Crochet Hot Dish Mat Christmas Tree made with Bottlecaps

This is a good recycling project. It is also a good way to use up scrap yarn.

Recycle the bottle caps to fill the motif
Fill the motif with old potholders or towels.
Make a random color hot dish mat with scrap yarn motif’s

Skill Level: Beginner

Crochet Hook G
4-Ply yarn
Bottle Cap or Polyester Fiberfill to fill the motifs

Abbreviations
SC – Single Crochet
SL ST – Slip Stitch
FPSC – Front Post Single Crochet
EA – Each

Tree Motif
Magic Circle
Round 1: CH 1, 6 SC in magic circle, join. (6 Single Crochet)
Round 2: CH 1, 2 SC in EA SC around, join (12 Single Crochet)
Round 3: CH 1, 1 SC in EA SC around, join (12 Single Crochet)
Round 4: CH 1, *FPSC around the next SC, CH 3, complete 12 times from *, join in BEG single crochet. (12 SC, CH loops) This round is worked on the front of the bottlecap motif. This is the round that fastens each motif to each other.
Connecting: To connect each motif, you will chain 1, SL ST to the chain on the opposite motif, CH 1, then Front Post Single Crochet. You connect to 2 chain 3 loops. Each motif is offset from the other. Depending on how you choose to put your tree together, you may be connecting 2, 4 or 6 chain 3 loops.
Round 5: SL ST back to the single crochet on round 3. This round will be made on round 3 and will create the lip on the back that will be gathered, sewn shut and securing the bottlecap in the motif. CH 1, 1 SC in EA SC around. join. Pull a length of yarn for sewing and cut.

Sew the yarn through the last round 5, instert your bottlecap or polyesterfiberfill, then pull the stitches shut. Knot, secure and hide your tail.

Tree Trunk
Magic Circle
Round 1: CH 1, 6 SC in magic circle, join. (6 Single Crochet)
Round 2: CH 1, 2 SC in EA SC around, join (12 Single Crochet)
Round 3: CH 1, 1 SC in EA SC around, join (12 Single Crochet)
Round 4: CH 1, 1 SC in EA SC around. join. Pull a length of yarn for sewing and cut.

Sew the yarn through the last round 5, instert your bottlecap or polyesterfiberfill, then pull the stitches shut. You will want to weave your tail to the edge of the motif so you can attach it to the tree and to the other part of the trunk.

Star Tree Topper
Magic Circle
Round 1: CH 1, *3 SC in the magic circle, CH 3, complete 5 times total from *, join. Cut your yarn and leave about a 7″ tail for sewing to the tree. Pull your magic circle shut, knot your magic circle and weave your tail between the stitches.