Owl Potholder Pattern - Free Crochet Pot Holder Pattern

This free crochet pattern for an owl potholder was originally published in the 1950s in Lily Pot Holders and Oven Mitts.

Follow the easy step-by-step instructions of this crochet pattern to make this pot holder that looks like an owl on a branch. There is absolutely no charge for personal use of this easy crochet pattern for a potholder.

Free Crochet Potholder Pattern for an Owl:
How to Crochet a Potholder

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Art. 600 Lily Cotton Yarn Skeins or
Art. 930 Sugar ‘N Cream Yarn Balls
2 Skeins or Balls Terra Cotta and
Art. 21 Lily Six Strand Floss
2 Skeins Scarlet, 1 Skein Brown and a Scrap of Black
Crochet Hooks Nos. 0 and 5

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Front of Owl Potholder Pattern

Body of Owl

With Terra Cotta and No. 0 hook, ch 20, sc in 4th ch from hook, (ch l, sk l ch, sc in next ch) 8 times.

Row 2 – Ch 3, turn, sc between 1st 2 sc. (ch 1, sc in next ch-1 sp) 8 times across to end ch-3.

Row 3 – Ch 3, turn, sc in 1st ch-1 sp, (ch l, sc in next ch-1 sp) repeated across to end ch-3, ch l, hdc in same ch-3 (an increase).

Repeat Row 3 once.

Row 5 – Ch 3, turn, sc in 1st ch-1 sp, (ch 1, sc in next sp) repeated across to end ch-3.

Repeat Row 3 twice. Row 5 once. Row 3 twice. Row 5 twice. Row 3 twice. Row 5 once (thru Row 15), then Row 5 six times more (thru Row 21).

Row 22 – Ch 3, turn, draw up a lp in each of 1st 2 ch-1 sps, yarn over and draw thru all 3 lps on hook for a decrease, (ch 1, sc in next sp) repeated across to end ch-3. Repeat once.

Repeat Row 5 six times (thru Row 29), Row 3 twice and Row 5 three times (thru Row 34).

Row 35 – Ch 1, turn, in next ch-l sp make 2 dc and 4 tr, dc and 2 hdc in next sp, (sc in next sp, sc in next sc) twice, hdc in next sp, hdc in next sc, (dc in next sp, dc in next sc 4 times, dc in next sp, hdc in next sc, hdc in next sp, (sc in next sc, sc in next sp) twice, 2 hdc and dc in next sp, 4 tr and 2 dc in next sp, sc in end ch-3. Then work sc around Body to base of 1st ear. Join and fasten off.

Crocheting the Owl’s Tail

With Terra Cotta ch 8, sk 1 ch, sc in next 7 ch. Work following rows in back lps only.

Row 2 – Ch 1, turn, sc in 7 sc.

Repeat thru Row 20.

Working across top with 1 st in end of each row, make a sc-decrease in 1st 2 rows, sk 1 row, hdc in next 2 rows, dc in next 10 rows, hdc in next 1 rows, sk 1 row, sc- decrease in 2 end rows. Fasten off.

Working across bottom edge with Scarlet Floss and No. 5 hook, sc in 1st row, * ch 1, 3 long sc in center of next rib, inserting hook 1/2″ down below edge, ch 1, sc between ribs. Repeat from * across to corner. Fasten off.

Sew top of Tail to bottom of Body.

Branch for Owl Potholder Pattern

With Brown Floss ch 6. Join with sl st to form ring. Ch 1, 2 sc, 2 hdc and 6 dc in ring. Working in back lps only make dc in 10 sts around and around without joining until skein is almost used up, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts, sl st in next. Sew end tog. Sew across joining of Body and Tail.

Crocheting the Owl’s Foot

With Red Floss (ch 10, sk 1 ch, sc in next 3 ch, hdc in next 5 ch, sc in next ch) 3 times. (Sc between toes, sc in next toe) twice across top. Fasten off. Make 2 pieces. Sew over Branch as illustrated.

Eye for Crocheted Owl Potholder

With Terra Cotta ch 6, join with sl st to form ring.

Row 1 – Ch 1, 10 sc in ring. Do not join rows but mark end of each row.

Row 2 – Sc in front lp of 1st sc, (2 sc in front lp of next sc, sc in next sc) repeated around.

Row 3 – Sc in remaining back lp of 1st sc in Row 1 behind last row, (2 sc in back lp of next sc in Row 1, sc in next sc) repeated around.

Rows 4 and 5 – (Sc in both lps of next sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeated for 2 rows.

Row 6 – (Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) repeated around, sl st in next sc. Fasten off.

Edge of Owl Pattern for a Potholder

With Scarlet Floss and No. 5 hook, make a long sc over last row, inserting hook down between last 2 rows, (ch 2, a long sc over next sc) repeated around to within 1 1/4″ of start of row. Fasten off. Make a 2d Eye and sew tog. across 1 1/4″ gap in Edge Row.

Crocheting the Owl’s Beak

With Terra Cotta ch 2, 5 sc in 2d ch from hook. Without joining and working in back lps only, make sc in 5 sc around and around for 1 3/4″. (A decrease in next 2 sc) 3 times. Sew end tog. Sew Beak between eyes with pointed end down.

How to Crochet the Owl’s Pupil

With Black Floss ch 5, join with sl st to form ring. Ch 1, 8 sc in ring. Join and fasten off. Make two. Sew one in center of each Eye. Sew Eyes on Head as illustrated.

Crochet Owl Potholder Pattern – Back

Repeat Body thru Row 17.

Row 18 – Ch 3, turn, sc in next ch-1 sp, (ch 1, sc in next sp) twice, ch 9, sk 4 sps, sc in next sp, complete row in pattern.

Row 19 – Ch 3, turn, sc in 1st ch-1 sp, (ch 1, sc in next sc) 8 times, ch 1, sc in 1st st of ch-9, (ch 1, sk 1 ch, sc in next ch) 4 times, (ch 1, sc in next ch-1 sp) 3 times.

Repeat Row 5 twice (thru Row 21).

Repeat from Row 22 to end.

Crocheting the Thumb

With Terra Cotta join to end of thumb opening closest to edge, dc in 9 sts across bottom of opening, hdc in end of opening, sc in 9 sts across top of opening. Without joining rows, make sc in 19 sts around for 5 rows.

Rows 7 thru 12 – Make one decrease in each row for 6 rows.

Row 13 – Make 6 decreases, sl st in next st. Cut 8″ long and sew end tog.

Repeat Tail except omit Scarlet Edge. Sew to Body. Sew Front and Back together leaving top of head open. Cover a bone ring with sc in Terra Cotta and sew to Back 1″ below top. Steam and press dry on back thru a cloth.

This free crochet pattern for an owl potholder was originally published in the 1950s in Lily Pot Holders and Oven Mitts

More Free Crochet Potholder Patterns

Crochet Pattern Books for Potholders

This huge variety of patterns for crochet potholders came from our large collection of old crochet pattern books. Here are some of the books that have vintage crochet potholder patterns: