Crab Potholder Pattern #5502

Materials Required—
AMERICAN THREAD COMPANY "DE LUXE” MERCERIZED CROCHET AND KNITTING COTTON, ARTICLE 346
1—250 yd. Ball White,
"STAR” PEARL COTTON, ARTICLE 90, SIZE 5
1—50 yd. Ball Red and
"STAR” SIX STRAND MERCERIZED EMBROIDERY COTTON, ARTICLE 50
1 skein Black.
Steel Crochet Hook No. 7.

With White, ch 67, s c in 3rd st from hook, 1 s c in next st of ch, * ch 1, skip 1 st of ch, 1 s c in each of the next 2 sts, repeat from * across row, ch 2, turn.
2nd Row—Skip 1 s c, 2 s c in next s c, * ch 1, skip 1 s c, 2 s c in next s c, repeat from * across row, ch 2, turn. Work should measure about 6 inches. Repeat the 2nd row until work measures 6 inches, break thread. Work another section in same manner.
CRAB: With Red, ch 2, 2 s c in 2nd st from hook, ch 1 to turn each row.
2nd Row—2 s c in each s c.
3rd Row—2 s c in 1st s c, 1 s c in each of the next 2 s c, 2 s c in last s c.
4th and 5th Rows—1 s c in each s c.
6th and 7th Rows—Increase 1 s c at beginning and end of each row.
8th Row—Work even. Repeat the last 3 rows twice.
15th Row—Increase 1 s c at beginning and end of row, then work 1 row even.
17th Row—Same as 15th row, then work 9 rows even.
27th Row—Decrease 1 s c at beginning and end of row, then work 1 row even.
Repeat the last 2 rows.
31st and 32nd Rows—Same as 27th row, then work 1 row even.
Next 2 Rows—Decrease 1 s c at beginning and end of each row, then work 2 rows even.
Next 3 Rows—Same as 27th row, then work 1 row even.
Next Row—* Skip 1 s c, insert needle in next s c, pull loop through, repeat from * once, thread over and pull through all loops on needle at one time, without breaking thread, ch 3, d c in same space, then work a row of s c around entire shell working 2 d c at opposite end, break thread.
CLAW: With Red, ch 4, s c in 2nd st from hook, 1 s c in each of the next 2 sts of ch, ch 1 to turn each row.
2nd Row—1 s c in each s c. Repeat the 2nd row 8 times.
11th Row—Skip 1 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 2 s c.
12th Row—1 s c in each s c. Repeat last row 5 times.
18th Row—Skip 1 s c, s c in next s c.
19th Row—1 s c in s c. Repeat last row twice, break thread.
Work 7 more claws in same manner.
FRONT CLAW: With Red, ch 5 and work 4 s c on ch, ch 1 to turn each row.
2nd Row—1 s c in each s c.
3rd Row—Increase 1 s c at beginning and end of row, then work 8 rows even.
12th Row—Decrease 1 s c at beginning and end of row, then work 2 rows even.
15th Row—1 s c in next s c, s d c in next sc, (s d c: thread over needle, insert in st, pull through, thread over and work off all loops at one time) d c in next s c, 2 tr c in last s c, ch 4, turn.
16th Row—2 tr c in same space with ch 4, 1 d c in each of the next 2 sts, 1 s c in each of the next 2 sts, ch 1, turn.
17th Row—1 s c in each st omitting the end ch.
18th and 19th Rows—1 s c in each s c.
20th Row—Increase 1 s c at end of row, then work 7 rows even.
28th Row—1 s c in each of the next 4 s c, ch 1, turn.
29th Row—Decrease 1 st, 1 s c in each of the next 3 s c, ch 1, turn.
30th Row—Decrease 1 st, 1 s c in each of the next 2 s c, ch 1, turn, 1 s c in each of the next 2 s c, ch 1, turn, skip 1 s c, 1 s c in last s c, ch 1, turn, 1 s c in s c, break thread. Attach thread in 1st free st at center of 27th row and work 1 s c in same space, 1 s c in each of the next 2 s c, ch 1, turn, * 1 s c in each s c, ch 1, turn, repeat from * once, skip 1 s c, 1 s c in each of the next 2 s c, ch 1, turn, 1 s c in each s c, ch 1, turn, skip 1 s c, s c in s c, ch 1, turn, s c in s c, break thread. Work another front claw in same manner.
Sew shell of crab to center of top section starting about 2½ inches from top. Sew the 2 front claws in position about 1½ inches from side point of shell. Sew other claws in position as illustrated bending claws as desired.
With Black Six Strand Embroidery Cotton, embroider eyes and feelers using a satin stitch for eyes. Indicate the joints of each claw and embroider body as illustrated.
With Red, crochet the two sections together as follows: * ch 2, d c in same space, skip the length of a d c, s c in next st, repeat from * all around. With Red, cover a bone hook and attach to top of potholder.