Project introduction
This pattern overview introduces a tapestry crochet eagle potholder designed by Raffamusa Designs, and it is not a full tutorial. The eagle square was created after the designer received requests for an American eagle motif. She worked it in two colorways: a multicolor version in the colors of the USA flag and a bicolor version for her own kitchen. For the complete row-by-row instructions, visit the Original designer’s pattern and instructions.
The designer notes that the finished eagle square works for more than a potholder. The same motif can become a blanket square, a wall hanging, or part of a bag. The bicolor written pattern is shared free on the designer’s website, while the color charts and the multicolor written pattern are only in the PDF version. If you like this technique, you may also enjoy our Tapestry Crochet Pumpkin Potholder: Pattern Overview.
Materials
Before you begin, gather a small set of tools and materials. The design calls for a single hook size, a sport weight cotton yarn, and a needle for finishing. Cotton is the natural choice for a potholder because it handles heat better than acrylic. The source lists the following items, with metric and US/UK hook equivalents included.
- 2.75-mm crochet hook (C/2 USA, 9 UK)
- Sport weight (2, Fine) cotton yarn
- Tapestry needle
Yarn & yardage
The designer’s sample used Schachenmayr Catania, a cotton yarn sold in 50 g balls of about 137 yds / 125 m. The yardage below reflects the amounts used for the sample, with the color numbers given by the source. Keep in mind that individual tension may change how much yarn you need.
| Yarn color | Amount used |
|---|---|
| A: Coffee Brown (00162) | 52 yds / 47.5 m |
| B: Natural White (00130) | 30 yds / 27.5 m |
Abbreviations (US terms)
The pattern uses standard US crochet terms. The source lists these abbreviations, and they are reproduced here with their exact technical definitions. Knowing them will make the pattern notes and construction summary easier to follow. Sk and Yo appear in the glossary even when they do not feature in every section.
- Ch: Chain
- RS: Right Side
- Sc: Single Crochet
- Sk: Skip
- Sl St: Slip Stitch
- St: Stitch
- WS: Wrong Side
- Yo: Yarn Over
Tapestry crochet & invisible color changes
If tapestry crochet is new to you, the designer points to extra learning resources before you start the eagle square. These include written guides to flat tapestry crochet worked step by step and to making invisible color changes. You can also watch the video tutorial on the designer’s YouTube channel HERE. Reviewing one of these first will help your colorwork stay neat.
Size
The finished potholder is a square measuring 6.3″ (16 cm) by 6.3″ (16 cm). This size comes from the source, and your own result may vary slightly with tension, hook choice, or yarn substitution. Keep this finished size in mind if you plan to use the eagle square for another project, such as a blanket block.
Gauge
The source gives a gauge of 27.5 single crochet stitches and 26 rows per 4″ (10 cm), worked in tapestry crochet. Matching this gauge is the most reliable way to reach the stated finished size, so take time to swatch before beginning the eagle motif.
Pattern notes
The pattern is written in two sections. The potholder body is worked in rows, while the border is worked in rounds. The body uses tapestry single crochet with two strands of yarn carried together. The color notation is simple: a label such as (A) 5 means working one single crochet in each of the next five stitches with color A.
At the end of each row, chain 1 and turn, and that turning chain does not count as a stitch. Odd-numbered rows are worked on the right side, even-numbered rows on the wrong side, and instructions in parentheses are repeated the stated number of times. Apart from the border, the stitch count stays at 43 stitches.
The free written pattern on the designer’s site covers the bicolor version of the potholder. The color chart is found in the PDF pattern, and both the written pattern and the color chart for the multicolor version appear only in the PDF. A free web version does not make the PDF free, and the paid PDF does not change the free access to the web version.
Potholder
The potholder body begins with a foundation chain of 44 worked in color A. From there, the panel grows through 41 rows of tapestry single crochet, with right-side and wrong-side rows alternating as explained in the pattern notes. Two yarn colors are carried through the rows, and the changing blocks of color gradually form the eagle motif. The first and last rows are worked entirely in color A, and color B is fastened off once the final row is complete.
Throughout the body, the stitch count holds at 43 stitches, so each row uses the same width from start to finish. Because this article is a pattern overview rather than a full tutorial, the exact color sequence for each row is not repeated here. Follow the designer’s original instructions for the complete stitch-by-stitch directions and the color charts.
Border
Once the panel is finished, the border is worked in color A in rounds around the potholder. Single crochet stitches are placed along each side, with one stitch worked into the side of every row, and a chain stitch marks each corner before the work turns to the next side. The round is joined with a slip stitch into the first stitch.
A hanging loop is then added: chain 15, turn, and slip stitch into the next border stitch to form the loop, then work 20 single crochet inside it. Fasten off and weave in all ends to finish the potholder with a tidy edge.
YOUR TAPESTRY CROCHET Eagle POTHOLDER IS READY!
The designer describes this as a free crochet pattern and invites makers to share their finished eagle squares on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #raffamusadesigns. For more tapestry colorwork, the source also points to the Farmhouse Collection, the Honeycomb Bread Bag, and A Year of Potholders. You may also like our related roundup, Crochet Potholder Patterns: Pattern Overview.
