The Handy Andy Mitten Potholder is a delightful project that combines utility and charm, making it a unique addition to any kitchen. Featuring a mitten design with a playful face and decorative felt accents, this potholder is both practical and whimsical. Crocheted with a comfortable gauge and simple stitches, it’s approachable for crocheters of various skill levels and offers opportunities for creative personalization with the felt embellishments.
One of the standout aspects of this pattern is its versatility in design. The felt details—hair, eyebrows, mouth, and tie—allow for endless customization, giving each mitten its own personality. This makes it a fun gift idea or craft fair item, as you can adapt the colors and expressions to suit individual tastes. The pattern includes clear instructions for constructing the mitten shape, thumb, and even the decorative bow tie, making it a well-rounded project.
This potholder is also a wonderful way to practice shaping techniques in crochet, such as working in rounds, increasing, and decreasing. While the thumb section might pose a slight challenge for beginners, the instructions are straightforward, and with a little patience, it can be mastered with ease. Adding the felt embellishments is a creative bonus that brings the mitten to life.
This pattern is transformed, adapted, and expanded from a public domain design originally published in Coats & Clark’s Quick Tricks to Crochet Book No. 326 (1956). While the original design is in the public domain, the rewritten instructions and supplementary content are ©Tiffany Bliss Mullins, 2024. All rights reserved. Have questions about this pattern, public domain, or copyright? Visit the FAQ page for answers and resources.
Key Details
- Pattern Name: Handy Andy Mitten Potholder
- Craft Type: Crochet
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Finished Size: Approximately 7 x 10 inches (including thumb)
- Gauge: 5 stitches and 5 rounds = 1 inch
- Special Features: Shaped thumb, felt embellishments, functional design
- Uses: Kitchen potholder, decorative accent, gift
Materials
- Yarn: Coats & Clark’s “SPEED-CROSHEEN” Mercerized Cotton, 2 balls of No. 46-A Mid Rose
- Crochet Hook: Steel Crochet Hook, Size 2/0 (2.5 mm)
- Felt Scraps: Black, blue, white, and red for embellishments
- Additional Supplies:
- Sewing needle
- Thread for attaching felt pieces
- Scissors
- Gauge: 5 stitches = 1 inch; 5 rounds = 1 inch
Abbreviations
- ch: Chain
- sc: Single Crochet
- sl st: Slip Stitch
- rnd: Round
- dec: Decrease (work two stitches together)
Handy Andy Mitten Potholder Pattern
Cuff and Base of Mitten Potholder
- Start Cuff:
Chain 50 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.
Round 1: Chain 1, single crochet in each chain around. Do not join rounds; work in a spiral.
Rounds 2–12: Single crochet in each stitch around until the cuff measures approximately 3 ½ inches. - Shape Thumb Opening:
Chain 10, skip the next 10 single crochets, and single crochet into the next stitch. Continue single crocheting around.
Next Round: Single crochet in each chain and stitch around the opening. - Shape Mitten:
Rounds 1–6: Single crochet in each stitch around.
Decrease Rounds:
- Round 7: Single crochet in the next 8 stitches, decrease over the next 2 stitches. Repeat around.
- Work 2 rounds without decreasing.
- Round 10: Single crochet in the next 7 stitches, decrease over the next 2 stitches. Repeat around.
- Work 2 more rounds without decreasing.
- Top Shaping:
Single crochet in each stitch, decreasing 1 stitch at each side edge. Repeat for 4 additional rounds, shaping the top of the mitten. Fasten off and sew the top edges together.
Thumb
- Start Thumb:
Attach yarn to the first skipped stitch of the thumb opening. Single crochet around the opening and along the chain stitches. Join with a slip stitch.
Rounds 1–8: Single crochet in each stitch around.
Shaping Rounds (9–13): Single crochet in each stitch, decreasing 1 stitch at each side edge. Fasten off and sew the top edges together.
Felt Embellishments
- Cut felt pieces:
- Black for hair and eyebrows.
- Blue for eyes and tie.
- White for pupils.
- Red for mouth.
- Assemble:
Sew the felt pieces to the back of the mitten as shown in the illustration. Use black thread for securing the felt hair and eyebrows, and white thread for attaching the pupils. - Add Tie:
Cut a blue felt piece approximately 1 ½ x 3 inches. Gather the center until it measures ¾ inch and sew it securely to the base of the mitten’s back.
A Fun and Functional Mitten Potholder
The Handy Andy Mitten Potholder is a delightful project that blends practical utility with whimsical charm. With its creative felt embellishments and functional design, it’s both a useful kitchen accessory and a cheerful decorative piece. Perfect for gift-giving or adding a playful touch to your own home, this potholder is a fun crochet project for any intermediate crafter.
