Moose Silhouette Crochet Potholder Free Pattern

Introduction

This moose silhouette potholder is a cozy little piece of cabin charm for your kitchen. It's made from two flat single-crochet panels joined together, so it's thick enough to protect your hands from hot pans while looking great hanging on the wall. The design uses simple intarsia colorwork to build an orange moose head against a cobalt blue background, with small antlers and ears added on top for that unmistakable silhouette. If you can single crochet and change colors, you can make this potholder, and it works up quickly enough to finish in an afternoon.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (4) cotton yarn — 100 yds cobalt blue, 50 yds orange. Cotton is best because it handles heat well.
• Hooks: 4.0 mm (G-6) for the panels and small pieces; 6.0 mm (J-10) for the joining border.
• Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch marker (optional).
• Finished size: 7" wide x 8" tall, including antlers.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through everything on the hook.
• WS — wrong side: the back face of your work.

Gauge

16 sc x 18 rows = 4" x 4" with the 4.0 mm hook. Work a small swatch in single crochet and measure the center of it; if you get more stitches than 16 in 4", go up a hook size, and if you get fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Carry the unused color loosely along the back of the panel rather than cutting it at every change; this keeps the colorwork tidy and the panel flat.
• Always change color on the last yarn-over of the stitch before the new color section, so the color block starts cleanly.
• Keep your tension even across the color changes — pulling the carried yarn too tight will pucker the panel.
• Make both panels identical in size; lay them together before joining to check they match.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Panel (make 2)

With cobalt blue and the 4.0 mm hook, ch 21.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (20 sts).

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (20 sts).

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 8 sts, change to orange, sc in next 4 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 8 sts (20 sts).

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 7 sts, change to orange, sc in next 6 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 7 sts (20 sts).

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 6 sts, change to orange, sc in next 8 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 6 sts (20 sts).

Rows 8-10: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 5 sts, change to orange, sc in next 10 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 5 sts (20 sts).

Row 11: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 4 sts, change to orange, sc in next 12 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 4 sts (20 sts).

Row 12: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 3 sts, change to orange, sc in next 14 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 3 sts (20 sts).

Rows 13-14: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 2 sts, change to orange, sc in next 16 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 2 sts (20 sts).

Row 15: Ch 1, turn, sc in first st, change to orange, sc in next 18 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last st (20 sts).

Rows 16-17: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (20 sts).

Row 18: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 6 sts, change to orange, sc in next 8 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 6 sts (20 sts).

Row 19: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 7 sts, change to orange, sc in next 6 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 7 sts (20 sts).

Row 20: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 8 sts, change to orange, sc in next 4 sts, change to cobalt, sc in last 8 sts (20 sts).

Rows 21-24: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (20 sts).

Fasten off.

Antlers (make 2)

With orange and the 4.0 mm hook, ch 2.

Row 1: 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook (2 sts).

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each st across (4 sts).

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (4 sts).

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, sc in first st, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st (6 sts).

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (6 sts).

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in last 2 sts (8 sts).

Rows 7-8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (8 sts).

Fasten off.

Ears (make 2)

With orange and the 4.0 mm hook, ch 2.

Row 1: 2 sc in 2nd ch from hook (2 sts).

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each st across (4 sts).

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (4 sts).

Fasten off.

Joining Border and Hanging Loop

Place the two panels together with wrong sides facing. With cobalt blue and the 6.0 mm hook, sc evenly around the edge through both layers, working 3 sc in each corner. At the top center, ch 10 for the hanging loop, sl st to join, then continue sc around. Fasten off.

Assembly and Finishing

Attach the antlers to the top corners of the head and the ears to the sides of the head, using orange yarn and a tapestry needle. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, tucking them under the border where possible. Block the finished potholder lightly by misting it with water and pinning it flat to shape, especially the antlers and ears, then let it dry completely before hanging.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the colors for a different look — a cream background with a brown moose gives a softer, rustic feel.
• Add a second border round in orange for a contrasting frame around the blue edge.
• Make a matching set by working the same silhouette in reverse colors for a fun pair.