My mum and grandmother had this kind of potholder when I was a child in Stockholm, Sweden, some 40 years ago. I haven’t been able to find a written pattern anywhere so I decided to interpret the work and write one on my own.

I have suggested two strands of fingering weight cotton, but most cotton should do - just remember that too thin-weighted will make just a decorative potholder, not a useful one unless adding a thick-enough backside layer, and too thick-weighted will make the potholder a bit too clumsy for use. To use with the hottest of frypans I think 3 strands of fingering weight is to be recommended. I usually make mine large enough to be folded if I’m making something at very high temperature, and then 2 strands (that then become 4) are enough.

It’s not difficult to adjust size on this potholder, how is described in the pattern.

*Errata*
Eng version dated 2014-02-09
Typo in row 2. It should read:
Row 2: Crochet 10 sc tbl, make a turning-stitch, 10 sc tbl. End row with 1 ch, turn.