Ladybug Potholder & Trivet

This pattern is for a 7” felted wool ladybug trivet/potholder combo! It’s a great stashbuster to help use up leftover 100% wool yarn. You can slide your hand under the ladybug’s wings to fold it in half and grab hot items, or lay it flat as a hot pad/trivet. It is designed to be felted in order to make it extra heat-resistant and safe for your hands. The pattern includes a guide on how to felt your project using a washing machine. **Safety Note:** You MUST felt your finished ladybug in order to use it safely as a potholder. Without proper felting, it will not shrink, the gaps between stitches will not be filled, and you may burn yourself. The finished product will not felt if you do not use 100% wool fibers. Do not use superwash treated wool yarn, as it will not felt together. Approach the felting and trimming process with caution under adult supervision to prevent burns, cuts, or other harm/injury. **Materials Needed:** * 6mm crochet hook * Bulky weight 100% wool usable for felting (not superwash) 1. Black: 60-75 yards 2. Red: 50-60 yards 3. White: 2-4 yards * Yarn needle * Stitch markers * Washing machine * Wool Wash/no-additive laundry detergent * Pillowcase with zip closure or other washable bag for felting **Difficulty:** This is an easy to intermediate pattern recommended for an experienced beginner or above. **Instruction Style:** Includes written instructions, photos, and crochet charts. This pattern uses American/US crochet terminology. **Stitches Used:** CH - Chain MR - Magic ring/circle SC - Single crochet HDC - Half double crochet SLST - Slip stitch INC - Single crochet increase DEC - Single crochet decrease This pattern has been tested. Thank you to my testers! @knittednknotty & @asmodeina on Instagram @LilyFelicityFC on Ravelry @heartboppers on Bluesky u/arachnoe on Reddit