Hello, fellow crafters! Welcome to our newest kitchen project. If you love adding handmade, charming touches to your home, you are going to adore this cute and cozy chicken pot holder. Not only does it bring a delightful farmhouse vibe to your kitchen decor, but it also provides practical heat protection for handling your favorite baking dishes and pans.
Whether you are making a cheerful set for your own stove or crafting a thoughtful handmade gift for a friend who loves to bake, this beginner-friendly project works up quickly. Let’s grab our hooks and yarn and dive right in!
Materials & Tools Needed
- Yarn: 100% Cotton worsted weight yarn (such as Lily Sugar’n Cream) in Main Color (MC) for the body, plus small amounts for the comb, beak, and wing accents. 100% cotton is essential because it is heat-resistant and safe for kitchen use.
- Crochet Hook: US Size H/8 (5.0 mm) hook.
- Notions: Yarn needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and optional stitch markers.
Abbreviations & Pattern Notes
- US Terms
- ch: chain
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc2tog: single crochet 2 stitches together (decrease)
- Note: Make two identical body panels and crochet them together around a heat-resistant insert (or use two thick cotton panels) to ensure safe handling of hot pots.
Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions
- Body Panel (Make 2): Using your Main Color, ch 25.
Row 1: Working in the back bumps of the chain, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (24 sts)
Row 2-20: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (24 sts)
Fasten off the first panel. Do not fasten off the second panel yet. - Shaping the Chicken Head: Continuing from the second body panel, decrease evenly across the top edge to form the sloping head and beak shape using sc2tog instructions until you reach a neat point at the front. Fasten off. Repeat the shaping on the first panel.
- The Comb: Attach red cotton yarn to the top of the head. *Ch 3, work 2 dc in the same st, sl st in the next st* Repeat across the top curve 3 times to create the ruffled comb. Fasten off and weave in ends.
- The Beak & Wattle: Attach yellow yarn at the front of the head and work a small triangle (ch 2, work 2 hdc in the same space, sl st to secure) for the beak. Attach red yarn just below for the wattle.
- The Wing (Make 2): Using a contrasting color, ch 8. Work sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next 5 sts, sc in last st. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew one wing to each side of the body panels.
- Assembly & Edging: Place both body panels back-to-back with the right sides facing outward. Join your Main Color yarn through both thicknesses at the bottom corner. Working through both layers, sc evenly around the entire outer edge of the chicken pot holder to join them securely. At the tail end, ch 10 to create a handy hanging loop, then sl st to the base of the chain. Fasten off and weave in all loose ends.
Finishing & Helpful Tips
- Always use 100% cotton yarn; synthetic fibers like acrylic can melt or transfer heat when exposed to hot pots and pans.
- Maintain an even, slightly firm tension as you work the final joining round to give your pot holder a sturdy, professional structure.
- Block your finished body panels lightly before assembly if they curl at the edges for a neater final shape.
- Create a matching set by crocheting a small basket or extra dishcloths in coordinating cotton colors for a wonderful housewarming gift!
Watch the Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
Prefer visual guidance? Follow along with the complete video tutorial below: