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This free crochet chicken potholder pattern makes a hen or rooster hot pad with a front breast pocket your hand slides into like a glove — giving you genuine heat protection that doubles as whimsical farmhouse kitchen wall decor. The linked single crochet stitch creates a nearly double-thick fabric that handles quick pick-ups from the stove safely.
The wood hanging ring is worked directly into the chicken’s red comb at the top so it is ready to display the moment you finish. Customize your hen or rooster with different eye styles, beak shapes, and feather color combinations — the pattern works in any cotton color palette to match your kitchen.
A full written pattern is below. Two YouTube video tutorials (Part 1 for the body and pocket, Part 2 for the finishing details) walk through every step.
About This Free Crochet Chicken Potholder Pattern
This free crochet chicken potholder pattern creates a hen or rooster hot pad with a built-in front pocket that your hand slips into like a glove — making it both decorative and genuinely functional. The body uses the linked single crochet stitch to create a nearly double-thick fabric that is heat-safe for quick pick-ups from the stove. A wood ring worked into the comb at the top lets it hang as kitchen wall decor between uses.
The pattern makes two versions: a hen in softer colors and a rooster in bolder ones — both using the same base pattern with color changes for the feathers, beak, and comb details. Two YouTube video tutorials (Part 1 and Part 2) walk through every step including the feather construction and the comb attachment.
This crochet potholder is made with a thick stitch designed to look like a hen and rooster. Simply change up the colors to work this crochet chicken potholder pattern to get the look you’d like. This is nearly a double thick stitch so it is heat-safe for quick pick-ups (not longer holds of hot pans for more than 8 seconds)
Pattern Details at a Glance
Finished size: 9.5 inches wide x 11 inches tall (without comb and hanger) Hook: 4mm Yarn: Category 4 100% cotton only — do not use acrylic near heat
Yarn amount: approximately 190 yards for body and pocket plus small amounts for feathers, beak, eyes and comb
Skill level: Experienced beginner — requires linked single crochet, increases, decreases and working in the round for the beak
Technique: Flat panels seamed together with a front pocket that fits your hand
US crochet terms: Yes
Video tutorial: Two-part YouTube tutorial included
This pattern uses the linked single crochet stitch.
Stitch Abbreviations (US Terms)
ch = chain sc = single crochet hdc = half double crochet dc = double crochet sl st = slip stitch sk = skip stitch LKSC = linked single crochet — insert hook into the side of the previous stitch before inserting into the next stitch on the row inc = increase (2 stitches in same stitch) dec = decrease Magic circle = adjustable loop start for working in the round
Table of Contents
Crochet thermal stitch potholder striped set
The finished measurement of this potholder is approximately 9.5″ W x 11″ H without the comb and hanger hook.
What You Need to Make This Crochet Chicken Potholder
Category 4 100% cotton yarns in shades for body, breast pocket, feathers/wings and accent colors for eyes, beak and head comb. Plan on 190 yards for body and breast pocket plus a small amount for feathers. (Breast pocket 83 yards, Main body 100-105 yards)
Shown: Hen: Lion brand 24/7 cotton in lemon and white, feathers, knit picks dishie in black twist yarn.
Rooster: Hobby Lobby I love this cotton in brown and antique white.
plus extra yarn for beak, eyes and any decorative stitches you may want to add.
- 4 mm crochet hook
- tapestry needle
- scissors
- small wood rings for hanging (I am using some from this set)
- safety eyes or wood buttons and fabric gluet if desired- not heat safe but the head generally won’t be touching hot surfaces
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How to Crochet the Chicken Potholder Main Body
Using cat 4 cotton yarn, with body color, ch 40 with 4 mm hook. check measurement, it should be about 9.5″. Thicker category 4 cotton yarn may have to be more in the range of 37-38 sts for this measurement.
Row 1: Turn, in second ch from hook, sc across.
Row 2: ch 1 turn. sc in first. then work LKSC across row. 39 sts.
Rows 3-21: repeat row 2 it will be 4.5″ at this point
Row 22: decrease. slip stitch first two sts. then work linked sc across row, leaving last two sts unworked as shown in image. 35 sts
row 23: ch 1, work sc in first then begin linked sc across row – do not work into last two slip stitches. 35 sts.
Row 24: linked sc across row.
Row 25: decrease. Skip over first stitch and make first sc in second stitch then work linked stitches across row. When there are 2 sts remaining, sk first of the two and work final lksc with last stitch.
26-29: repeat decrease as in row 25. Make sure to go all the way over to the end of the last stitch (the one that is stretched over the first skipped stitch) so that you get a gentle slope in the decrease rows. This should be approximately 5.5″ wide now, no shorter than that.
Rows 30-40: work linked sc rows (21 sts)
Row 41-48: work decreases as row 25 instructs
Row 49: sc across row then slip stitch across top.
hold last stitch open with a stitch marker while you work the breast pocket.
How to Make the Front Pocket
Follow instructions for main body rows 1-34. Slip stitch across top row.
How to Crochet the Feathers and Wings
Top wing (small) make 2.
With feather color
In magic circle work 6 sc. Ch1 turn.
Row 2: 2 hdc, 2 hdc, 1 hdc, 2 hdc, 2hdc, 2 hdc (11 hdc)
Row 3: ch 1, dc ,dc , 2 dc, dc , dc , 2 dc, dc, dc, 2 dc, dc, dc (14 dc)
Cut yarn and weave in ends securely.
Bottom wing Make 4.
In magic circle, work 6 dc.
Row 2: ch 1 turn. 2 dc, 2dc, 2dc, dc, 2 dc, 2 dc (11 dc)
Row 3: ch 1 turn. 2 dc, dc, 2 dc, dc, 2 dc, dc, 2 dc, dc, 2 dc, dc, 2 dc (17 sts)
How to Seam and Attach the Feathers
Put crochet hook back in the loop held open at the top of the main body where stitch marker is. Sc around edge, working breast pocket in. To allow enough of a pocket opening for hand double check that it is wide enough or don’t connect top 2-3 rows if you want the opening more generous.
Attach feathers as shown in image using tapestry needle and body color of chicken.
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How to Make the Beak and Eyes
For eyes you can stitch on lashes using black yarn and tapestry needle for the hen look or use safety eyes or fabric glue with wood buttons.
To make beak:
create a magic circle. work 6 sc into circle. do not slip to join rounds.
Round 2: sc in first, 2 sc in next, sc, sc, 2sc, sc (8 sts)
Round 3: sc in first, sc, 2 sc, sc, sc, sc, 2 sc, sc (10 sts)
Round 4: sc, sc, sc, 2 sc, sc, sc, sc, sc, 2 sc, sc (12 sts)
Leave long enough tail to sew into a potholder. Pinch and shape to look like a beak then attach with tapestry needle.
How to Make the Comb and Attach the Hanging Ring
Locate top 6 central stitches. Attach red yarn with 4 mm hook. ch 4 then bring hook down into next st, ch 5, bring hook down into next st. Ch 7 then cut long tail and thread wood ring over the ch 7 before brining down into next stitch. Ch 5, put hook into next st, ch 4 then slip into next stitch. cut yarn and weave in ends.
Free Crochet Chicken Potholder Video Tutorial
Part 1
chicken potholder video tutorial on Youtube
Part 2
Part two chicken potholder video tutorial on Youtube
More Free Crochet Kitchen Patterns
Love making crochet kitchen decor? Here are more free and premium patterns from the Live Chill Life kitchen collection:
- Free Crochet Zebra Fish Potholder Pattern — double thick fish scale hot pad with hanging ring
- Clownfish Potholder Pattern — colorful clownfish companion to the zebra fish
- Thermal Stitch Potholder Set — striped set with hook
- Crochet Table Runner — The Addison — elegant beginner-friendly cotton runner
- 10 Free Crochet Potholder Patterns — full kitchen potholder collection
