Gingerbread Boy Potholder

This holder may be made with any of the American Thread Company products listed below:

Entire potholder is made with double strand of cotton.

FRONT SECTION: Starting at lower edge of leg with White and No. 3 hook, ch 20, 2 s c in 2nd st from hook, 1 s c in each of the next 18 sts of ch, ch 1 to turn each row.

2nd Row. 1 s c in each s c (20 s c) .

3rd Row. Skip 1 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 19 s c.

4th Row. 1 s c in each of the next 16 s c, decrease in next 2 sts (to decrease: * insert hook in next st, pull loop through, repeat from *, thread over and pull through all loops at one time) .

5th Row. 1 s c in each s c increasing 1 s c at end of row (18sc).

6th Row. Work even.

7th Row. Decrease in 1st 2 sts, 1 s c in each remaining s c.

8th Row. Work even.

9th Row. Same as 5th row.

10th Row. 1 s c in each s c decreasing 1 s c at end of row.

11th Row. Work even.

12th Row. Increase 1 s c at beginning of row, 1 s c in each remaining s c, break thread. Work another leg section in same manner but do not break thread, ch 1, turn.

13th Row. 1 s c in each s c, ch 1, pick up 1st section and with toe pointing to the left work 1 s c in each s c across 1st section, ch 1, turn.

14th Row. 1 s c in each s c working 1 s c on ch.

15th Row. Decrease 1 s c at beginning and end of row and work 3 rows even. Repeat the last 4 rows once.

23rd Row. Decrease 1 s c at beginning and end of row, then work 7 rows even, * ch 6 for arm, turn.

31st Row. 1 s c in 2nd st from hook, 1 s c in each remaining st of ch, 1 s c in each s c across row, ch 6 for other arm, turn.

32nd Row. 1 s c in 2nd st from hook, 1 s c in each remaining st of ch, 1 s c in each s c across row. Repeat from * once.

35th Row. Increase 1 s c at beginning and end of row, then work 1 row even.

37th Row. Decrease 1 s c at beginning and end of row, then work 1 row even.

39th Row. Skip 1 s c, 1 sl st in each of the next 5 s c, 1 s c in each remaining s c.

40th Row. Skip 1 s c, 1 sl st in each of the next 5 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 38 s c, ch 1, turn.

41st Row. 1 s c in each of the next 38 sts, ch 1, turn.

42nd Row. Skip 1 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 30 sts.

43rd Row. Skip 1 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 23 sts.

44th Row. Skip 1 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 20 sts.

45th Row. Skip 1 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 17 sts.

46th Row. Increase 1 s c at beginning and end of row, then work 1 row even.

48th Row. Increase 1 s c at beginning and end of row, then work 5 rows even.

54th and 55th Rows. Decrease 1 s c at beginning and end of each row, then work 1 row even.

57th, 58th and 59th Rows. Decrease 1 s c at beginning and end of each row.

60th Row. Skip 1 s c, sl st in next s c, 1 s c in each of the next 2 s c, 1 s d c in each of the next 4 s c (s d c: thread over hook, insert in st, pull through, thread over and pull through all loops at one time), 1 s c in each of the next 2 sts, sl st in next st, break thread.

UNDER SECTION: Work 1st 18 rows same as top section.

19th Row. Decrease 1 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 19 s c, ch 10 for thumb, skip 10 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 3 s c, decrease in next 2 s c, ch 1, turn.

20th Row. 1 s c in each s c and 1 s c in each st of ch. Work 2 rows even. Repeat from 23rd row of top section.

THUMB: Work 20 s c around thumb opening, then without joining rows work 11 more rows even.

Next Row. Decrease 5 sts evenly spaced, then work 3 rows even.

Decrease every other st until 8 sts remain, break thread leaving an end. Thread into needle and draw together, fasten firmly.

EDGE: Working on front section using a single strand of Brown "STAR" Pearl Cotton and No. 7 hook, * ch 3, d c in same space, skip about ⅛ inch space, sl st in next space, repeat from * around entire section.

EYES AND BUTTONS: With Brown "STAR" Pearl Cotton and No. 7 hook ch 2, 8 s c in 2nd st from hook, join, break thread leaving an end to sew. Work 4 more circles in same manner.

MOUTH: Work 1st row same as eyes.

2nd Row. 2 s c in each s c, join, break thread, leaving an end.

NOSE: With Brown, ch 5, join, break thread leaving an end to sew.

With Brown, ch 33, sl st in 3rd st from hook, * ch 3, skip 2 sts of ch, sl st in next st of ch, repeat from * across ch, break thread leaving an end. Sew in position to form lower edge of head. Sew Eyes, Nose, Mouth and Buttons in position as illustrated.

TRIM FOR FRONT: With Brown ch 36, sl st in 3rd st from hook, * ch 3, skip 2 sts of ch, sl st in next st, repeat from * across ch, break thread and work another strip in same manner. Sew on each side of buttons. Work 2 strips in same manner starting with ch 12 and sew on each arm as illustrated. Work 2 more strips in same manner starting with ch 27 and sew on each leg about ½ inch from lower edge.

Work edge around under section same as front section. Sew the 2 sections together leaving lower edge open for hand.

With White cover a bone ring with s c and sew to underside of holder.

Other great patterns from Pocket Potholders, Star Book 69:

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