Polar Bear Hot Paws Crochet Pattern
Whenever anyone asks what I'm currently working on I can usually give them a straightforward answer: a blanket, a scarf, an amigurumi cactus. Sometimes it's not as easy as in the case of the Polar Bear Hot Paws (aka hand savers).
Keep scrolling for the free crochet pattern!
Before I had even started to crochet this project a few people asked what I was working on and when I explained I was met with looks that clearly said, "Why not just use oven mitts?" First, tell you what these hot paws are for.
Picture it: you're reheating a bowl of chili in the microwave (at home or work) and maybe you put the dish in for too long. When you reach in for the bowl you feel as though you've burned your fingerprints off. You probably suck it up and carefully pick up the bowl with your fingernails, hoping you don't drop it.
Of course you can always grab a towel or (obviously) oven mitts. But oven mitts are too bulky, and to be honest I never think of grabbing oven mitts when I reheat food in the microwave. Instead I reach for a kitchen towel - it provides more hand gripping flexibility, if that makes sense. But sometimes a kitchen towel doesn't provide enough protection from a hot plate.
This is why I created mitts that are one piece (imagine a short scarf with pockets on each end) and have a flexible fabric. When I use them my hands naturally come together like I'm holding a bowl.
I used cotton yarn so the fabric is thicker than a kitchen towel but with way more flexibility than regular oven mitts.
You know what pairs really well with cute crochet hot paws? Delicious brownies of course! Check out this recipe for Quick and Easy Brownies on The Melrose Family.
Polar Bear Hot Paws Crochet Pattern
Materials
-worsted weight white cotton yarn
-worsted weight acrylic black yarn for paw prints
-size 4.50mm crochet hook
-yarn needle to sew paw prints
Stitch Abbr. (US terms)
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
inc - increase (2 sc in same st)
dec - decrease (sc2tog)
sl st - slip stitch
Pattern Notes: The first part of the mitt is worked in rounds with a slip stitch to join at the end of each round, do not turn. Starting Ch1 does not count as stitch, sc in same space as sl st. Second part of mitt is worked in rows. Finished size can be adjusted to fit your hands, simply increase (or decrease) in the rounds and add (or remove) the middle rows (length of piece). Paw prints are worked in continuous rounds, do not join with sl st at end of round. Use stitch markers to keep track of beginning/end.
Starting with white cotton yarn
First Paw
Round 1: ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 ch, 5sc in last ch, continue on bottom of chain sc in next 2 ch, 4sc in last space, sl st to first sc to join (14sts)
Round 2: ch 1, sc in same space as sl st and next 2sts, inc in next 5sts, sc in next 2sts, inc in next 4sts, sl st to first sc to join (24sts)
Round 3: work even
Round 4. ch 1, inc in next st, sc in next 3sts, *inc, sc in next st, repeat from *4 more times, sc in next st, repeat from *4 more times, sl st to first sc to join (34sts)
Rounds 5-17 (or desired length): work even. Turn after Round 17.
Middle
Row 1: ch 1, sc in next 21sts, turn.
Rows 2-20 (or desired length): ch 1, sc across, turn.
Second Paw
Round 1: ch 1, sc in next 21 sts, ch 13 and sl st to first sc to join, turn.
Round 2: ch 1, sc in each chain and sc around, sl st to first sc to join, do not turn. (34sts)
Rounds 3-15 (or desired length): work even
Round 16: ch 1, *sc in next st, dec, repeat from * once more, sc in next 4sts, *dec, sc in next st, repeat from *4 more times, *dec, sc in next st, repeat from *once more, dec (24sts)
Round 17: work even
Round 18: ch 1, dec 3 times, sc in next 2sts, dec 5 times, sc in next 2 sts, dec 2 times (14sts)
Round 19: ch 1, dec, sc in next 5sts, dec, sc in next 5sts. Fasten off and leave tail to sew shut.
Paw Prints - Larger Circle, make 2
Round 1: in magic ring make 6sc.
Round 2: inc in each st (12sts)
Round 3: *inc, sc in next st, repeat from *5 more times (18sts)
Round 4: *inc, sc in next 2sts, repeat from *5 more times (24sts)
Round 5: *inc, sc in next 3sts, repeat from *5 more times (30sts)
Fasten off and leave tail for sewing to mitt.
Paw Prints - Smaller Circle, make 6
Round 1: in magic ring make 6sc.
Round 2: inc in each st (12sts)
Fasten off and leave tail for sewing to mitt.
If you make these polar bear paws I'd love to see you creation, just tag me on Instagram @popsdemilk_crochet and use the hashtag #popsdemilk
Don't forget to share and pin this post for later!
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This pattern is for personal use only. The pattern and its photos may not be reproduced, distributed or resold, translated, published, altered, shared or posted in any way over the internet or offline.
You may sell finished items made from this pattern as long as it is handmade by you, not mass produced, giving the credit to Pops de Milk / Patricia Castillo as the designer. If you have any questions, you can email me at patricia@popsdemilk.com
