Tuesday 19 April 2016

A-Z challenge P

P is for Potholder

 When you talk about crochet you think blankets, doilies, granny squares and then potholders, I think traditionally those were the things mostly crocheted and so naturally crocheting and those items go hand in hand. I remember my grandmother had loads of potholders in her kitchen and they were crocheted mostly, and in her downstairs bathroom there was a doll with a crochet skirt and under her skirt was a toilet roll which I always thought was super fascinating, so much in fact that I am contemplating making one, I just need the doll.
I borrowed this book at the library and it is made up entirely of potholders and talks about it's history. It talks about how the potholder grew into something not even remotely useful for the intended purpose and became strictly ornamental and how every week after the cleaning for the weekend one would even change potholders in the kitchen as a ritual.
Grytekluten - et kulturminne fra bestemors kjøkken by Thea Rønningen


Very useful and decorative potholders
My favourite is the pink rose one in the middle.


                                                        Not so useful potholders.
 I think my kitchen needs a potholder with a hidden compartment like the second picture then I could hide some candy in it;)

 I loved this book, it has lots of beautiful pictures and patterns and history and snippets I didn't know. I always thought the colours they used were light and demure, but in this book it is explained that the colours have faded. The crochet potholder came to Norway around a hundred years ago and was mostly white red and blue and fairly plain but big since the pots were bigger then. The doll faced potholder came as early as in the 1920's but the era most attributed to the crochet potholder is between 1950 and 1970. In the early days the potholders were square, triangular or circle shaped but later they were made into dresses, mugs and even under garments! Imagine that. I have a hard time imagining my grandmother with undergarment potholders in her kitchen, she couldn't even hang her own to dry outside. The book concludes that every home should have potholders for different purposes and that they are a useful item and a source of creativity and enjoyment in creating! It seems the crochet potholder has received a renessanse.


 I think this book is must have for any crocheter and it can be an interesting coffee table book. And did you see the book has a small handle? Just like a potholder, I am so in love with the design in this book. There are many potholders in this I would love to make, and I have ample cotton yarn in my stash so I think these will have to sneak in my to-do-list, after all I have to return the book to the library soon.

And I simply must make one of those toilet-roll dolls.



2 comments:

Viola said...

I just came across your blog and I had to read your post about the potholder bok. I do a lot of crocheting but I have never made a potholder. Inspired by your post I think I will start with a pair soon. Greetings from Germany, Viola

Vilje Vanilje said...

That makes me happy, there are tons of great potholder patterns out there, and most afghan squares are good to use too if you make a back side which is solid. I love your Japanese flower scarf, that is so on my to-do-list if I ever figure out what colour palette I will use. Is the Belle yarn good? My new LYS sells Drops yarn so I can actually find yarn easy now which makes me happy too.