Rings and Ridges Hot Pad

This hot pad stitch pattern is your basic front post double crochet or "FPDC" (YouTube video - written instructions ). It's worked in the round so you don't need to flip it. One side has ridges that go from the middle out and the other side has rings for each round.

Using a G hook (or H if you prefer) Chain 6 (1 chain for each side of hot pat). join with a slip stitch.

Round 1. (now I chain up a bit different, you can use your own method if you like). After you slip stitch to form your ring insert hook into loop (without chaining) and draw up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook ch2 (this will count as your 1st DC), DC 2, *ch2, DC3*. Repeat till you have 6 DC clusters, CH1 slip stitch to 1st DC.

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Round 2. (this is the same way I chain up coming out of the ring and it will make your chain up nearly invisible). insert hook into the ch1 space your just created, yo draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook, CH2 (counts as 1st DC). FPDC around each of the 3 posts in row, DC in next CH2 space, ch2, DC in same space, FPDC around each post on next side and DC, CH2, DC in next ch2 space. repeat this to the end and ch1 then slip stitch to your 1st DC.

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Repeat round 2 until it's large enough for your liking.

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I chain 1 at the end because the space is slightly to large if I chain 2 then slip stitch.

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And starting your 1st DC the way I explained instead of the traditional ch3 makes it look more like a DC.

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I like to finish my kitchen wares in a reverse single crochet edging. Frames the pieces nice and simple yet giving them the finished look. A reverse SC is made the same way as a regular SC but instead of working into your next stitch you pull your stitches backwards and work into the stitch behind where you just made a SC.