I enjoy designing crochet projects that are pretty to look at but it is very rewarding to create a pretty project that is also practical! Everyone has frying pans and if you have any of the non-stick kind, you need to protect their coating/surface – these are perfect for that.
Several years ago I came up with this kitchen crochet project and figured out how to use post stitches to make the center flower really pop out and add dimension and texture.
Have you ever done a post stitch? I had never heard of them until I started teaching crochet classes locally and one of my students mentioned “crochet cables” – When I learned how to do the cables, I also learned how to do post stitches and am having fun incorporating them into several projects without cables. 🙂
Post stitches are when you work around the “post” of a crochet stitch and not into the top 2 loops as usual. By working around the post of a stitch you instantly create texture and dimension. Once you get the hang of it, they really aren’t that difficult especially the kind that are in this project.
Skill Level: Intermediate
**UPDATE: Check out the Christmas version of this project here – makes a great Christmas gift for almost anyone on your list! 🙂 **
Measurements: 3 Options – 8″, 10″ and 12″ diameter
You can really see how the center flower pops thanks to the post stitches
Supplies:
1 ball of dishcloth cotton or medium weight acrylic yarn
(The project at the top of this post in the pan was made with Red Heart Super Saver and the photo of the smaller protector (above) was made with dishcloth cotton)
Size I/8/5.5mm crochet hook
Yarn needle
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Special Stitches
FPdc (Front Post Double Crochet): YO, insert hook around stitch from front to back and then out to front, YO, draw up a lp, (YO, pull through 2 lps on hk) twice
FPsl st (Front Post slip stitch): Insert hook around stitch from front to back and then out to front; YO, draw up a lp and pull around stitch and through lp on hk
FPdc 2tog (Front Post Double Crochet 2 Together): (YO, insert hook around next stitch from front to back and then out to front, YO, draw up a lp, YO, pull through 2 lps on hk) twice; YO, pull through all 3 lps on hk
Instructions:
Round 1: Work 5 sc in an adjustable ring; join with sl st to 1st sc.
(If you’re not sure how to do an adjustable ring (sometimes called a magic ring), you can watch my how-to video here)
Round 2: Ch 3, 3 dc in same st; (ch 1, 4 dc in next st) around ending with sl st in top of starting ch-3. (20 dc, 5 ch-1 sps)
Round 3: Ch 3, FPdc (see Special Stitches) around each of next 3 dcs, (ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, FPdc in each of next 4 dcs) around ending with a FPsl st (see Special Stitches) around starting ch-3.
Round 4: Ch 3, 2 FPdc around each of next 2 sts; FPdc around next st; *(ch 2, sc in next ch-sp) 2 times; ch 2, FPdc around next dc; 2 FPdc around each of next 2 dcs, FPdc around next dc *; Repeat from * to * around winding with (ch 2, sc in next ch-sp) 2 times; ch 2, FPsl st around starting ch-3.
Round 5: Ch 3, FPdc in each of next 5 dcs; *(ch 2, sc in next sp) 3 times; ch 2, FPdc in each of next 6 sts; * Repeat * to * around ending with (ch 2, sc in next sp) 3 times; FPsl st in top of starting ch-3.
Round 6: Ch 2, *FPdc in each of next 4 sts, leave next dc unworked; ch 3, sk next ch-sp, sc in next ch-sp, ch 2, sc in next ch-sp, ch 3, sk next ch-sp, sk next dc * Repeat from * to * around join with sl st in top of 1st dc.
Round 7: Ch 2, FPdc in next st, FPdc2tog (see Special Stitches); *(ch 2, sc in next ch-sp) 3 times; ch 2, 2 FPdc2tog over next 4 sts*; Repeat from * to * around ending with a FPsl st around 1st FPdc.
Round 8: Ch 2, FPdc around next st; *(ch 2, sc in next ch-sp) 4 times; ch 2, FPdc2tog over last 2 dc in next petal*; Repeat from * to * around ending with FPsl st around 1st FPdc.
Round 9: Ch 2, *(hdc in next ch-2 sp, hdc in next sc) 2 times; 2 hdc in next ch-2 sp, (hdc in next sc, hdc in next ch-sp) 2 times; FPhdc around next st (tip of petal) *; Repeat from * to * around ending with sl st to top of starting ch-2. (10 sts between petals)
Round 10: Ch 1, sc in same st, (ch 5, sk next 3 sts, sc in next st, ch 5, sk next 2 sts, sc in next st, ch 5, sk next 3 sts, sc in next st) around ending with sl st in 1st sc. (15 ch-5 sps)
Round 11: (Sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in each ch-5 sp around ending with sl st in 1st sc.
*Option1: End here for an 8” diameter project – see photo above “Supplies”
Round 12: Ch 6, (sc in middle dc, ch 3, dc in sp bet. 2 petals, ch 3) around ending with sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch-6. (30 ch-3 sps)
Round 13: (Sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) in each sp around ending with sl st in 1st sc. (30 petals)
*Option 2: End here for a 10” diameter project
Round 14: Ch 9, sk next 2 petals, hdc in next sp bet petals, (ch 7, sk next 2 petals, hdc in next sp bet petals) around ending with sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch-9.
(For the photo below I joined white yarn in between 2 petals of Round 13 so that the ch-7 sp would mirror the petals in Round 11)
Round 15: (Sc, hdc, 3 dc, 2 tr, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in each ch-7 sp around. Fasten off. (15 large petals)
*Option 3: End here for a 12” diameter project
Tada! Now you’ve created a pretty and practical project for your home. These also make great gifts and can be made in any color or several colors!
If you have any questions about this project or the stitches in it, please leave a comment and I’ll do my best to help you.
Here is an image for your Pinterest board:
Thank you for visiting and happy crocheting!
Jennifer
If you like this crochet project for the home, you might like these other projects:
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