The Harvest Ember Hot Pad Free Pattern – Knit a Textured Autumn Leaf Square

Bring the cozy warmth of falling leaves to your kitchen with this richly textured knitted hot pad. The Harvest Ember features a stunning leaf motif and a rustic, heat-resistant cotton blend that protects your table in style. This pattern is perfect for intermediate beginners who want to practice yarn overs, decreases, and color changes while creating a beautiful, functional piece for autumn décor.

Why You'll Love This Pattern

This hot pad is knitted flat in one piece, using a combination of stockinette, garter, and slipped stitches to create a raised leaf pattern. The border is worked in a contrasting color for a polished finish. The dense cotton fabric provides excellent heat protection, and the textured leaf design adds a handmade charm to any kitchen table.

Materials Needed

Before you begin, gather the following supplies:

• Yarn: Worsted weight 100% cotton yarn in three colors:
  • Burnt Orange (MC) – approximately 120 yards
  • Golden Yellow (CC1) – approximately 60 yards
  • Deep Rust (CC2) – approximately 60 yards
• Needles: US Size 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors

Gauge

20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Gauge is not critical, but a tighter gauge creates a denser, more protective hot pad.

Abbreviations

• K = knit
• P = purl
• K2tog = knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
• SSK = slip, slip, knit (slip two stitches knitwise one at a time, then knit them together through the back loop – left-leaning decrease)
• YO = yarn over (creates an increase and a decorative hole)
• Sl1 = slip one stitch purlwise
• MC = main color (Burnt Orange)
• CC1 = contrasting color 1 (Golden Yellow)
• CC2 = contrasting color 2 (Deep Rust)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Border (worked in CC1 – Golden Yellow)

Cast on: With CC1, cast on 40 stitches using your preferred method (long-tail cast on works well).

Rows 1-4: Knit all stitches (garter stitch). This creates a sturdy, non-curling border for the hot pad.

Main Body (worked in MC – Burnt Orange)

Now you'll begin the main body of the hot pad, working in stockinette stitch with increases to create the leaf shape.

Row 5 (RS): With MC, knit all stitches.

Row 6 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 7 (RS): K5, *K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (You will have increased 4 stitches per repeat, total 48 stitches.)

Row 8 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 9 (RS): K5, *K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (Total 56 stitches.)

Row 10 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 11 (RS): K5, *K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (Total 64 stitches.)

Row 12 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Leaf Motif (worked in MC and CC2 – Deep Rust)

Now you'll shape the leaf by decreasing stitches back down, creating a raised outline effect.

Row 13 (RS): K5, *K3, SSK, K1, K2tog, K3, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (Total 56 stitches.)

Row 14 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 15 (RS): K5, *K2, SSK, K1, K2tog, K2, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (Total 48 stitches.)

Row 16 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 17 (RS): K5, *K1, SSK, K1, K2tog, K1, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (Total 40 stitches.)

Row 18 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 19 (RS): K5, *SSK, K1, K2tog, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (Total 32 stitches.)

Row 20 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Leaf Center (worked in CC2 – Deep Rust)

This section creates a textured seed stitch center for the leaf, adding visual interest and depth.

Row 21 (RS): With CC2, K5, *K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (This creates a textured seed stitch center for the leaf.)

Row 22 (WS): With CC2, Purl all stitches.

Row 23 (RS): With CC2, K5, *K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5.

Row 24 (WS): With CC2, Purl all stitches.

Leaf Outer Edge (worked in MC – Burnt Orange)

Now you'll switch back to the main color and increase again to create the outer leaf edge, mirroring the initial increases.

Row 25 (RS): With MC, K5, *K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (Total 40 stitches.)

Row 26 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 27 (RS): K5, *K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (Total 48 stitches.)

Row 28 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Row 29 (RS): K5, *K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, K5*; repeat from * to * across, ending with K5. (Total 56 stitches.)

Row 30 (WS): Purl all stitches.

Final Border (worked in CC1 – Golden Yellow)

Cut MC and CC2, leaving a 6-inch tail for weaving in. Join CC1.

Rows 31-34: Knit all stitches (garter stitch). This creates a matching border to the cast-on edge.

Bind off: Bind off all stitches loosely in knit. To avoid a tight edge, use a larger needle for binding off or bind off with a loose tension.

Finishing

Weave in all ends with a tapestry needle, being careful to secure them on the wrong side of the work. Block gently to shape, if desired. The hot pad is now ready to use or gift!

Tips for Success

• Keep your tension consistent: The yarn overs should be loose enough to create visible holes but not so loose that they look sloppy.
• Count your stitches: After each increase or decrease row, count your stitches to ensure you're on track.
• Use stitch markers: Place markers between the K5 border stitches and the pattern repeats to help you keep track of where you are.
• Weave in ends as you go: To minimize finishing work, weave in the ends of each color section before starting the next.

Creative Variations

Once you've mastered the Harvest Ember pattern, try these fun variations:

• Color Swap: Use autumn greens and browns for a more earthy look, or jewel tones for a festive holiday version.
• Size Adjustment: Cast on more or fewer stitches in multiples of 8 (plus 8 for borders) to make a larger or smaller hot pad.
• Add a Hanging Loop: When binding off, create a small loop at one corner by binding off 3 stitches, then casting them back on before continuing.

This hot pad makes a wonderful handmade gift for housewarmings, autumn hostesses, or anyone who loves cozy kitchen décor. The textured leaf pattern is sure to be a conversation starter, and the practical cotton construction means it will be used and loved for years to come.

Happy knitting, and enjoy bringing the warmth of autumn into your home with your beautiful Harvest Ember hot pad!