Crochet Potholder..."semi-tute"

I've been piddling with this potholder thing FOR-ever.
I'm so worried that it won't make sense to you.
But, I've worked it until it's kinda mush in meeee brain
I just need to put it out there...so...here goes!

You are probably wondering what "in-the-universe" is a...

"semi-tute".

My definition is -

"a tutorial that comes with a disclaimer".

And, that disclaimer is... the creator of the above-mentioned

tutorial...doesn't really know what the heck-atations she is doing!
I mean...she knows how to do the actual project.  It's the "tutorial" that
she isn't so great at doing! 
Sincerely, I hope that you are able to understand the
wee bit of directions and lots of pictures.  Please,
email me...if it isn't all clearer than mud?  I will try
to help you out any way I can. =)

So, let's jump in - even if it's a little cold outside?

Materials I used - a "J" sized hook and one
ball of Sugar n Cream size? that has 150yds.

DIRECTIONS

Chain 38 stitches with a "J" hook to make a

9" square.   

Your gage or number of stitches could vary according

to what size you want the potholder to be.  I've

done quite a bit of experimenting with different size needles

and number of stitches for the size(s) I prefer. 

----

Once you have the chain as long as you want

turn and go back to create the second row.

Above is the hole where you put the hook for

the first stitch on your second row.

pull one loop thru the chain...

and you would have two loops again...



(this is a different pic from the one above it, I promise)

      then, pull thru both loops..

----

Second row finished looks like this  =)

But, don't get too excited! You don't get to do a "real"

third row.  You are actually going to crochet on the

bottom...and, then in circles (actually oval) ...

going around the original single chain you made

1 stitch in the end, then, turn to work the

underside of the original chain.

This is the placement of the next stitch.  It is

in the original chain you made.  Important,

you should be stitching on the underside.

It begins to look like this... you can see the

holes where your stitches should be going.

----

Reminder - no increase (multiple stitches) as

you round the corners of your oval.

Because there is no increase the oval doesn't lay flat.

You don't want it to lay flat...it is supposed to start creating

a pocket like the picture below

The pocket will get deeper...and as it does you will

need to start folding it down every so often like

this picture below

.....soon the sides, when folded down...

...will get closer...and

closer until....they KISS!

The sides should lay nicely alongside each other.

They should lay flat.

My preference for stitching it closed  -  is to weave

a long thread from side to side under both loops on each

side. I start by measuring a strand of the yarn

(still connected) 3 times the length of the diagonal corners.

I cut this long strand. 

This potholder is actually finished.  But, I wanted

to show that before weaving it closed, the yarn is

still attached to the crochet hook.  Pull out from the ball

... of yarn, 3 times the length of the diagonal as shown above.

Now, pull the long strand thru your last loop to secure.

Again...this is BEFORE you weave the 'potholder sides'

closed.  The reason that you pull this thread thru your last

loop is because you want it secured when you begin the

process to weave shut.

Weaving shut looks like this:

Finished looks like this:

At first, I crocheted the two sides closed.

When I did that, it created a ridge...that looked like this:

Please....if you have questions, just email me.

These are so fun for me to make!  I hope that

you can enjoy making one too =)