Crochet Snowy Winter Potholder

This pattern guides you through making a thick, durable winter-themed potholder using tapestry crochet. By carrying two colors of yarn simultaneously and crocheting over the unused strand, you will create a beautiful, reversible fabric featuring a snowy design. This project is worked flat in rows for the main body and finished with a neat border and a practical hanging loop.

Project Overview

Skill Level: Intermediate (requires basic knowledge of changing colors in tapestry crochet)
Finished Size: Approx. 6.2” x 6.3” (15.7 cm x 16 cm)
Gauge: 22.5 single crochet stitches and 21 rows = 4” (10 cm)

What You Need

Yarn: Aran weight cotton yarn (Medium 4). You need two contrasting colors:
- Color A (Main/Background): Approx. 44 yards
- Color B (Design/Snow): Approx. 21 yards
Hook: 3.5 mm (US E/4)
Tools: Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn tails

Important Notes Before Starting

Stitch Used: The entire body is worked in regular single crochet (sc).
Color Notation: The pattern indicates color changes using letters before the stitch count. For example, (A) 5 means work 1 single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches using Color A.
Turning Chains: Chain 1 at the end of every row before turning. This chain does not count as a stitch.
Stitch Count: Every row of the main potholder maintains a strict count of 34 stitches.
Tapestry Technique: Lay the unused yarn color along the top of the previous row and crochet over it with your current color to hide it inside the stitches. Change colors on the final pull-through of the stitch before the color change.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The Potholder Body

Using Color A, chain 35.

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

Do not turn after Row 32.

The Decorative Border & Hanging Loop

Cut Color B and fasten it off. You will finish the border using only Color A. Chain 1 and turn so you are facing the right side.

Top Edge & Loop: Work 1 single crochet into each of the first 17 stitches. To create the loop, chain 15, then slip stitch back into the last single crochet you just made. Chain 1 and turn your work temporarily to the wrong side. Work 18 single crochets directly into the chain loop space. Slip stitch back down into the 17th single crochet of the top edge to secure it. Turn back to the right side and single crochet in the remaining 17 stitches across the top. Chain 1 to form the first corner.
Left Side: Work 32 single crochets evenly down the left raw edge. Chain 1 for the second corner.
Bottom Edge: Work 34 single crochets across the foundation chain edge. Chain 1 for the third corner.
Right Side: Work 32 single crochets evenly up the right raw edge. Chain 1 for the final corner.
Finish: Join the round by making a slip stitch into the very first single crochet of the border.