Crochet Rambler Roses Potholder

The Rambler Roses Potholder is a durable, functional kitchen accessory featuring a vintage-inspired floral motif. It uses tapestry crochet, a technique where you carry the unused yarn color along the top of your stitches and work your current stitches over it. This traps the secondary yarn inside the fabric, creating a reversible, thick double-sided design with zero messy strands on the back.

Preparation & Essentials

Yarn: Medium/Aran weight (Size 4) 100% cotton yarn. Cotton is highly recommended because it resists heat and won’t melt. You will need two contrasting colors: Color A (Main/Background Color) and Color B (Flower/Design Color).
Hook: 3.5 mm (US E/4) crochet hook.
Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in the yarn tails.
Finished Dimensions: Approximately 6.2 inches by 6.3 inches.
Gauge: 22.5 single crochets across and 21 rows up equals a 4-inch square.

Crucial Technique Notes

Stitch Count: Every single row maintains exactly 34 stitches.
Turning: At the end of every row, chain 1 and turn your work. This turning chain does not count as a stitch; start your next row in the very first stitch.
Smooth Color Transitions: To change colors seamlessly, begin your single crochet with the current color. Pull up a loop, then wrap the new color around your hook and pull it through both loops to complete the stitch.
Right vs. Wrong Side: Odd rows represent the Right Side (front facing you). Even rows represent the Wrong Side (back facing you).

Step-by-Step Row Instructions

Using Color A, create a starting chain of 35.

Row 1 (Right Side): Starting in the second chain from your hook, make 1 single crochet with Color A. Switch to Color B and work 3 stitches. Switch to Color A for 3 stitches. Next, repeat a sequence of 5 stitches in Color B followed by 5 stitches in Color A a total of two times. Finish the row with 3 stitches in Color B, 2 in Color A, and 2 in Color B.

Row 2 (Wrong Side): Work 1 stitch in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, and 2 in Color B. Follow this with 5 stitches in Color A, 4 in Color B, 5 in Color A, and 4 in Color B. Complete the row by working 2 stitches in Color A, 3 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 1 final stitch in Color A.

Row 3 (Right Side): Single crochet 1 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 2 in Color B, and 1 in Color A. Work 3 stitches in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 6 in Color A, 4 in Color B, and 5 in Color A. For the final section, alternate 1 stitch of Color B and 1 stitch of Color A a total of three times.

Row 4 (Wrong Side): Crochet 2 stitches in Color A, 1 in Color B, 1 in Color A, and 1 in Color B. Work 5 stitches in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 10 in Color A. Then do 2 stitches in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 1 in Color A, and 1 in Color B.

Row 5 (Right Side): Alternate 1 stitch of Color B and 1 stitch of Color A twice. Work 3 stitches in Color B, 1 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 1 in Color A, and 1 in Color B. Finish the row with 9 stitches in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 10 in Color A.

Row 6 (Wrong Side): Crochet 2 stitches in Color A and 1 in Color B. Work the next 17 stitches in Color A. Crochet 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, and 1 in Color A. Finish by alternating 1 stitch of Color B and 1 stitch of Color A four times.

Row 7 (Right Side): Work 2 stitches in Color A, then alternate 1 stitch of Color B and 1 stitch of Color A three times. Crochet 2 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 8 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 5 in Color A, 3 in Color B, and 1 in Color A.

Row 8 (Wrong Side): Crochet 1 stitch in Color A, 3 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 6 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 2 in Color A, and 3 in Color B. Finish with 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, and 2 in Color B.

Row 9 (Right Side): Make 1 stitch in Color A, 2 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 1 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 3 in Color B, and 2 in Color A. Crochet a long stretch of 14 stitches in Color B. End the row with 3 in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 2 in Color A.

Row 10 (Wrong Side): Work 1 stitch in Color A, 1 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 7 in Color B, 4 in Color A, 5 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, and 3 in Color A.

Row 11 (Right Side): Work 5 stitches in Color A, 4 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 3 in Color B, and 4 in Color A.

Row 12 (Wrong Side): Start with 3 stitches in Color A. Repeat a sequence of 2 stitches in Color B followed by 2 stitches in Color A twice. Work 7 stitches in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, and finish with 12 stitches in Color A.

Row 13 (Right Side): Crochet 1 stitch in Color A, 1 in Color B, 9 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 13 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 3 in Color A.

Row 14 (Wrong Side): Work 2 stitches in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 5 in Color B, 4 in Color A, 5 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 5 in Color A, 4 in Color B, and 1 in Color A.

Row 15 (Right Side): Work 2 stitches in Color A, 5 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 4 in Color B, and 2 in Color A. Repeat a sequence of 4 stitches in Color B and 1 stitch in Color A twice. End with 2 in Color B and 2 in Color A.

Row 16 (Wrong Side): Crochet 2 stitches in Color A and 2 in Color B. Repeat a sequence of 1 stitch in Color A and 3 in Color B twice. Work 2 stitches in Color A and 2 in Color B. Repeat the sequence of 1 in Color A and 3 in Color B twice more. Finish with 2 in Color A, 5 in Color B, and 3 in Color A.

Row 17 (Right Side): Work 4 stitches in Color A, 4 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 1 in Color B, 1 in Color A, and 3 in Color B. Repeat a sequence of 1 stitch in Color A and 2 stitches in Color B three times. Finish with 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, and 2 in Color A.

Row 18 (Wrong Side): Work 3 stitches in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 1 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 1 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 6 in Color A.

Row 19 (Right Side): Crochet 5 stitches in Color A and 1 in Color B. Work 3 stitches in Color A. Repeat a sequence of 2 stitches in Color B and 1 stitch in Color A three times. Follow this with 1 stitch in Color B, 2 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 1 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 3 in Color A.

Row 20 (Wrong Side): Crochet 2 stitches in Color A, 1 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, and 1 in Color B. Repeat a sequence of 1 stitch in Color A and 2 stitches in Color B twice. Work 1 stitch in Color A and 3 in Color B. Repeat the sequence of 1 in Color A and 2 in Color B twice more. Finish with 9 stitches in Color A.

Row 21 (Right Side): Start with 10 stitches in Color A. Repeat a sequence of 2 stitches in Color B and 1 stitch in Color A three times. Work 5 stitches in Color B, 1 in Color A, 1 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 2 in Color A.

Row 22 (Wrong Side): Work 2 stitches in Color A, 1 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, and 2 in Color B. Repeat a sequence of 1 stitch in Color A and 3 stitches in Color B twice. Next, repeat a sequence of 1 stitch in Color A and 2 stitches in Color B twice. Finish the row with 10 stitches in Color A.

Row 23 (Right Side): Crochet 3 stitches in Color A, 4 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, and 2 in Color A.

Row 24 (Wrong Side): Work 3 stitches in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 6 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 6 in Color B, and 2 in Color A.

Row 25 (Right Side): Work 1 stitch in Color A, 2 in Color B, 4 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 2 in Color A, and 3 in Color B. Repeat a sequence of 1 stitch in Color A and 3 stitches in Color B twice. Finish with 2 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 3 in Color B, and 3 in Color A.

Row 26 (Wrong Side): Crochet 4 stitches in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 2 in Color A, and 1 in Color B.

Row 27 (Right Side): Repeat a sequence of 1 stitch in Color A and 3 stitches in Color B twice. Work 1 stitch in Color A, 2 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 7 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 1 in Color A.

Row 28 (Wrong Side): Crochet 2 stitches in Color A, 1 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 4 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 1 in Color B, 1 in Color A, and 3 in Color B.

Row 29 (Right Side): Work 2 stitches in Color B and 1 in Color A. Repeat a sequence of 3 stitches in Color B and 1 stitch in Color A twice. Crochet 2 stitches in Color B, 2 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 3 in Color A, 5 in Color B, 2 in Color A, 1 in Color B, and 3 in Color A.

Row 30 (Wrong Side): Repeat a sequence of 2 stitches in Color A and 3 stitches in Color B twice. Crochet 1 stitch in Color A, 4 in Color B, 6 in Color A, and 2 in Color B. Repeat the sequence of 1 stitch in Color A and 3 stitches in Color B twice more. Finish with 1 in Color A and 2 in Color B.

Row 31 (Right Side): Crochet 5 stitches in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, 7 in Color A, 2 in Color B, 7 in Color A, 3 in Color B, and 2 in Color A.

Row 32 (Wrong Side): Work 3 stitches in Color A, 3 in Color B, 10 in Color A, 1 in Color B, 5 in Color A, 5 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 1 in Color B, 1 in Color A, 3 in Color B, and 1 final stitch in Color A.

Do not turn yet. Cut Color B, leaving a tail to weave in later. You will finish the project using only Color A.

Adding the Border & Hanging Loop

Turn your potholder so you are looking at the Right Side. Your hook should be at the top right corner.

Top Edge: Single crochet 34 stitches evenly across the top row.
Hanging Loop: Chain 15. Slip stitch back into the last single crochet you just completed to form a ring. Chain 1 and turn your work to face the Wrong Side. Work 18 single crochets directly into the center of the chain-15 ring to create a sturdy, reinforced loop. Secure it by slip stitching back into that same corner stitch of the body.
Left Edge: Work 32 single crochets evenly down the left raw edge. Chain 1 at the bottom corner to help turn the edge.
Bottom Edge: Work 34 single crochets across the opposite side of your foundation chain. Chain 1 at the corner.
Right Edge: Work 32 single crochets evenly up the right raw edge. Chain 1 at the final corner, then slip stitch into the very first stitch of the border round to close.

Cut your yarn, fasten off, and use your tapestry needle to weave all yarn tails securely into the stitches on the back. Your hot pad is ready for use!