Crochet BirdHouse Hot Pad

This decorative kitchen hot pad is shaped like a classic birdhouse, featuring a peak roof, a little entryway door, and colorful floral accents.

It is worked up quickly using medium-weight cotton yarn, making it both a thick, heat-resistant mat and a cheerful spring decoration for your home.

Materials Needed

• Hook: 4.0 mm (US G/6)

• Yarn: Worst weight (Aran) 100% cotton yarn. You will need a main color for the house body, a contrasting color for the roof and base, a dark shade for the door, and small scraps of green, pink, and blue for the leaves and flowers.

• Tools: Yarn needle and scissors.

Detailed Stitch Instructions

1. Main Birdhouse Body (Pentagon)

This section is worked in a continuous spiral. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the start of each round.

• Round 1: Start with a magic circle. Work 5 single crochets into the ring. Pull the loop tight. (5 stitches)

• Round 2: Place 2 single crochets into every stitch around. (10 stitches)

• Round 3: Single crochet in the next stitch, then work 3 single crochets into the following stitch. Repeat this sequence a total of 5 times to establish the 5 corners of your pentagon. (20 stitches)

• Round 4: Single crochet in the first 2 stitches. Work 2 single crochets in the next stitch, then single crochet in each of the next 3 stitches. Repeat the sequence between the asterisks 4 times. Work 2 single crochets in the next stitch, then single crochet in the final stitch. (25 stitches)

• Round 5: Single crochet in the first 2 stitches. Work 2 single crochets in the next stitch, then single crochet in each of the next 4 stitches. Repeat between the asterisks 4 times. Work 2 single crochets in the next stitch, then single crochet in the last 2 stitches. (30 stitches)

• Round 6: Single crochet in the first 3 stitches. Work 3 single crochets into the next corner stitch, then single crochet in the next 5 stitches. Repeat between the asterisks 4 times. Work 3 single crochets in the next corner, then single crochet in the last 2 stitches. (40 stitches)

• Rounds 7–10: Continue expanding the pentagon by evenly distributing 5 increases on each round (one at each corner point), adding one single crochet between the increases on every subsequent round. Round 10 will finish with 60 stitches.

• Round 11: Single crochet in the first 5 stitches. Work 3 single crochets into the corner stitch, then single crochet in the next 11 stitches. Repeat around, finishing the final repeat with single crochets in the last 6 stitches. (70 stitches)

• Rounds 12–15: Continue widening the sides by placing a 2-stitch increase at each of the 5 points. Round 15 will finish with 90 stitches.

• Round 16: Single crochet in the first 7 stitches. Work 3 single crochets into the corner stitch, then single crochet in the next 17 stitches. Repeat around, finishing the final repeat with single crochets in the last 10 stitches. (100 stitches)

• Rounds 17–19: Work your final 3 expansion rounds by adding a standard 2-stitch increase at each point. Round 19 will finish with 115 stitches. Fasten off using an invisible join to keep the edge clean.

2. The Base Trim

• Row 1: Turn the pentagon so the right side faces you. Join your roof/base color yarn into the second single crochet of any corner increase along the bottom edge. Work 2 single crochets into that same starting stitch, single crochet across the next 22 stitches, and work 2 single crochets into the next corner stitch. Turn. (26 stitches)

• Row 2: Chain 1 (this does not count as a stitch), single crochet into every stitch across the row. Fasten off and weave in the loose ends.

3. The Roof Trim

• Row 1: Hold the pentagon with the right side facing you and the completed base at the bottom. Locate the right-hand corner point. Join your roof color yarn into the second single crochet of that corner’s increase. Work 2 single crochets into that stitch, single crochet across the next 22 stitches up to the top peak, work 2 single crochets into the peak stitch, single crochet down the next 22 stitches, and work 2 single crochets into the left corner stitch. Turn. (50 stitches)

• Row 2: Chain 1, turn. Single crochet in the first 24 stitches. Work 2 single crochets into each of the next 2 peak stitches to shape the roof point. Single crochet down the remaining 24 stitches. Turn. (52 stitches)

• Row 3: Chain 1, turn. Single crochet in the first 25 stitches. Work 2 single crochets into each of the next 2 peak stitches. Single crochet down the final 25 stitches. Fasten off and secure the ends.

4. Hanging Loop

• Turn the birdhouse so the back (wrong side) is facing you. Attach the roof-colored yarn to the first single crochet at the very top peak of the roof. Chain 14, then anchor the chain by slip stitching into the very next stitch.

• Turn the piece so the right side faces you. Chain 1, then work 20 single crochets directly around the chain loop body (covering the chain structure entirely rather than stitching into the individual chains). Slip stitch to the base to secure, then fasten off.

5. Decorative Appliques

• The Door: Chain 8 using your dark door color yarn. Row 1: Starting in the 3rd chain from your hook, double crochet across the next 5 chains. In the very last chain stitch, work 6 double crochets all into the same space to round the top of the door. Working down the opposite side of your initial foundation chain, double crochet in the remaining 5 spaces. Turn. (16 stitches). Row 2: Chain 1, turn. Single crochet in the first 6 stitches, work 2 single crochets into each of the next 4 stitches to shape the arch, then single crochet down the last 6 stitches. Turn. (20 stitches). Row 3: Chain 1, turn. Single crochet 7, repeat (2 single crochets in next stitch, single crochet in next 2 stitches) twice, work 2 single crochets in the next stitch, then single crochet in the final 6 stitches. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

• The Perch Pole: Using the door color yarn, make a magic ring and work 6 single crochets into it. For round 2, work 2 single crochets into every stitch around (12 stitches). Fasten off with a long sewing tail.

• The Heart Window: In a magic ring, chain 2, work 3 double crochets, 3 half double crochets, chain 1, work 1 double crochet (the bottom point), chain 1, work 3 half double crochets, 3 double crochets, chain 2, and slip stitch back into the center ring. Pull the ring tight and fasten off.

• Small Leaf: Using green yarn, chain 5. Slip stitch in the second chain from your hook, single crochet in the next chain, half double crochet in the next, and work 5 half double crochets into the last chain to turn the corner. Working down the opposite side of the chain, half double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. Fasten off.

Assembly & Finishing

1. Center the door applique on the lower half of the main pentagon body and sew it down using your yarn needle.

2. Stitch the circular perch pole right below the door.

3. Sew the heart window directly onto the center of the door.

4. Position one small leaf, one large leaf, and a small flower applique right below the top hanging loop and sew them down securely.

5. Arrange the remaining leaves and flowers along the bottom side of the door to create a garden effect, then sew them in place.

6. Weave in all remaining loose yarn tails on the back of the hot pad.