A knitted trivet is a simple knitting project that is easy and quick to complete.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make your own knitted trivet with a simple and easy-to-follow pattern that’s perfect for beginners. This project can be completed in just a few hours and allows for endless customization options.
What makes this trivet special is that it’s knitted with tube yarn so you can easily put hot pans and pots on top of it. And I got to say, sometimes the simplest things are the best, and this trivet is no exception.
So grab your knitting needles and let’s get started on this fun and easy project. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a beautiful knitted trivet to show off in your kitchen!
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Knitting a Trivet for Beginners
Knitting doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you’re a beginner. And what would be a better way to practice your knitting skills than creating a functional and trendy knitted trivet in garter stitch.
A garter stitch is a great choice for knitting a trivet as the fabric lies flat and doesn’t have a tendency to curl. It’s a simple pattern that consists solely of the knit stitch.
When it comes to knitting a trivet, you’ll want to choose a yarn that can withstand high temperatures, such as cotton, linen or wool. Avoid using acrylic yarns, as they may melt or become damaged when exposed to heat. You can read more about different types of yarn here.
Unlike potholders or hot pads, which are in contact with heat only for a swift moment when taking hot dishes out of oven, trivets are usually exposed to heat for a longer period of time. That’s why they are usually a bit thicker so that they’ll be able to fully protect your table or countertop from heat.
For this reason, a bulky yarn or a tube yarn is a popular choice for knitted trivets. If you’re using a regular yarn, I recommend making two trivets and sewing or crocheting them together to make the trivet in double thickness.
How To Make Your Own Tube Yarn
Tricot, tube, or T-shirt yarn made of cotton or wool is perfect for knitting a trivet. You can buy it from a store or make your own yarn from old clothes.
Traditionally, tube yarn is sold in large hanks but nowadays you can find it also in small skeins or balls in most of the yarn stores. A small ball is also easier to use when you can just go ahead and start knitting instead of needing to unwind the yarn hank and roll it into a ball first.
But if you want to make your trivet extra special, you can knit it completely with recycled materials, that is with tricot yarn made of old clothes.
Just take your chosen clothes and cut the fabric in the direction of the knitting, for example cut a T-shirt from top to bottom and from bottom to top. When you reach the edge of the clothing, change the direction of your cutting and keep the string united. Alternatively, you can cut the fabric into small strings and tie them together in order to make one long yarn.
The fabric should be cut into strings that are ¼ to 1¼ inches (1 to 3cm) wide. In general, thin clothes, such as socks, should be cut wider than thick clothes. This is especially important if you’re using many piece of clothings to make one ball of yarn. The result will be best when the strings have the same circumference or when all strings have the same thickness when twisted into a yarn.
When using old cloths to make a tricot yarn, just make sure that the fabric you use is 100% cotton, linen, or wool so that it will be heat resistant.
Materials and Tools
You will need the following materials for this knitted trivet:
- Tricot, tube, or T-shirt yarn made of cotton
- US 11 to 15 (8 to 10mm) straight needles or two double pointed needles
- Extra large tapestry needle or a crochet hook
- Scissors
Knitted Trivet Pattern Details
Skills Required: Cast on, bind off, knit
Dimensions: About 7½ x 7½ inches (19 x 19cm)
Yarn: About 6.15oz (175g) of tube yarn
Needles: Size US 11 to 15 (8 to 10mm)
Gauge: 2½ sts per inch
I am using a cotton tube yarn and US 10½ (6.5mm) straight needles in my trivet. The needles could have been a bit larger, however, these were the ones I had at hand so I gave it a go. You may want to consider using metal needles so that the yarn will slide
When you cast on 18 stitches, the size of the trivet will be about 7½ x 7½ inches (19 x 19cm). However, if you want your trivet to be bigger, you can just cast on more stitches and knit more rows. This pattern can easily be adjusted as much as you like by making small changes.
How To Knit a Trivet
1. Cast On
Take two strings of yarn and measure about 31 inches (80cm) of yarn for the long tail cast-on.
Next, tie a slip knot and cast on 17 stitches (18 stitches in total) by using tube yarn.
2. Knit the Rows
Knit all stitches across all rows.
Keep knitting until you have a square. In my trivet, this was 16 rows.
I like the bumps on the left and right edges of the trivet—that reminds me of a rag rug and I quite like the rustic look especially if using a self-made yarn. And this is the look you get when knitting all stitches. If you want a neater look, you can slip the first stitch at the beginning of every row (insert the needle from right and slip the stitch on the left needle).
3. Bind Off
To bind off, slip the first stitch from your left needle to your right needle purlwise with the yarn in front. Then take the yarn to the back and knit the next stitch onto the right needle.
Insert the left needle into the stitch you slipped and then pull it over the knit stitch and off the right needle. Next, knit another stitch on the right needle and pull the previous stitch over it and off the needle. Continue this to bind off the entire row until you have one stitch left on your right needle.
Then cut the yarns leaving about 6-inch (15cm) tails and pull them through the last loop.
Note: If you want, you can also make a hanging loop for the trivet. In this case, place the tail ends into the corner and sew them with a sewing thread to create a hanging loop. You can also add a decorative button to finish it off.
5. Weave in the Ends
Finally, weave in the extra tail ends with a tapestry needle. If your yarn is too chunky for the tapestry needle, you can weave in the ends with the help of a crochet hook. Then cut off any extra length. Next, also weave in the cast-on tail at the beginning of your trivet.
And there you have it! You’ve just completed your very own knitted trivet!
Conclusions
Creating your own knitted trivet is an easy and enjoyable project.
It’s a great way to add style to your kitchen while protecting your table or countertop from heat. Knitted trivets also make for great knitted gifts for friends or family members who love to cook.
You can customize your trivet with different colors, stitch patterns, and even add some fringes or tassels for extra flair. Whether you’re an experienced knitter or just starting out, this project is sure to be a fun and rewarding experience.
So next time you need a quick knitting project, why not try making a knitted trivet? With just a few hours of work, you can have a functional and attractive accessory for your kitchen.
Happy knitting!
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