Using Color A, Chain 35.

Row 1 (RS): Starting in the 2nd chain from your hook, single crochet across entirely with Color A. (34 sts)
Row 2 (WS): (A) 23, (B) 4, (A) 7.
Row 3 (RS): (A) 9, (B) 4, (A) 21.
Row 4 (WS): (A) 20, (B) 4, (A) 3, (B) 4, (A) 3.
Row 5 (RS): (A) 2, (B) 13, (A) 10, (B) 5, (A) 4.
Row 6 (WS): (A) 7, (B) 5, (A) 6, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 8, (A) 4.
Row 7 (RS): (A) 6, (B) 2, (A) 2, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 11.
Row 8 (WS): (A) 12, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 7.
Row 9 (RS): (A) 8, (B) 2, (A) 3, (B) 8, (A) 13.
Row 10 (WS): (A) 12, (B) 2, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 10, (A) 3.
Row 11 (RS): (A) 2, (B) 12, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 11.
Row 12 (WS): (A) 8, (B) 5, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 5, (B) 4, (A) 5.
Row 13 (RS): (A) 5, (B) 2, (A) 2, (B) 7, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 8, (A) 4.
Row 14 (WS): (A) 2, (B) 8, (A) 2, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 8, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 4.
Row 15 (RS): (A) 3, (B) 11, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 2, (B) 5, (A) 3.
Row 16 (WS): (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 3, (B) 5, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 2, (B) 8, (A) 2.
Row 17 (RS): (A) 2, (B) 2, (A) 2, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 11, (A) 2.
Row 18 (WS): (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 6, (A) 1, (B) 1, [(A) 1, (B) 3] 4 times, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 2.
Row 19 (RS): (A) 5, (B) 6, (A) 1, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 3, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 1.
Row 20 (WS): (A) 4, (B) 8, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 6, (A) 5.
Row 21 (RS): (A) 4, (B) 6, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 7, (A) 1, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 4.
Row 22 (WS): (A) 4, (B) 2, (A) 2, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 6, (A) 1, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 4.
Row 23 (RS): (A) 4, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 1, (B) 6, (A) 1, (B) 4, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 5.
Row 24 (WS): (A) 8, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 6, (A) 1, (B) 7, (A) 1, (B) 4, (A) 3.
Row 25 (RS): (A) 3, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 8, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 9.
Row 26 (WS): (A) 9, (B) 5, (A) 3, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 6, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 2.
Row 27 (RS): (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 2, (B) 3, (A) 5, (B) 3, (A) 10.
Row 28 (WS): (A) 10, (B) 2, (A) 7, (B) 2, (A) 4, (B) 6, (A) 3.
Row 29 (RS): (A) 3, (B) 5, (A) 6, (B) 1, (A) 8, (B) 1, (A) 10.
Row 30 (WS): (A) 27, (B) 1, (A) 6.
Row 31 (RS): Work entirely with Color A. (34 sts)
Row 32 (WS): Work entirely with Color A. (34 sts)

Edging & Loop Assembly

Cut Color B and secure it. Continue working only with Color A. Turn your work so you are looking at the Right Side (RS).

Top Edge Part 1: Crochet 17 single crochets along the upper edge.
Hanging Loop: Chain 15, then slip stitch back into the 17th single crochet you just made to form a loop. Chain 1, turn to face the wrong side, and fill the loop by working 18 single crochets over the chain space. Slip stitch back down into the base stitch to anchor the loop.
Top Edge Part 2: Complete the upper edge by single crocheting in the remaining 17 stitches. At the corner stitch, chain 1 to turn the edge.
Sides and Bottom:
- Work 32 single crochets evenly down the left raw edge, then chain 1 at the corner.
- Work 34 single crochets across the foundation chain edge, then chain 1 at the corner.
- Work 32 single crochets evenly up the right raw edge, then chain 1 at the corner.
Finishing: Slip stitch into your very first stitch of the round to close. Cut your yarn, pull it through, and weave in all remaining yarn tails neatly with a tapestry needle.