Beyond the Square Crochet Motif #30

I have used motif #30 from the book Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs as the basis for these pot holders and heat pad. I have noted the instructions below should you wish to make them.
These are constructed in a double layer to protect your hands and work surfaces from heat and hopefully the pretty colours will brighten up any kitchen. If you are making them as gifts, you could even use colours that match the recipients existing kitchen colour scheme or simply make them in white cotton which always looks classic.
I actually used some of my existing stash to make these so that I can kill two birds with one stone - save some money and create something special and unique.

These will be a Christmas gift and are the first of my "Handmade Christmas" gift ideas, not just limited to crochet but also cooking!

My other homemade gift ideas include:

• Jams
• Fruit vodka
• Chili & garlic oils
• Crochet coasters and place mats
• Lavender drawer bags

I am hoping to make most of my Christmas gifts this year and I will be blogging about them as I go along.
Are you making any handmade gifts this Christmas? Please do share your projects and ideas!

Instructions for Making Crochet Pot Holders 
(using motif #30 from Beyond the Square Crochet motifs)

Materials:
Book - Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman
DK Cotton Yarn (I have used 3 different colours, 1x50g ball of green, 1x50g ball of red, 2 x 50g balls of cream)
3.5mm crochet hook
tapestry needle

Pot Holders :

Colours for A : Round 1 red, round 2 cream, round 3-5 green, round 6 red, round 7 cream & trim green
Colours for B : Round 1 red, round 2 green, round 3-5 cream, round 6 red, round 7 green & trim cream

Make motif #30 up to round 3, as per instructions in the book

• Round 4 & 5: dc into each dc from previous round, in each corner dc, ch2, dc. You should now have 12 dc on each side and a chain of 2 at each corner. Fasten off yarn.
• Round 6: in a corner, start a new colour with a slip st. Chain 3, (counts as 1dc) in same corner st, tr, dc, *[chain 3, dc3tog into the next 3 dc from previous row], 4 times, chain 3, in corner dc, tr, dc*...repeat from * to * 5 times, [chain 3, dc3tog into the next 3 dc from previous row], 4 times, chain 3, join with slip st to top of chain 3. Fasten off.
• Round 7 : in a corner (top of a tr stitch), start new colour with a slip st. Chain 2 (counts as 1 hdc) dc, hdc in same corner...*hdc in next dc, [2 hdc in chain 3 space, hdc, hdc in next chain 3 space, hdc] 2 times, 2 hdc in chain 3 space, hdc, [hdc, dc, hdc] in top of tr corner* repeat from *to* 5 times, hdc in next dc, [2 hdc in chain 3 space, hdc, hdc in next chain 3 space, hdc] , join with slip st to top of chain 2. Fasten off. You should have 16 hdc on each side and 1dc in each corner. Fasten off

Make two hexagons the same.
Weave in ends with tapestry needle.

Making the trim & hanging loop
With wrong sides facing, you will now join the two pieces together with a round of single crochet. Start off by attaching your trim yarn with a slip stitch in one corner, taking care that your hook goes through the loops of both layers of fabric.
Now start the hanging loop - chain 12. Slip st into the same corner stitch to fasten off the loop. You will re-enforce the loop later. Now, without cutting the yarn, single crochet all around the motif, matching up each hdc from the last round on both pieces and making sure your hook goes through a stitch from each side every time, taking care to match up the corners. Make 2 stitches in each corner to stop them rounding.
When you get back to the chain 12 loop, sc in the same corner and then proceed to sc around the loop. I needed about 15 sc to cover the chain. Fasten off with a slip st at the bottom of the corner. Weave in end with tapestry needle.

Heat Pad:
Colours : Round 1 green, round 2 cream, round 3-5 red, round 6 green, round 7 cream, round 8-9 red, round 10 cream & trim green

Follow the instructions for the pot holders as above, up to round 7.
Round 8 :  in a corner, start a new colour with a slip st. In the same corner, chain 5, (counts as chain 1dc + chain 2) dc all around, in each corner, dc chain 2, dc, join with slip st to top of chain 3.
Round 9 : chain 5, (counts as chain 1dc + chain 2) dc all around, in each corner, dc chain 2, dc, join with slip st to top of chain 3. Fasten off.
Round 10 : in a corer, start new colour with a slip st, chain 2 (counts as hdc), dc. hdc in same corner, hdc all the way around, in each corner hdc, dc, hdc. Join with slip st in top of chain 2. Fasten off.

Make two as above. I made the top of the heat pad multi-coloured and the bottom in just one colour - cream.

Join the two hexagons as described for the pot holders but omit the hanging loop.