Crocheted Peppermint Hot Mat

Here is the pattern for a jolly hot mat that will fit most square and round casserole dishes. This pattern is easy enough for beginners and would be a welcome hostess gift or gift for any friend who likes to do buffet style entertaining.

Make up a few extra for last minute gifts. There are only twelve rounds. You will make two and whip stitch or slip stitch them together which makes a very thick hot mat which will protect your table from the heat.

Time to complete: about 4 hours

Materials:

• a super saver skein of yarn of red and white
• G crochet hook

Instructions:

You will be making two squares for each hot mat.

Basic Square Instructions:

With color white, ch 5, join to form a ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as a dc in this and all following rnds), 2 dc in ring; (ch 3, 3 dc in ring) 3 times; ch 2; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3; finish off. (or if using one color, sl st to the next ch 3 space).

Rnd 2: Join color red in any ch-3 sp; ch 3, in same sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc): corner made; * ch 1, sk next 3 dc, in next ch-3 sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc): corner made; rep from * twice more; ch 1, sk next 3 dc; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3: finish off.

Rnd 3: Join color white in any ch-3 corner sp: ch 3, in same sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc): corner made; * ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-l sp: 3-dc group made; ch 1, sk next 3 dc, in next ch-3 corner sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc): corner made; rep from * twice more; ch 1, 3 dc in next ch-l sp: 3-dc group made; ch 1, sk next 3 dc; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3; finish off.

Rnd 4: Join color white in any ch-3 corner sp; ch 3, in same sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc): corner made; * (ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-l sp) twice; ch 1, sk next 3 dc, in next ch-3 comer sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc): corner made; rep from * twice more; (ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-l sp) twice; ch 1, sk next 3 dc; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3; finish off.

Rnd 5: Join color red in any ch-3 corner sp; ch 3, in same sp work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc): corner made; * (ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-l sp) three times; ch 1, sk next 3 dc, in next ch-3 comer sp work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc): corner made; rep from * three times more; (ch 1, sk next 3 dc, 3 dc in next ch-l sp) twice; ch 1, sk next 3 dc; join in 3rd ch of beg ch-3; finish off.

Rnd 6-10 Continue in pattern starting with white alternate colors for the next 4 rows.

Rnd 11 and 12 Continue in pattern doing two rows of red.

Slip stitch both squares together.