There’s something so satisfying about creating practical and pretty items for your home, especially when they add a touch of seasonal cheer. Today, I’m excited to share a lovely pattern for a Crochet Tree Stripe Hot Pad, complete with an adorable dot border. This project is a fantastic way to bring a handmade, festive vibe to your kitchen, and it’s perfect for both gifting and keeping!
I absolutely adore the Herringbone Half Double Crochet (HHDC) stitch used for the main body of this hot pad. It creates a beautiful, dense fabric that’s perfect for heat protection, and it has such a lovely texture. The colorwork, creating a simple tree stripe design, is surprisingly easy to achieve, even if you’re new to working with multiple colors. And the little dot border? It’s the perfect finishing touch, adding a playful and unique detail that really makes this hot pad stand out. It reminds me of tiny ornaments on a tree!
This pattern is worked in rows to create two separate squares, which are then joined together, making it extra thick and durable. You’ll work a simple color chart to create the tree design on the front, and a solid back for stability. It’s a project that’s engaging without being overly complicated, making it a great choice for a relaxing weekend craft session. Let’s get started on making your own charming Tree Stripe Hot Pad!
Tree Stripe Hot Pad Crochet Pattern
Materials
- Lily Sugar ‘n Cream The Original Yarn (100% cotton, 71 g/ 2.5 oz, 109 m/120 yds)
- 1 skein Sage Green
- 1 skein White
- Size H/5.00mm hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Finished Size
8 inches x 8.5 inches
Yarn Information
- Brand: Lily Sugar ‘n Cream The Original Yarn
- Fiber Content: 100% cotton
- Weight/Category: Not specified by source (refer to label for specific category)
- Skein Weight: 71 g / 2.5 oz
- Yardage/Meterage: 109 m / 120 yds
- Colors Used: Sage Green, White
Hook and Tools
- Hook: H/5.00mm crochet hook
- Tools: Tapestry needle, scissors
Abbreviations
- ch — chain
- st(s) — stitch(es)
- HHDC — Herringbone Half Double Crochet
- SC — Single Crochet
- sl st — slip stitch
Pattern Notes
- The turning chain (ch 2) at the beginning of rows does not count as a stitch.
- Color changes happen on odd rows.
- When changing colors, crochet over the unused color tail for a few stitches to secure it.
- The pattern uses a graph for the tree design. The graph is read as odd rows from right to left, and even rows from left to right. (Note: The graph itself was not provided in the source material. Follow the written instructions for color changes.)
Gauge
4 inches = 14 stitches and 12 rows of HHDC
Special Stitches
- Herringbone Half Double Crochet (HHDC): Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull a loop back through and continue pulling through the first loop on the hook. Yarn over and pull through final two loops on hook.
- Single Crochet (SC): Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull a loop back through. Yarn over and pull through final two loops on the hook.
- Dot: *Yarn over and insert hook into the first chain, yarn over and pull a loop back through. Repeat from * 3 more times. Yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.
Instructions
Front of Hot Pad (Tree Stripe)
To Begin: With White yarn, Chain 28.
Row 1: Work 1 HHDC in the third chain from the hook. Work 1 HHDC in each chain across the row. Ch 2 and turn. (26 HHDC)
Row 2: Work 1 HHDC into the first stitch (the turning chain does not count as a stitch). 1 HHDC in each stitch across the row. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 3: 1 HHDC in the first 3 sts in White, change to Sage Green, 1 HHDC in each of the next 20 stitches (crochet over the white tail, laying it across the row as you work the green stitches), change to White (leave the green tail behind, do not cut or crochet over it), 1 HHDC in each of the remaining 3 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 4 and all Even Rows Going Forward: Repeat Row 2.
Row 5: 1 HHDC in each of the first 4 sts in White, change to Sage Green, 1 HHDC in each of the next 18 stitches, change to White, 1 HHDC in each of the remaining 4 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 7: HHDC in each of the first 5 sts in White, change to Sage Green, 1 HHDC in each of the next 16 sts. Change to White, HHDC in each of the remaining 5 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 9: HHDC in each of the first 6 sts in White, change to Sage Green, 1 HHDC in each of the next 14 sts. Change to White, HHDC in each of the remaining 6 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 11: HHDC in each of the first 7 sts in White, change to Sage Green, 1 HHDC in each of the next 12 sts. Change to White, HHDC in each of the remaining 7 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 13: HHDC in each of the first 8 sts in White, change to Sage Green, 1 HHDC in each of the next 10 sts. Change to White, HHDC in each of the remaining 8 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 15: HHDC in each of the first 9 sts in White, change to Sage Green, 1 HHDC in each of the next 8 sts. Change to White, HHDC in each of the remaining 9 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 17: HHDC in each of the first 10 sts in White, change to Sage Green, 1 HHDC in each of the next 6 sts. Change to White, HHDC in each of the remaining 10 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 19: HHDC in each of the first 11 sts in White, change to Sage Green. 1 HHDC in each of the next 4 sts. Change to White, HHDC in each of the remaining 11 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Row 21: HHDC in each of the first 12 sts in White, change to Sage Green. 1 HHDC in each of the next 2 sts. Change to White, HHDC in each of the remaining 12 sts. Ch 2 and turn.
Rows 22-23: With White, work 2 rows of all HHDC. Always Ch 2 and turn. Do not cut White, continue to border.
Border for Front Piece
Ch 1 and turn. Work 1 SC in the first stitch. *Skip the next st, work 2 SC into the next st. Repeat from * across the top, work 3 SC into the corner. Rotate the hot pad and work the side by working 2 SC around the chain 2 turning chains only. Work 3 SC into the corner. Rotate the hot pad and work across the bottom of the starting chain by working 2 SC into the first space, skipping the next and working 2 SC into the next. Work 3 SC into the corner, rotate the hot pad one last time to work the final side in the same manner as the first. Only work 2 SC around the chain 2 turning chains. Work 2 SC into the final corner and join with a slip stitch to the first stitch of the round. Tie off and weave in all the ends.
Back of Hot Pad
To Begin: With Sage Green yarn, Chain 28.
Row 1: Begin in the 3rd chain from the hook with 1 HHDC. HHDC in each chain across the row. Chain 2 and turn.
Row 2 – 23: Work HHDC in each stitch, chain 2 and turn.
Border for Back Piece
Work in the same manner as the border for the front piece, except do not tie off. You will use the Sage Green loop to SC the two squares together.
Finishing
Attaching the Squares Together
With the Winter Tree right side facing you, place the green square behind. Take your hook out of the green loop, insert it through the white corner, then grab the loop and pull through. Yarn over and pull through, slip stitching the two together. Now work SC under each color of stitches, joining them together. Work 3 SC in each corner. In the final corner, work 3 SC and join with a slip stitch to the first SC. Do not turn.
Dot Border
Chain 2. In the first chain, *yarn over and insert your hook, yarn over and pull up a loop. Repeat from * 3 more times. Yarn over and pull through all loops on your hook. Slip stitch into the stitch just below the chain 2 to secure the puff. Slip stitch into each of the next 4 sts. Repeat from ** around. Join with a slip stitch to the first st, tie off and weave in all ends.
Olivia’s Tips
When working with color changes like in this hot pad, I find it really helpful to keep my yarn bobbins neat. This prevents tangles and makes the process much smoother. Don’t be afraid to experiment with other color combinations too! A classic red and white for a candy cane look would be adorable, or even a deep blue and white for a frosty winter scene. Remember to maintain consistent tension, especially with the HHDC stitch, to ensure your hot pad lies flat and has a uniform texture. And don’t skip weaving in those ends securely – it makes all the difference in the finished look and durability!
FAQ
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Question: What kind of yarn is best for a hot pad?
Answer: For hot pads, 100% cotton yarn is recommended because it is heat-resistant and absorbent. Acrylic or other synthetic yarns can melt when exposed to high heat, so they are not suitable for this project.
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Question: How do I make my hot pad larger or smaller?
Answer: This pattern is written for a specific size. To adjust the width, you would need to adjust your starting chain while maintaining the pattern repeat structure. To adjust the length, you can add or subtract rows, ensuring you still follow the tree stripe color chart proportionally.
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Question: What does “crochet over the tail” mean?
Answer: When you change colors, you lay the unused yarn tail along the top of your stitches and crochet your new stitches over it. This secures the tail without needing to weave it in later and provides a neater finish.