Mar 02 2010
let’s get cooking!
The Potholder Swap 2010 is in full swing—what fun potholders are you making? I can’t wait to receive mine from the swap, and making the ones I’ll contribute has been a lot of fun, too. I have even tried my pattern out, and they function pretty darn well!
I took the opportunity to look through some crochet technique and pattern books to try something new just for this swap. The moment I found directions for a 4-color spiral, I knew it was the technique for me! The source where I read about it made only a tiny spiral, and it didn’t even lay quite flat, so I had to work out how to do the increases to keep it flat, as well as devise a method to taper off each of the spirals to maintain a circle but not make it feel as if each color just “stopped.”
It wasn’t overly challenging, but it was a fun little crochet puzzle. I am loving the structural, physics-like way I can approach crochet. (Knitting is more garment design, crochet is more product design—the way I approach them.) With 4 colors at play in each potholder, the color combinations seemed endless, all of them fun and kitcheny.
If you’re interested, my pattern for the Stir Me Up Potholders is available free via Ravelry, so you can download now and have a finished potholder in no time (each one takes me about 2.5 hours total—one hour each for the front and back, and half an hour to do the edging). That’s just one day of commuting, plus some time while I unwind at the end of the day.
I don’t think I’m going to be able to stop at the 5 required for the swap. I have more worsted-weight cotton yarn to use up! I have more color combinations I want to see realized! I’m sure everyone I know needs even MORE potholders, right? Despite the fact that so many of my friends are already doing the swap?
Someone described the spirals as being like candy—and perhaps that’s what making them feels like to me. Just a sweet diversion with happy-making results.
How can you resist?
They really do look like candy. So cute!
I love the spirals!
Very beautiful! They do look like candy, kitchen candy.
Ok, so feel free to keep going, make five more, and put my name on them! Heh heh. Sadly the busyness of the semester will prevent me from learning to crochet in time to make potholders for this project. But I am standing from the sidelines and just loving all the different iterations I’m seeing!
wow, those potholders are fantastic! And you can’t often say that about pot holders. And look at you with the la crueset pot- lucky girl!! :)
I don’t know what I’m more excited about. The potholders, or the le creuset! : ) I agree, they do look a lot like candy. I will definitely be knitting a few of these up!
I’m having a very difficult time resisting. I love all things spiral. And even though I would typically gravitate towards something a bit more ornate, the tight deadline this year is pushing me towards your design, which I’m certain will work without any fuss :).
You can´t!
(the only thing stopping me is… oops, crochet!)
I love your potholders. Gorgeous!
Ooh! I love those spirals.
What a great pattern. They will make excellent gifts for the cooks in my family. Thank you for sharing the pattern! My crochet skills are rusty, but hopefully I can figure it out.
What fun potholders! I really love that last green one.
Resist? Not a chance! I haven’t crocheted potholders in a bazillion years, but I just downloaded your pattern and will be whipping some up very soon. Gorgeous!
I’d almost learn to crochet just to make these. They’re really fantastic.
These potholders rock!
I love these! And as usual your pictures are awesome! You may have inspired me to join this swap. . .
oh, man, i love them all!
wonderful pot & pot holders! I love my cast iron enamel! LOVE IT!
Hi, it doesn’t go stricktly to this topic, but I am just wondering, if a knitting needle counts as weapon in a hand baggage on a plane or I shouldn’t worry? :)
Cute!
Great design, nice colors and beautiful result ! I’m going to have a look on ravelry NOW !
I need to start one NOW! Thanks for the pattern.