Crochet Christmas Tree Potholder

This classic holiday potholder features a charming pine tree design framed by a textured border. It is worked in flat rows using the tapestry crochet technique, where you carry the unused yarn color inside your stitches as you work. The piece is completed with a decorative reverse single crochet border, an integrated hanging loop, and delicate embroidered accents.

Finished Size: Approx. 6.7” x 7.3” (17 cm x 18.5 cm)
Gauge: 28 single crochet stitches by 26 rows = 4” (10 cm) square.

Materials Needed

Yarn: Weight 3 (DK) 100% cotton yarn in two contrasting holiday colors.
- Main Color (MC): ~62 yards (57 meters)
- Contrasting Color (CC): ~39 yards (36 meters)
Hook: Size D-3 / 3.0 mm crochet hook
Tools: Tapestry needle and scissors

Custom Abbreviations (US Terms)

Ch: Chain
Sc: Single crochet
St / Sts: Stitch / Stitches
Sl St: Slip stitch
MC / CC: Main Color / Contrasting Color
RS / WS: Right Side / Wrong Side
Crab St: Reverse single crochet (worked from left to right instead of right to left)

Core Technique: Seamless Color Changes

To keep the tree design crisp, change colors on the final pull-through of the preceding stitch:

Insert hook into the stitch, yarn over with the current color, and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook).
Drop the current color to the back/inside of your work.
Grab the new color and pull it through both loops to complete the stitch.

Note: Always lay the inactive yarn strand across the top of the previous row so you can trap it inside your single crochets as you work.

Pattern Instructions

Section 1: The Potholder Body

Note: The turning Ch-1 at the start of each row counts as your very first stitch and is always worked in the Main Color (MC). Every row maintains a strict count of 45 stitches.

Using MC, chain 46.

Row 1 (RS): Sc in the second chain from your hook and in every chain across. Turn. (45 sts)
Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in each stitch across. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, introduce and carry CC along your stitches. Using MC: sc 1. Repeat [with CC: sc 1, with MC: sc 4] 8 times total. Finish row with CC: sc 1, MC: sc 2. Turn.
Rows 4–5: Repeat Row 2 using only MC.
Row 6: Ch 1, MC sc 19, CC sc 5, MC sc 20. Turn.
Row 7: Repeat Row 2.
Row 8: Ch 1, MC sc 1, CC sc 1, MC sc 12, CC sc 16, MC sc 11, CC sc 1, MC sc 2. Turn.
Row 9: Ch 1, MC sc 10, CC sc 22, MC sc 12. Turn.
Row 10: Ch 1, MC sc 7, CC sc 8, MC sc 17, CC sc 2, MC sc 10. Turn.
Row 11: Ch 1, MC sc 8, CC sc 1, MC sc 5, CC sc 12, MC sc 9, CC sc 2, MC sc 7. Turn.
Row 12: Ch 1, MC sc 13, CC sc 22, MC sc 9. Turn.
Row 13: Ch 1, MC sc 1, CC sc 1, MC sc 5, CC sc 6, MC sc 11, CC sc 8, MC sc 9, CC sc 1, MC sc 2. Turn.
Row 14: Ch 1, MC sc 10, CC sc 3, MC sc 31. Turn.
Row 15: Ch 1, MC sc 15, CC sc 14, MC sc 3, CC sc 2, MC sc 10. Turn.
Row 16: Ch 1, MC sc 8, CC sc 1, MC sc 3, CC sc 18, MC sc 14. Turn.
Row 17: Ch 1, MC sc 12, CC sc 2, MC sc 15, CC sc 7, MC sc 8. Turn.
Row 18: Ch 1, MC sc 1, CC sc 1, MC sc 16, CC sc 10, MC sc 3, CC sc 1, MC sc 9, CC sc 1, MC sc 2. Turn.
Row 19: Ch 1, MC sc 10, CC sc 18, MC sc 16. Turn.
Row 20: Ch 1, MC sc 13, CC sc 4, MC sc 14, CC sc 3, MC sc 10. Turn.
Row 21: Ch 1, MC sc 29, CC sc 2, MC sc 13. Turn.
Row 22: Ch 1, MC sc 11, CC sc 1, MC sc 3, CC sc 12, MC sc 17. Turn.
Row 23: Ch 1, MC sc 1, CC sc 1, MC sc 12, CC sc 19, MC sc 8, CC sc 1, MC sc 2. Turn.
Row 24: Ch 1, MC sc 28, CC sc 2, MC sc 14. Turn.
Row 25: Ch 1, MC sc 12, CC sc 2, MC sc 4, CC sc 6, MC sc 20. Turn.
Row 26: Ch 1, MC sc 16, CC sc 16, MC sc 12. Turn.
Row 27: Ch 1, MC sc 26, CC sc 2, MC sc 16. Turn.
Row 28: Ch 1, MC sc 1, CC sc 1, MC sc 12, CC sc 2, MC sc 2, CC sc 7, MC sc 16, CC sc 1, MC sc 2. Turn.
Row 29: Ch 1, MC sc 17, CC sc 13, MC sc 14. Turn.
Row 30: Ch 1, MC sc 26, CC sc 1, MC sc 17. Turn.
Row 31: Ch 1, MC sc 15, CC sc 9, MC sc 20. Turn.
Row 32: Ch 1, MC sc 16, CC sc 6, MC sc 22. Turn.
Row 33: Ch 1, MC sc 1, CC sc 1, MC sc 19, CC sc 2, MC sc 18, CC sc 1, MC sc 2. Turn.
Row 34: Ch 1, MC sc 20, CC sc 1, MC sc 23. Turn.
Row 35: Ch 1, MC sc 19, CC sc 2, MC sc 2, CC sc 2, MC sc 19. Turn.
Row 36: Ch 1, MC sc 19, CC sc 4, MC sc 21. Turn.
Row 37: Ch 1, MC sc 20, CC sc 5, MC sc 19. Turn.
Row 38: Ch 1, MC sc 1, CC sc 1, MC sc 15, CC sc 8, MC sc 16, CC sc 1, MC sc 2. Turn.
Row 39: Ch 1, MC sc 21, CC sc 2, MC sc 21. Turn.
Row 40: Ch 1, MC sc 20, CC sc 1, MC sc 23. Turn.
Rows 41–42: Repeat Row 2 using only MC.
Row 43: Ch 1, MC sc 1. Repeat [with CC: sc 1, with MC: sc 4] 8 times total. Finish with CC: sc 1, MC: sc 2. Turn.
Rows 44–45: Repeat Row 2 using only MC. Keep your yarn attached.

Section 2: Framed Border & Hanging Loop

Both yarn strands should now sit at the upper left corner of the potholder.

Round 1 (Edging): Switch to CC with the right side facing you. Work 45 single crochets evenly down each of the four edges. When you reach a corner, crochet 1 sc into the last stitch of that side, chain 1, then crochet 1 sc into the first stitch of the adjoining side. Slip stitch to join at the end of the round.
Round 2 (Textured Border): Switch to MC. Work 1 Crab Stitch (reverse single crochet) into every stitch from Round 1. At the corner points, place exactly 1 Crab Stitch directly into the ch-1 spaces.
Hanging Loop: Once back at the starting upper-left corner, chain 20. Slip stitch into that same corner stitch to form a ring. Turn your work around (without chaining) and crochet 25 single crochets directly into the loop space. Secure with a slip stitch back into the corner base. Fasten off.

Section 3: Embroidery & Finishing Touches

Unwind a length of CC yarn and split the plies in half to create a finer thread.
Thread your tapestry needle and use a classic backstitch to embroider small, delicate star shapes in the empty spaces around the tree.
Weave all remaining yarn tails securely into the back of your stitches on the wrong side to hide them.