Crochet Bee Potholder

ByLee Ma

Crochet Bee Potholder

This intermediate-level tapestry crochet pattern creates a thick, functional potholder featuring a graphic honeybee motif. Worked primarily in flat rows of single crochet, it carries the unused yarn color along the top of the stitches to switch colors seamlessly. The project finishes with a decorative, wave-like texture on two edges and a built-in loop for easy hanging.

Project Overview

  • Finished Dimensions: Approximately 6.7 inches (17 cm) wide by 7.3 inches (18.5 cm) tall.

  • Hook Size: 3.0 mm (US C-2 / UK 11)

  • Yarn Needed: Double Knitting (DK) weight cotton yarn in two contrasting colors.

    • Color A (Main/Background): 62 yards (56 meters)

    • Color B (Pattern/Bee): 39 yards (35 meters)

  • Gauge: 28 single crochets across and 26 rows vertically equal a 4×4 inch (10×10 cm) square when using the tapestry technique.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

  • Ch: Chain

  • Sc: Single crochet

  • Hdc: Half double crochet

  • Dc: Double crochet

  • Tr: Treble crochet

  • Sl St: Slip stitch

  • St(s): Stitch(es)

  • RS / WS: Right Side / Wrong Side

Technique Notes

  1. 每一行都固定为 45 个基础织片针步（不含边框）。

  2. The initial chain 1 at the start of rows counts as the first stitch of that row and is always worked using Color A. Turn the work after completing every row.

  3. When a color letter is followed by a number—such as (A) 5—work 1 single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches using that color.

  4. To change colors cleanly, pull the new color through the last two loops of the previous stitch. Carry the inactive yarn strand horizontally along the top of the row, crocheting over it so it stays hidden inside the stitches.

Step-by-Step Row Instructions

Foundation and Base Rows

Using Color A, chain 46.

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

  • Row 2 [WS]: Work 45 stitches with Color A. Turn.

  • Row 3 [RS]: (A) 2, (B) 1. Repeat the sequence of [(A) 4, (B) 1] a total of 8 times. Finish with (A) 2. Turn.

  • Rows 4 through 6: Work 45 stitches with Color A for each row, turning at the end of each.

Building the Graphic Bee Design

  • Row 7 [RS]: (A) 8, (B) 5, (A) 10, (B) 1, (A) 21. Turn.

  • Row 8 [WS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 19, (B) 1, (A) 7, (B) 3, (A) 4, (B) 2, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 2. Turn.

  • Row 9 [RS]: (A) 5, (B) 1, (A) 9, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 1, (A) 14, (B) 1, (A) 8. Turn.

  • Row 10 [WS]: (A) 9, (B) 8, (A) 7, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 10, (B) 1, (A) 4. Turn.

  • Row 11 [RS]: (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 6, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 6, (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 9. Turn.

  • Row 12 [WS]: (A) 9, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 3, (B) 3, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 2, (A) 5, (B) 1, (A) 4. Turn.

  • Row 13 [RS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 7, (B) 1, repeat [(A) 3, (B) 1] twice, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 6, (B) 1, (A) 2. Turn.

  • Row 14 [WS]: (A) 9, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 3, (B) 3, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 8, (B) 1, (A) 4. Turn.

  • Row 15 [RS]: (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 2, (B) 2, (A) 5, (B) 1, repeat [(A) 2, (B) 1] twice, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 3, (A) 3, (B) 3, (A) 9. Turn.

  • Row 16 [WS]: (A) 9, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 4, (A) 3, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 4. Turn.

  • Row 17 [RS]: (A) 5, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 5, repeat [(B) 1, (A) 1] twice, (B) 5, (A) 3, (B) 4, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 9. Turn.

  • Row 18 [WS]: Repeat [(A) 2, (B) 1] twice, (A) 3, (B) 7, (A) 3, (B) 4, repeat [(A) 1, (B) 1] 3 times, (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 2. Turn.

  • Row 19 [RS]: (A) 7, (B) 2, (A) 4, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 2, (B) 4, (A) 3, (B) 5, (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 5. Turn.

  • Row 20 [WS]: (A) 6, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 3, (A) 4, (B) 4, (A) 3, (B) 3, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 4, (B) 2, (A) 9. Turn.

  • Row 21 [RS]: (A) 11, (B) 3, (A) 3, (B) 5, (A) 3, (B) 4, (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 7. Turn.

  • Row 22 [WS]: (A) 7, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 5, (A) 4, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 4, (A) 13. Turn.

  • Row 23 [RS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 7, (B) 2, (A) 5, (B) 6, (A) 4, (B) 6, (A) 1, (B) 3, (A) 5, (B) 1, (A) 2. Turn.

  • Row 24 [WS]: (A) 10, (B) 7, (A) 3, (B) 9, (A) 2, (B) 2, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 9. Turn.

  • Row 25 [RS]: (A) 8, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 14, (A) 17. Turn.

  • Row 26 [WS]: (A) 9, (B) 8, (A) 3, (B) 10, (A) 2, (B) 2, (A) 11. Turn.

  • Row 27 [RS]: (A) 10, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 17, (A) 7, (B) 2, (A) 7. Turn.

  • Row 28 [WS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 7, (B) 3, (A) 4, (B) 9, (A) 5, (B) 1, (A) 6, (B) 1, (A) 2. Turn.

  • Row 29 [RS]: (A) 8, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 9, repeat [(A) 1, (B) 1] twice, (A) 4, (B) 2, (A) 6, (B) 1, (A) 5. Turn.

  • Row 30 [WS]: (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 2, (A) 4, (B) 2, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 2, (B) 9, (A) 13. Turn.

  • Row 31 [RS]: (A) 12, (B) 7, repeat [(A) 1, (B) 1] twice, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 2, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 4. Turn.

  • Row 32 [WS]: (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 6, (B) 1, (A) 3, repeat [(B) 1, (A) 2] twice, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 7, (A) 12. Turn.

  • Row 33 [RS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 9, (B) 6, (A) 2, (B) 2, (A) 2, (B) 1, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 2, (A) 5, repeat [(B) 1, (A) 1] twice, (B) 1, (A) 2. Turn.

  • Row 34 [WS]: (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 6, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 1, repeat [(A) 2, (B) 1] twice, (A) 4, (B) 4, (A) 1, (B) 1, (A) 11. Turn.

  • Row 35 [RS]: (A) 7, (B) 4, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 1, repeat [(A) 3, (B) 1] twice, repeat [(A) 5, (B) 1] twice, (A) 4. Turn.

  • Row 36 [WS]: Repeat [(A) 4, (B) 1] twice, repeat [(A) 5, (B) 1] twice, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 1, (A) 13. Turn.

  • Row 37 [RS]: (A) 13, (B) 1, (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 7, (B) 1, (A) 5, (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 1, (A) 4. Turn.

  • Row 38 [WS]: Repeat [(A) 2, (B) 1] twice, (A) 7, (B) 1, (A) 16, (B) 1, (A) 11, (B) 1, (A) 2. Turn.

  • Row 39 [RS]: (A) 14, (B) 1, (A) 17, (B) 2, (A) 4, (B) 1, (A) 6. Turn.

  • Row 40 [WS]: (A) 7, (B) 4, (A) 34. Turn.

Top Border Base Rows

  • Row 41 [RS]: Work 45 stitches with Color A. Turn.

  • Row 42 [WS]: Work 45 stitches with Color A. Turn.

  • Row 43 [RS]: (A) 2, (B) 1, repeat [(A) 4, (B) 1] 8 times, (A) 2. Turn.

  • Row 44 [WS]: Work 45 stitches with Color A. Turn.

  • Row 45 [RS]: Work 45 stitches with Color A. Do not turn.

Border and Hanging Loop

Both yarn strands will now be gathered at the top-left corner (for right-handed crocheters) or the top-right corner (for left-handed crocheters).

Round 1 (RS)

Switch to Color B. Work 45 single crochets down the first side edge, 45 across the bottom edge, 45 up the second side edge, and 45 across the top edge.

  • To turn corners: Work a single crochet into the final stitch of the side, chain 1, then work a single crochet into the first stitch of the next side. Slip stitch into your very first single crochet to finish the round.

Round 2 (RS)

Switch to Color A and chain 1.

  • Left and Right Sides: Create a textured wave border by repeating this sequence 9 times: (1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 tr, chain 3, then slip stitch into the next stitch).

  • Bottom and Top Corners: In the chain-1 space from the previous round, work: [1 sc, chain 1, 1 sc].

  • Bottom Edge: Work 45 standard single crochets across.

Integrating the Hanging Loop

Slip stitch directly into the next chain-1 corner space. Chain 20, then slip stitch back into that same corner space to anchor the loop. Chain 1, work 25 single crochets directly around the chain loop to reinforce it, and slip stitch into the corner space once more.

Complete the border by working 45 single crochets along the top edge of the potholder. At the final corner, work [1 sc, chain 1, 1 sc] into the corner space. Secure the round with a slip stitch into the initial single crochet.

Finishing

Cut the yarn, secure the final loop, and neatly weave all loose yarn tails into the back of your stitches.

I am a seasoned Technical Design Manager with expertise in Womenswear and Menswear. I specialize in patternmaking, product development, and textile qualities, ensuring top-notch garment construction.
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