Double-Sided Waffle Stitch Potholder
I decided to make some potholders from a vintage ebook I purchased from Purplekittyyarns.com. The actual crochet book was printed in 1939. The name of the book is Potholders, Book No. 133, and the potholder I chose as my first creation is Turnabout No. 9063 on page 3.
Since the pattern was written in the 1930s, the instructions are rather challenging to understand. The materials list called for Clark’s O.N.T. mercerized gimp. This is not readily available today so I used what I had on hand. I used a no. 3 crochet thread and I also used a size E(4) crochet hook.
There’s no gauge listed or finished size of the potholder. However, with the thread and hook I used I got 20 sts = 4″ and 12 rows =4″ using dc. The finished size of my potholder, including the edging was 7″ x 6- 1/2″.
Here are the instructions as they appear in the 1939 version.
MATERIALS:
- I used Aunt Lydia, Size 3 Crochet Thread, 150 yds/114 m, in Sage and ThreadArt Crochet Cotton Size 3 in Colorway 25 (gray) [I don’t see it on Amazon’s website any longer, but I did find Aunt Lydia, Size 3 Crochet Thread in the color Stone. ]
- US size E (4) crochet hook (3.5 mm)
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Cabone Ring, 1″
I began with sage (contrasting color) ch 36.
Row 1: dc in fourth ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 3, turn. (32) [ch 3 counts as first dc]
Row 2: Their instructions: Thread over and insert hook between 1st 2 dc, bring it out between next and following dc, *draw loop through, thread over and draw through 2 loops twice; thread over and insert hook between same 2 dc where hook was brought out, bring it out between next 2 dc, draw loop through, thread over and complete as for a dc, dc in next dc, thread over and insert hook between this and next dc, bring it out between that and following dc. Repeat from * across, making last dc in turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 2: My instructions: dc in second st, fpdc between first 2 dc, fpdc, *dc, 2 fpdc*, repeat from * to * across, ending with dc. Ch 3, turn.
Row 3: Their Instructions: *Dc in each of next 2 dc, thread over and insert hook between last and next dc, bring it out between that and following dc, draw loop through and complete as for a dc, Repeat from * across, ending with dc in last 2 dc, dc in turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Row 3: My instructions: Dc in second st from hook, dc, fpdc, *2 dc, fpdc* repeat from * to * across, ending with dc, dc in top of turning ch. Ch 3, turn.
Their Instructions: Repeat the last 2 rows alternately for 6 inches. Do not break off, but, with right side toward you, work a row of sc all around edges. Fasten off. With 2nd color work another piece like this. Sew pieces together. Cover ring with sc and sew to corner.
My instructions: Repeat rows 2 and three for pattern. Continue until piece measures 6 inches and you have just finished row 3. Do not fasten off. Work a row of sc all around edges. Fasten off.
With second color (or main color, I used gray), work another piece like this. However, do not fasten off after joining sc row. With back sides together, sc around edges of both pieces.
Sc around ring, fasten off. Sew ring to corner of potholder. Weave in ends.
This is basically a waffle stitch. If you need help understanding how to do the waffle stitch, there is a good tutorial here.
If you would like to purchase an easier to read printed version of my instructions, you can do so at my Etsy shop or on Ravelry: Lillian’s Handmade, or Ravelry .
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