We are well over due for new hot pad holders. I’m quite ashamed of our current well worn ones. I figured, why not make some…and that’s exactly what I did. Its a two-fer deal for me, because I received a new sewing machine and we need to get to know each other and obviously I need new potholders. Sewing together a potholder gives me a great opportunity to work with tension, which is what the sewing machine and I fight over the most.
This is what you will need for TWO potholders:
- 1/4 yard fabric of choice (or two fat quarters) cut into 4 – 81/2 inch squares
- 2 – 9 inch squares cotton batting (about a quarter yard)
- 1/4 yard heat resistant batting (I’m using Insul-Bright) also cut into 2 – 9 inch squares
- 2 – 21/2 x 42 inch strips for the binding
Next you will make a “Sandwich” as follows:
Fabric-cotton batting-heat resistant batting-fabric
The layers of batting in between the fabric squares. Notice the chevron is right side out.
Make sure your fabric is right side out, which means the printed pattern is NOT facing the batting. TADA! You’re now ready to sew… JUST KIDDING! You could start sewing now if you wanted, but I HIGHLY recommend that you use something to hold the layers together.
As you can see in this picture, my lower fabric moved on me because I didn’t have it secured, and…well…I think the picture says enough.
The bottom layer of fabric shifted which caused this corner to not get sewn down.
I bought some 505 temporary fabric adhesive to try out, and I LOVE it. It held my layers together really well. Another option is to just stick a couple pins through the layers to hold it in place. (In the past I’ve had a few problems taking pins out in time and end up breaking my needle)
My “Sandwich” all squished together and held in place with 505 fabric adhesive.
Once you have your layers stuck together, sew a quarter inch around the entire square. This I find helps keep the layers from slipping while you pretty the inside with decorative sewing.
Sewing the quarter inch seam to hold the layers together.
Now comes the fun part, quilting the layers together. There are so many different ways to do this. I have a few different examples.
Here I just did whatever I wanted. I made a few curvy lines and filled them in with a simple straight stitch.
Here I just stitched along the zigzag of the chevron and it made a fun texture on the back.
For this one I just did straight lines, and created this fun pattern.
Next we cut the excess batting off from around the fabric square, and then on to adding our edging.
Trim off the excess batting and fabric.
Finishing the hot pad holder.
Fold the 21/2 strip in half and line the open edge up with the edge of the pot holder.
Leave about 5-6 inches of fabric loose,and start about halfway down the edge. Sew a quarter inch seam, stopping a quarter inch from the edge. Make sure your needle is down. pivot the potholder and sew to the corner.
Stop a quarter inch from the edge, turn the fabric and sew diagonally to the corner.
Fold the fabric up at an angle and then back down towards the new edge. The pictures do a better job showing, than I do of telling.
Here’s where you fold the fabric up to the corner to create a diagonal edge.
Next making sure you don’t unfold your diagonal edge, fold the strip down creating a nice straight edge.
I like to sew a few stitches down to hold my corner in place while I line my fabric up on the new edge.
Repeat this until you come to the side you started on.
Make sure there are several inches of fabric between where you started and where you ended. Next, we are going to tuck one end into the other. I’m going to guess you will have more fabric than needed. I just eyeball it and make sure that they overlap a few inches. Decide which edge is going to be on the outside and fold the edge in about at quarter inch.
Folding in the edge about a quarter inch.
Tuck the other edge inside the one with the folded edge.
Tucking the edge into the outer piece.
Finish sewing the edge. You should have something that looks a bit like this.
Now fold the fabric over the edge of the pot holder. Be cautious of where the two ends meet, so that you don’t pull them apart.
This is what the back side will look like once the edging is folded over.
Next fold the edge over and sew along this edge.
You could hand sew this if you don’t want stitching to sew. I’m a horrible hand sewer I opted for the easier route and machine finished the edge. I kept about 1/8th inch edge on the left hand side. When you get about an Inch from the corner, stop and fold the fabric to give you a nice corner. Make sure when you get to the corner you’ve tacked the edge of the fold down.
Sew along the edge keeping about an 1/8th inch seam allowance.
One you’ve sewn along all the edges you’re done.
finished machine sewn edge.
Finished product:
I am really happy with how they turned out. AND its fun to play with different stitching patterns.