Crochet Goose Potholder

This charming, vintage-inspired potholder features a clean silhouette of a goose silhouetted against a solid background. Using the flat tapestry crochet technique, you will carry two yarn colors across each row to create a crisp, dense, and heat-resistant fabric.

The piece is worked flat from the bottom up in single crochet, framed by a classic scalloped shell border, and finished with a sturdy hanging loop.

Project Details

• Skill Level: Intermediate (requires color-switching experience)

• Dimensions: 6.7” $\times$ 7.3” (17 cm $\times$ 18.5 cm)

• Gauge: 28 single crochet stitches $\times$ 26 rows = 4” (10 cm) square in tapestry pattern

• Terminology: US Crochet Terms

Materials Needed

• Hook Size: 3.0 mm (UK 11)

• Yarn: DK weight (Light, category 3) 100% cotton yarn

  • Main Color (Color A): Dark Blue (approx. 55 yards / 50 meters)

  • Contrasting Color (Color B): Creamy White (approx. 35 yards / 32 meters)

• Tools: Tapestry needle, scissors

Common Abbreviations

• Ch: Chain

• Sc: Single crochet

• Dc: Double crochet

• Sl St: Slip stitch

• St(s): Stitch(es)

• Sk: Skip

• RS / WS: Right Side / Wrong Side

Working Instructions

Pattern Guidelines

1. Color Notation: The letter indicates the yarn color, while the number indicates how many consecutive single crochets to make. For example, (A) 4 means make 1 single crochet in the next 4 stitches using Color A.

2. Color Changes: Switch colors during the final yarn-over of the previous stitch. Carry the inactive yarn along the top of the row, crocheting over it to hide it inside the stitches.

3. Turning: Chain 1 and turn at the end of every row. This turning chain counts as your very first stitch and is worked in Color A.

4. Symmetry: Every row maintains a strict count of 45 stitches. Odd rows are the Right Side (RS); even rows are the Wrong Side (WS).

Main Body

Chain 46 using Color A.

• Row 1 [RS]: Starting in the second chain from your hook, single crochet in each chain across. (45 sts)

• Row 2 [WS]: (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 37, (B) 1, (A) 3.

• Row 3 [RS]: (A) 2, (B) 3, (A) 2, repeat [(B) 1, (A) 4] 6 times, (B) 1, (A) 2, (B) 3, (A) 2.

• Row 4 [WS]: (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 33, (B) 5, (A) 1.

• Row 5 [RS]: Repeat [(A) 1, (B) 2] twice, (A) 33, repeat [(B) 2, (A) 1] twice.

• Row 6 [WS]: (A) 22, (B) 2, (A) 21.

• Row 7 [RS]: (A) 19, (B) 6, (A) 20.

• Row 8 [WS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 12, (B) 3, (A) 4, (B) 3, (A) 17, (B) 1, (A) 2.

• Row 9 [RS]: (A) 20, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 7, (A) 13.

• Row 10 [WS]: (A) 14, (B) 3, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 2, (A) 19.

• Row 11 [RS]: (A) 19, (B) 2, (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 19.

• Row 12 [WS]: (A) 19, (B) 7, (A) 19.

• Row 13 [RS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 15, (B) 9, (A) 15, (B) 1, (A) 2.

• Row 14 [WS]: (A) 17, (B) 11, (A) 17.

• Row 15 [RS]: (A) 16, (B) 13, (A) 16.

• Row 16 [WS]: (A) 15, (B) 7, (A) 3, (B) 5, (A) 15.

• Row 17 [RS]: (A) 14, (B) 4, (A) 2, (B) 3, (A) 2, (B) 6, (A) 14.

• Row 18 [WS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 10, (B) 5, (A) 2, (B) 7, (A) 1, (B) 4, (A) 10, (B) 1, (A) 2.

• Row 19 [RS]: (A) 11, (B) 16, (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 12.

• Row 20 [WS]: (A) 12, (B) 24, (A) 9.

• Row 21 [RS]: (A) 12, (B) 21, (A) 12.

• Row 22 [WS]: (A) 12, (B) 18, (A) 15.

• Row 23 [RS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 13, (B) 17, (A) 9, (B) 1, (A) 2.

• Row 24 [WS]: (A) 13, (B) 13, (A) 19.

• Row 25 [RS]: (A) 22, (B) 10, (A) 13.

• Row 26 [WS]: (A) 13, (B) 7, (A) 25.

• Row 27 [RS]: (A) 26, (B) 5, (A) 14.

• Row 28 [WS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 11, (B) 5, (A) 23, (B) 1, (A) 2.

• Row 29 [RS]: (A) 26, (B) 4, (A) 15.

• Row 30 [WS]: (A) 16, (B) 3, (A) 26.

• Row 31 [RS]: (A) 26, (B) 3, (A) 16.

• Row 32 [WS]: (A) 17, (B) 2, (A) 26.

• Row 33 [RS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 22, (B) 3, (A) 14, (B) 1, (A) 2.

• Row 34 [WS]: (A) 17, (B) 3, (A) 25.

• Row 35 [RS]: (A) 25, (B) 3, (A) 17.

• Row 36 [WS]: (A) 16, (B) 5, (A) 24.

• Row 37 [RS]: (A) 24, (B) 10, (A) 11.

• Row 38 [WS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 9, (B) 9, (A) 21, (B) 1, (A) 2.

• Row 39 [RS]: (A) 25, (B) 6, (A) 14.

• Row 40 [WS]: (A) 15, (B) 5, (A) 25.

• Row 41 [RS]: (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 37, (B) 1, (A) 3.

• Row 42 [WS]: (A) 2, (B) 3, (A) 35, (B) 3, (A) 2.

• Row 43 [RS]: (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 1, repeat [(B) 1, (A) 4] 6 times, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 1.

• Row 44 [WS]: Repeat [(A) 1, (B) 2] twice, (A) 33, repeat [(B) 2, (A) 1] twice.

• Row 45 [RS]: (A) 45. Do not fasten off.

Decorative Border & Hanging Loop

After completing Row 45, your hook and yarns will be situated at the top-left corner. You will now work in a continuous round along the exterior edges, keeping the Right Side (RS) facing you throughout. Drop Color B and continue only with Color A.

1. Edging Placement: Work a decorative scalloped shell pattern down the left raw edge, across the bottom chain foundation, up the right raw edge, and across the top row.

2. Executing the Shell Stitch: Skip 2 stitches (or row ends), work 5 double crochets all into the next stitch, skip 1 stitch, and secure the shell with a slip stitch in the following stitch. Repeat this sequence 9 times along each side. Ensure your final shell finishes neatly at the corner.

3. Hanging Loop: When you return to your starting top-left corner, slip stitch into the initial corner chain space. Chain 20 to form the loop foundation, then slip stitch back into that same corner space. Turn your perspective slightly to work directly into the loop: fill it by crocheting 25 single crochets over the chain arch. Secure with a final slip stitch into the corner space.

Fasten off your yarn, clip it, and use your tapestry needle to securely weave in all loose ends on the back of the potholder.