Today, we’re making something practical: a simple garter stitch potholder. If you’ve never knit a project from start to finish, this is the perfect place to start. It’s small, functional, and will help you practice working evenly while getting comfortable with binding off. Plus, this is one of those projects that make fantastic gifts! In today’s YouTube video, we’ll go over everything step by step: gauge, yarn choice, casting on, knitting the body, and binding off.
So grab your needles and yarn, and let’s get started!
Needles
US 8 / 5 mm needles
Yarn
103 yds / 95 m of Worsted weight yarn, cotton or cotton blend, held together. DO NOT USE ACRYLIC! Synthetics will melt against a hot dish and burn your hand!
Gauge
13 stitches and 24 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in garter stitch
Sizing
Approximately 6 in / 15 cm square
Other notions
Tapestry needle or crochet hook
Pull one end from the inside of the ball and one end from the outside to hold double from one skein. Hold the yarn double and tie a knot to keep the ends together, then, with US 8 / 5 mm needles, CO 22 sts.
Knit in garter stitch for 36 rows total.
Bind off.
Weave in all ends.
OPTIONAL:
Starting on a corner with a crochet hook, make a sc border around the pot holder, making one st every row for the sides, one st for every st on the top and bottom, and increasing by one at the corners.
Reaching the starting corner, ch 10 and turn, sl st in 1st sc.
This will create a loop for hanging up the pot holders.
Cut yarn and weave in ends.