Want to knit pot holders—with a special design? Then my “Hopping Chef” pot holder set is just the thing for you!
In this free double-faced pattern, I’ll show you step by step how to knit a decorative yet practical pot holder set. The highlight: a cute bunny design—visible from the back—in a modern two-tone look in white and blue.
The entire set is worked using the double-faced technique. This creates a particularly dense, heat-resistant fabric—perfect for everyday kitchen use. At the same time, the motif is clearly visible on both sides, with no loose threads.
Potholder 1 consists of four squares, each half white, half blue—every square features the same bunny motif, creating an exciting patchwork effect.
Potholder 2 features the design as a single large square, also in the half-and-half style—with the rabbit in large format as a real eye-catcher.
Versatile
Of course, you can use the set as a classic pot holder—but it can do so much more!
As a Washcloth:
If you knit the pattern using absorbent cotton, you’ll end up with a particularly beautiful, double-layered washcloth with a decorative touch.
As a Cuddle Cloth:
If you use a soft wool like (baby) merino or alpaca instead, you’ll create a wonderfully cozy cloth—perfect as a little cuddle cloth for babies or as a loving baby shower gift.
This way, a practical kitchen helper turns into a versatile favorite in no time.
Want to Learn how to Knit Double-Faced Fabric?
Then I recommend my free beginner’s guide to double-faced knitting. In it, I clearly explain how to cast on, manage color changes, and master the basics of the technique—perfect preparation for your “Hopping Chef” project. You can find the link here: https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/items/97086/double-face-stricken-eine-grundschule.
This pot holder set is perfect for:
- spring or Easter kitchen decor
- a handmade gift idea
- using up leftover cotton yarn
- anyone who wants to learn how to knit double-faced fabric or improve their technique
The instructions are detailed and suitable for both ambitious beginners with some experience in color knitting and more advanced knitters.
Have fun knitting your “Hopping Chef” set and decorating your kitchen with your hand-knitted bunny motif.
Material:
- Schachenmayr Catania, 100% cotton, 50g = approx. 125m.
100g each of white and blue. I used a total of 60g per color (i.e., 30g per color per pot holder). However, the amount needed may vary slightly depending on your personal knitting style. You can also easily use a different cotton yarn (e.g., Katia Capri) with a similar yardage. - Size 2 knitting needles
- Size 3 crochet hook
- Darning needle
- Scissors
Stitch Gauge:
Double knitted: 26 stitches = 10 cm wide. 36 rows = 10 cm high.
With this gauge, the pot holder will measure approx. 21.5 cm x approx. 21.5 cm.
If your gauge turns out differently, the pot holder will be correspondingly larger or smaller. If you don’t want this, you should try thinner or thicker needles..
Pattern ‘Bunnies Small’:
Please note that edge stitches are not shown in this pattern.
Knitting ‘Bunnies Small’:
Abbreviations
|
sts |
: stitch(es) |
|
dsts |
: double stitch(es) |
|
est |
: edge stitch |
|
B |
: Blue |
|
W |
: White |
Knitting ‘Bunnies Small’
The following instructions always refer to the knit stitches on the side of the work facing you. The purl stitches are worked in the respective contrasting color (these are not mentioned in the instructions).
|
Cast on: |
Cast on a total of 58 dsts. Cast on the first 15 sts in the order B-W, then 14 sts in the order W-B, 14 sts in the order B-W, and the last 15 sts in the order W-B..png) |
|
Row 1-6: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 14sts B / 14sts W / 14sts B / 14sts W / est |
|
Row 7: |
est / 12sts B / 2sts W / 2sts B / 12sts W / 12sts B / 2sts W / 2sts B / 12sts W / est |
|
Row 8: |
est / 8sts B / 5sts W / 1sts B / 1sts W / 5sts B / 8sts W / 8sts B / 5sts W / 1sts B / 1sts W / 5sts B / 8sts W / est |
|
Row 9: |
est / 7sts B / 5sts W / 2sts B / 2sts W / 5sts B / 7sts W / 7sts B / 5sts W / 2sts B / 2sts W / 5sts B / 7sts W / est |
|
Row 10: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 7sts B / 5sts W / 2sts B / 2sts W / 5sts B / 7sts W / 7sts B / 5sts W / 2sts B / 2sts W / 5sts B / 7sts W / est |
|
Row 11: |
est / 7sts B / 6sts W / 1sts B / 1sts W / 6sts B / 7sts W / 7sts B / 6sts W / 1sts B / 1sts W / 6sts B / 7sts W / est |
|
Row 12: |
est / 8sts B / 6sts W / 6sts B / 8sts W / 8sts B / 6sts W / 6sts B / 8sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 8sts B / 6sts W / 6sts B / 8sts W / 8sts B / 6sts W / 6sts B / 8sts W / est |
|
Row 16: |
est / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / est |
|
Row 17: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / |
|
Row 18: |
est / 10sts B / 4sts W / 4sts B / 10sts W / 10sts B / 4sts W / 4sts B / 10sts W / est |
|
Row 19: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 10sts B / 4sts W / 4sts B / 10sts W / 10sts B / 4sts W / 4sts B / 10sts W / est |
|
Row 20: |
est / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / |
|
Row 24: |
est / 10sts B / 4sts W / 4sts B / 10sts W / 10sts B / 4sts W / 4sts B / 10sts W / est |
|
Row 25: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 10sts B / 4sts W / 4sts B / 10sts W / 10sts B / 4sts W / 4sts B / 10sts W / est |
|
Row 26: |
est / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / est |
|
Row 27: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / 9sts B / 5sts W / 5sts B / 9sts W / est |
|
Row 28: |
est / 8sts B / 6sts W / 6sts B / 8sts W / 8sts B / 6sts W / 6sts B / 8sts W / est |
|
Row 29: |
est / 8sts B / 5sts W / 1sts B / 1sts W / 5sts B / 8sts W / 8sts B / 5sts W / 1sts B / 1sts W / 5sts B / 8sts W / est |
|
Row 30: |
est / 8sts B / 4sts W / 2sts B / 2sts W / 4sts B / 8sts W / 8sts B / 4sts W / 2sts B / 2sts W / 4sts B / 8sts W / est |
|
Row 31: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 8sts B / 4sts W / 2sts B / 2sts W / |
|
Row 32: |
est / 9sts B / 2sts W / 3sts B / 3sts W / 2sts B / 9sts W / 9sts B / 2sts W / 3sts B / 3sts W / 2sts B / 9sts W / est |
|
Row 33: |
est / 14sts B / 14sts W / 14sts B / 14sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 14sts B / 14sts W / 14sts B / 14sts W / est |
|
Row 39: |
est / 14sts W / 14sts B / 14sts W / 14sts B / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 14sts W / 14sts B / 14sts W / 14sts B / est |
|
Row 45: |
est / 12sts W / 2sts B / 2sts W / 12sts B / 12sts W / 2sts B / 2sts W / 12sts B / est |
|
Row 46: |
est / 8sts W / 5sts B / 1sts W / 1sts B / 5sts W / 8sts B / 8sts W / 5sts B / 1sts W / 1sts B / 5sts W / 8sts B / est |
|
Row 47: |
est / 7sts W / 5sts B / 2sts W / 2sts B / 5sts W / 7sts B / 7sts W / 5sts B / 2sts W / 2sts B / 5sts W / 7sts B / est |
|
Row 48: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 7sts W / 5sts B / 2sts W / 2sts B / |
|
Row 49: |
est / 7sts W / 6sts B / 1sts W / 1sts B / 6sts W / 7sts B / 7sts W / 6sts B / 1sts W / 1sts B / 6sts W / 7sts B / est |
|
Row 50: |
est / 8sts W / 6sts B / 6sts W / 8sts B / 8sts W / 6sts B / 6sts W / 8sts B / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 8sts W / 6sts B / 6sts W / 8sts B / |
|
Row 54: |
est / 9sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 9sts B / 9sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 9sts B / est |
|
Row 55: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 9sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 9sts B / |
|
Row 56: |
est / 10sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 10sts B / 10sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 10sts B / est |
|
Row 57: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 10sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 10sts B / 10sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 10sts B / est |
|
Row 58: |
est / 9sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 9sts B / 9sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 9sts B / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 9sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 9sts B / |
|
Row 62: |
est / 10sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 10sts B / 10sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 10sts B / est |
|
Row 63: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 10sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 10sts B / 10sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 10sts B / est |
|
Row 64: |
est / 9sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 9sts B / 9sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 9sts B / est |
|
Row 65: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 9sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 9sts B / |
|
Row 66: |
est / 8sts W / 6sts B / 6sts W / 8sts B / 8sts W / 6sts B / 6sts W / 8sts B / est |
|
Row 67: |
est / 8sts W / 5sts B / 1sts W / 1sts B / 5sts W / 8sts B / 8sts W / 5sts B / 1sts W / 1sts B / 5sts W / 8sts B / est |
|
Row 68: |
est / 8sts W / 4sts B / 2sts W / 2sts B / 4sts W / 8sts B / 8sts W / 4sts B / 2sts W / 2sts B / 4sts W / 8sts B / est |
|
Row 69: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 8sts W / 4sts B / 2sts W / 2sts B / 4sts W / 8sts B / 8sts W / 4sts B / 2sts W / 2sts B / 4sts W / 8sts B / est |
|
Row 70: |
est / 9sts W / 2sts B / 3sts W / 3sts B / 2sts W / 9sts B / 9sts W / 2sts B / 3sts W / 3sts B / 2sts W / 9sts B / est |
|
Row 71: |
est / 14sts W / 14sts B / 14sts W / 14sts B / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 14sts W / 14sts B / 14sts W / 14sts B / est |
|
Cast off |
Cast off off all sts. Leave the last loop open and do not cut the yarn yet. This will be used to crochet the hanging loop (see below). |
Pattern ‘Bunny Big’:
Please note that edge stitches are not shown in this pattern.
Knitting ‘Bunny Big’:
Abbreviations
|
sts |
: stitch(es) |
|
dsts |
: double stitch(es) |
|
est |
: edge stitch |
|
B |
: Blue |
|
W |
: White |
Knitting ‘Bunny Big’:
The following instructions always refer to the knit stitches on the side of the work facing you. The purl stitches are worked in the respective contrasting color (these are not mentioned in the instructions).
|
Cast on: |
Cast on a total of 58 dsts. Cast on the first 29 stitches in the order B-W and the next 29 stitches in the order W-B. |
|
Row 1-8: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 28sts B / 28sts W / est |
|
Row 9: |
est / 24sts B / 4sts W / 4sts B / 24sts W / est |
|
Row 10: |
est / 23sts B / 2sts W / 3sts B / 3sts W / 2sts B / 23sts W / est |
|
Row 11: |
est / 12sts B / 12sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 12sts B / 12sts W / est |
|
Row 12: |
est / 11sts B / 12sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 12sts B / 11sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 11sts B / 12sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 12sts B / 11sts W / est |
|
Row 15: |
est / 12sts B / 11sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 11sts B / 12sts W / est |
|
Row 16: |
est / 14sts B / 10sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 10sts B / 14sts W / est |
|
Row 17: |
est / 14sts B / 11sts W / 3sts B / 3sts W / 11sts B / 14sts W / est |
|
Row 18: |
est / 14sts B / 14sts W / 14sts B / 14sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 14sts B / 14sts W / 14sts B / 14sts W / est |
|
Row 28: |
est / 15sts B / 13sts W / 13sts B / 15sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 15sts B / 13sts W / 13sts B / 15sts W / est |
|
Row 31: |
est / 16sts B / 12sts W / 12sts B / 16sts W / est |
|
Row 32: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 16sts B / 12sts W / 12sts B / 16sts W / est |
|
Row 33: |
est / 17sts B / 11sts W / 11sts B / 17sts W / est |
|
Row 34: |
est / 18sts B / 10sts W / 10sts B / 18sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 18sts B / 10sts W / 10sts B / 18sts W / est |
|
Row 37: |
est / 17sts B / 11sts W / 11sts B / 17sts W / est |
|
Row 38: |
est / 16sts B / 12sts W / 12sts B / 16sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 16sts B / 12sts W / 12sts B / 16sts W / est |
|
Row 48: |
est / 17sts B / 11sts W / 11sts B / 17sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 17sts B / 11sts W / 11sts B / 17sts W / est |
|
Row 51: |
est / 18sts B / 10sts W / 10sts B / 18sts W / est |
|
Row 52: |
est / 19sts B / 9sts W / 9sts B / 19sts W / est |
|
Row 53: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 19sts B / 9sts W / 9sts B / 19sts W / est |
|
Row 54: |
est / 18sts B / 10sts W / 10sts B / 18sts W / est |
|
Row 55: |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 18sts B / 10sts W / 10sts B / 18sts W / est |
|
Row 56: |
est / 17sts B / 8sts W / 3sts B / 3sts W / 8sts B / 17sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 17sts B / 8sts W / 3sts B / 3sts W / 8sts B / 17sts W / est |
|
Row 59: |
est / 16sts B / 8sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 8sts B / 16sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 16sts B / 8sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 8sts B / 16sts W / est |
|
Row 62: |
est / 15sts B / 9sts W / 4sts B / 4sts W / 9sts B / 15sts W / est |
|
Row 63: |
est / 15sts B / 8sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 8sts B / 15sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 15sts B / 8sts W / 5sts B / 5sts W / 8sts B / 15sts W / est |
|
Row 67: |
est / 16sts B / 6sts W / 6sts B / 6sts W / 6sts B / 16sts W / est |
|
Row 68: |
est / 17sts B / 4sts W / 7sts B / 7sts W / 4sts B / 17sts W / est |
|
Row 69: |
est / 28sts B / 28sts W / est |
|
Row |
Knit all sts as they appear: est / 28sts B / 28sts W / est |
|
Cast off |
Cast off all sts. Leave the last loop open and do not cut the yarn yet. This will be used to crochet the hanging loop (see below). |
Completion:
If desired, crochet a hanger with crochet hook no. 3. The hanger consists of 13 chain stitches, which are attached back to the knitting at the end:
- Insert the crochet hook into the last eyelet of the knitted work.
- Take the double thread onto the needle and pull it through the eyelet.
- Repeat 12 times (until a total of 13 chain stitches have been crocheted).
- Attach the hanger to the corner of the knitting with a slip stitch:
Insert the crochet hook through Pull the double thread through
the corner of the pot holder the corner of the pot holder and the eyelet of the last chain stitch - Cut the thread and pull it through the eyelet.
- Sew up all the threads.
Care Instructions & Tips for Long-Lasting Enjoyment
Yarns with vibrant colors, in particular, may bleed slightly during the first wash. This is, of course, especially undesirable in a half-and-half design that includes white.
To ensure your “Hopping Chef” stays bright and beautiful for a long time, I recommend the following procedure:
First Wash – Please Hand Wash
It’s best to hand-wash your finished piece the first time, keeping the following in mind:
- Use only lukewarm water (not too hot).
- Add a good splash of vinegar to the water—this helps set the colors.
- Change the water several times until it runs clear and no more color comes out.
- Do not wring it out; instead, gently squeeze out the excess water and lay it flat to dry.
Machine Wash
If you plan to wash your knitted item in the washing machine later, it’s best to use color-catching sheets. They absorb excess dye and protect the white areas in particular.
Extra Tip for Stains
If a food stain ever lands on your pot holder (which happens quickly in the kitchen 😉), it’s best to treat it right away:
- Rub the stain thoroughly with a little dish soap.
- Let it sit for a moment.
- Then wash as usual.
Dish soap dissolves grease particularly effectively and often works wonders.
This way, your “Hopping Chef” will stay looking great for a long time—whether as a pot holder, washcloth, or cuddle cloth.
Do you like the style of “Hopping Chef”?
In my shop here on Crazypatterns, you’ll find even more (paid) knitting patterns in the same design style—featuring charming motifs, clean color schemes, and, of course, the double-face technique.
I regularly expand my collection, so new motifs and sets are added all the time. If you liked this pattern, it’s definitely worth checking back every now and then.
Click here to go directly to my shop: https://www.crazypatterns.net/en/store/CreaEline?srsltid=AfmBOorFiXt3ENlH4lev4fzXM0EmshTwLk-IdL5Rj5w-XYjhfJyoigkX
Thank you so much for your support—with every purchase, you help me develop new creative designs.
