ACTION PACKED DAY; Castle Rock-WA

I woke up early this morning; so, I quietly grabbed my book 📕 on the way out of the bedroom - so I wouldn't wake Holland 😴, and read a couple chapters 📖 while eating a potato patty & bacon strips 🥓 breakfast with flavorful morning joy juice ☕️

The Day started with The Fargo's & a South American adventure; I'm in the final chapters of this story, now.

When Holland woke up & joined me downstairs, I asked him what he'd like me to take out of the freezer for supper - he said he just wanted a "light supper" … so, I asked, "Will a loaded baked potato 🥔🧈🍃🥓🧀 be light enough?" He said it would.

And thinking of those delicious hot potatoes, that got my thoughts going in the direction of a yarn craft design 🤔📏🧶✂️📝

So, the Fargo's were put aside, while I listened to a couple podcasts 💻🎙️ while designing & working up a pair of microwave hot pad mitts to fit my need:

A design born of a present necessity.

MOD Crochet Microwave Hot Pad Mitt:  (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/07/mod-crochet-microwave-hot-pad-mitt.html)

While I was engaged in that activity, Holland decided to go into town to grab some things 🛒 we'll need for our planned 4th of July activities 🗽🦅: nothing fancy - just a drive into the back country behind the family ranch compound 🚘

We've been invited to a couple festive events, but Holland's pain level is unpredictable 🤨; when it flares up ⚡️😩, he just wants to be home, relaxing 🛌🩹 - so, we don't want to be to far from Independence 🏡

He has a scheduled appointment ⚕️ in 2 weeks with a new medical center we are hoping will actually be able to help him ♻️

While he was gone, I put the mitt work aside just long enough to do a quick, simple workout 🧘:

Toe Touch Exercise~Aim for 10-15 reps

Lower Body Workout~Aim for 15-20 reps EA set x2; Use wall support. Skip the bend-over exercise if vertigo or balance is an issue.

The mitt was finished in time for supper 👍 - and there was no awkward grappling with steaming hot potatoes, tonight 😁

Loaded Microwave [Baked] Potatoes Recipe:  (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/07/loaded-microwave-baked-potatoes-recipe.html)

Today was a good Day: we both felt blessed in many ways 💕

MOD CROCHET MICROWAVE HOT PAD MITT; Castle Rock-WA

MOD Microwave Hot Pad Mitt; Castle Rock-WA

This mitt is NOT FOR REGULAR OVEN USE!

This hot pad mitt was designed out of necessity - the cloth ones I had purchased, are nice; but they are pretty stiff and awkward to use. I want something more pliable for microwave use.

So, this morning, I designed & whipped a pair up for myself: and if I can talk Holland into using one, I'll make 1 for his hand.

I made traced hand tracings for pattern guides - but really didn't need to use them.

I used an acrylic worsted weight yarn, single thickness … and it works just fine. I don't want anything heavy - just something to guard against the generated heat of testing a microwaved 'baked' potato.

I'm a small woman, so my hands are small: 

MOD Crochet Microwave Hot Pad Mitt

Materials: Worsted Yarn, chosen color = make a separate small ball of yarn from this skein before commencing work (this ball will be used for the thumb work); a 12" length of Scrap Yarn for a marker #H/8 crochet Hook; Scissors;  Tapestry needle

Terms Used:

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

sc = single crochet

inc = increase

dec = decrease

sl st = slip st

beg = beginning

EA = each

x = repeat sequence

EO = end off

This pattern is worked from the top, down.

Oven Mitten Portion: With hook & yarn, ch 3 - and work 9 dc in circle; jn (10 dc's) and begin working in rounds from this point on.

Row 1: Holding scrap yarn in place, work a row of sc, inc'g in EA sts around - 20 sc; do not turn work, just keep working in rounds - moving marker yarn upwards each row.

Row 2: Inc in 1st st, then *1 sc in next st, 2 sc in following st *; rpt * to * around - end sc x1: 30 sc

Row 3: Inc in 1st st, then sc x7, inc, sc x6, inc, sc x7, inc, sc x6: 34 sc

Rows 4 thru 22: Sc evenly around: 36 sc; ch 6 … skip 6 sts & sc about 5 sts ahead - loosely tie off (you will return to this row later to finish mitt).

Sc evenly around.

Ch 6 … skip 6 sts & sc about 5 sts ahead = for thumb placement.

Checking for pliability & correct thumb opening placement.

Thumb Portion: Attach separate ball of yarn at corner of thumb & work 1 sc in same space, 1 sc in EA ch, 1 sc in corner st (the beg st of ch 6), & in EA skipped st: 14 sc.

Rows 2 thru 8: Work in rounds.

Row 9: Work a round of dc; EO with a length long enough to thread through tapestry needle & draw through sts, pulling tight and securing on back end.

Dc around thumb portion.

Run tapestry needle around tops of dc & pull tight, for closure.

Finished thumb portion.

Finishing: Return to the tied off portion of the mitt body & continue working in rounds for an additional 5 more rows (count these rows from bottom of thumb portion). EO and weave in loose end.

Trim (opt.): The mitt will be closer to your wrist without the trim; but I like trim on everything … so, my mitt, got trimmed.

Pattern: *Slip hook through the backside of next st & pull yarn backwards through st, yo and make a sc, ch 1*; rpt * to * around

Slip hook through the backside of next st

Pull yarn backwards through st ...

Yo, and make a sc

Ch 1, & rpt sequence around mitt bottom edge.

Mitt finished: 7-3/4" length - 6-1/2" width, including thumb portion, 4-1/2" width (without including thumb)