Crochet Sea Waves Potholder

The Sea Waves Potholder is a modern, maritime-inspired kitchen accessory featuring a striking wave motif. It is worked flat in rows using single crochet stitches, then finished with a clean border and an integrated hanging loop.

Because you carry the unused yarn inside your stitches, the fabric ends up thick and durable—perfect for protecting your hands and surfaces from hot dishes.

Materials Needed

• Hook: 3.5-mm crochet hook (US E/4).

• Yarn: Medium-weight (Aran/Group 4) 100% cotton yarn. Cotton is essential here because it will not melt when exposed to heat.

  • Color A: Deep Marine Blue (approx. 21 yards)

  • Color B: Denim/Jeans Blue (approx. 20 yards)

  • Color C: Solid White (approx. 20 yards)

• Tools: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends and scissors.

Size & Gauge

• Finished Dimensions: Approximately 6.3 inches (16 cm) square.

• Gauge: 22.5 single crochets across and 21 rows up should measure 4 inches (10 cm).

Crucial Pattern Notes

1. Stitch Count: Every single row of the main body consists of exactly 34 stitches.

2. Turning Chains: At the end of every row, chain 1 and turn your work. This chain does not count as your first stitch.

3. Color Changes: To make seamless color switches, begin your last single crochet stitch in the old color, but execute the final yarn-over and pull-through with the new color.

4. Tapestry Technique: Lay the yarn color you aren’t using across the top of the previous row and crochet right over it, trapping it inside your stitches until you need it again.

5. How to Read the Instructions: A direction like (A) 5 means you will make 1 single crochet in each of the next 5 stitches using Color A.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The Main Body

Note: Odd numbers are Right Side (RS) rows; even numbers are Wrong Side (WS) rows.

Section 1: Marine Blue & Denim Waves Start by tying a slip knot with Color A, but hold Color B along your starting chain to carry it.

• Foundation: Chain 35.

• Row 1 (RS): Starting in the second chain from your hook, single crochet across with Color A. (34 stitches)

• Row 2 (WS): (B) 5, (A) 11, (B) 5, (A) 11, then (B) 2.

• Row 3 (RS): (B) 4, (A) 7, (B) 9, (A) 7, then (B) 7.

• Row 4 (WS): (B) 8, (A) 5, (B) 11, (A) 5, then (B) 5.

• Row 5 (RS): (B) 5, (A) 5, (B) 2, (A) 4, (B) 5, (A) 5, (B) 2, (A) 4, then (B) 2.

• Row 6 (WS): (B) 1, (A) 2, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 4, (B) 5, (A) 2, (B) 2, (A) 1, (B) 2, (A) 4, then (B) 6.

• Row 7 (RS): (B) 6, (A) 4, (B) 5, (A) 2, (B) 5, (A) 4, (B) 5, (A) 2, then (B) 1.

• Row 8 (WS): (B) 1, (A) 3, (B) 3, (A) 4, (B) 6, (A) 3, (B) 3, (A) 4, then (B) 7.

• Row 9 (RS): (B) 8, (A) 8, (B) 8, (A) 8, then (B) 2.

• Row 10 (WS): (B) 3, (A) 6, (B) 10, (A) 6, then (B) 9.

• Row 11 (RS): Single crochet across entirely using Color B.

• Cut Color A and secure it. Introduce Color C to carry along with B.

Section 2: Denim & White Waves

• Row 12 (WS): Single crochet across entirely using Color B.

• Row 13 (RS): (C) 5, (B) 11, (C) 5, (B) 11, then (C) 2.

• Row 14 (WS): (C) 4, (B) 7, (C) 9, (B) 7, then (C) 7.

• Row 15 (RS): (C) 8, (B) 5, (C) 11, (B) 5, then (C) 5.

• Row 16 (WS): (C) 5, (B) 5, (C) 2, (B) 4, (C) 5, (B) 5, (C) 2, (B) 4, then (C) 2.

• Row 17 (RS): (C) 1, (B) 2, (C) 2, (B) 1, (C) 2, (B) 4, (C) 5, (B) 2, (C) 2, (B) 1, (C) 2, (B) 4, then (C) 6.

• Row 18 (WS): (C) 6, (B) 4, (C) 5, (B) 2, (C) 5, (B) 4, (C) 5, (B) 2, then (C) 1.

• Row 19 (RS): (C) 1, (B) 3, (C) 3, (B) 4, (C) 6, (B) 3, (C) 3, (B) 4, then (C) 7.

• Row 20 (WS): (C) 8, (B) 8, (C) 8, (B) 8, then (C) 2.

• Row 21 (RS): (C) 3, (B) 6, (C) 10, (B) 6, then (C) 9.

• Row 22 (WS): Single crochet across entirely using Color C.

• Cut Color B and secure it. Bring back Color A to carry along with C.

Section 3: White & Marine Blue Waves

• Row 23 (RS): Single crochet across entirely using Color C.

• Row 24 (WS): (A) 5, (C) 11, (A) 5, (C) 11, then (A) 2.

• Row 25 (RS): (A) 4, (C) 7, (A) 9, (C) 7, then (A) 7.

• Row 26 (WS): (A) 8, (C) 5, (A) 11, (C) 5, then (A) 5.

• Row 27 (RS): (A) 5, (C) 5, (A) 2, (C) 4, (A) 5, (C) 5, (A) 2, (C) 4, then (A) 2.

• Row 28 (WS): (A) 1, (C) 2, (A) 2, (C) 1, (A) 2, (C) 4, (A) 5, (C) 2, (A) 2, (C) 1, (A) 2, (C) 4, then (A) 6.

• Row 29 (RS): (A) 6, (C) 4, (A) 5, (C) 2, (A) 5, (C) 4, (A) 5, (C) 2, then (A) 1.

• Row 30 (WS): (A) 1, (C) 3, (A) 3, (C) 4, (A) 6, (C) 3, (A) 3, (C) 4, then (A) 7.

• Row 31 (RS): (A) 8, (C) 8, (A) 8, (C) 8, then (A) 2.

• Row 32 (WS): (A) 3, (C) 6, (A) 10, (C) 6, then (A) 9.

The Border

Do not turn yet. Cut Color C. You will complete the framing of your square using only Color A.

• Setup: Chain 1 and turn your work so you are looking at the Right Side (RS). Your yarn is now positioned at the top corner.

• Round 1: Single crochet 34 stitches across the top edge. At the corner, chain 1 to turn the edge. Now work down the side, placing 32 single crochets evenly along the row ends. Chain 1 at the corner. Single crochet 34 stitches along the bottom foundation edge, chain 1, and work 32 single crochets up the final side. Chain 1, then connect to your very first border stitch with a slip stitch.

The Hanging Loop

• Step 1: Chain 1 and turn your work to the Wrong Side (WS).

• Step 2: Chain 14 more times (making 15 chains total for the loop foundation). Secure this chain to the next available border stitch with a slip stitch to lock the loop in place.

• Step 3: Chain 1 and turn back to the Right Side (RS).

• Step 4: Work 18 single crochets directly into the center space of the chain loop you just created. This covers the chain strands tightly and makes a sturdy loop.

Finishing Touches

Fasten off your yarn, leaving a short tail. Grab your tapestry needle and carefully weave all remaining loose ends securely into the back of your stitches. Trim any excess yarn, and your wave potholder is ready for use!