Knit in round, transfer stitches to smash down from halfway point, graft closed. Creates two layers of fabric.

This is only 5-1/2” square. Caston more stitches next time for larger potholder.

Do a pw magic caston next time if using Chinese Wave again, so it will avoid the “gully” down the middle from the kW caston.

More rows of Chinese Wave. Will put more texture on 2 corners.

There’s more detail in my first project for this kind of potholder.

The last two photos are various double-thick hotpads/coasters, mostly doubleknit, but one origami piece (and one I use as a knitting tool holder ;>).

BTW, a really nice fabric-backed potholder: http://sites.google.com/site/knitbug/knitbug