Making quilted pot holders

Homemade quilt potholders can be crafted from fabric scraps that can be found around the house. Here we have directions on making them for yourself or for gift giving.

We all need them in our kitchens. When we're out shopping, however, we rarely think of them. In fact, we don't give them much thought at all until we go to reach for one and there isn't one to be found. I'm talking about the potholder. The greatly needed, but overlooked, kitchen tool.

Here we will be looking at how to make our own potholders from fabric scraps around the house. Granted, potholders can be bought in department stores for less than $1.00. So this is for those of us who enjoy making things, or who just want to be frugal and recycle old fabric. Since potholders are needed by almost everyone, yet they are something most people forget to buy, they also make great gifts. And no gift is nicer than one hand made with someone in mind.

To make a basic potholder you will need:

1 - 7"x7" pc. of fabric for the front

1 - 8"x8" pc. of fabric for the back

1 - 7"x7" pc. of heavy fabric for the inside batting

(old, thick blankets work great for this, but you can use any scrap of HEAVY material)

1 - 1" diameter plastic O ring (if you desire a potholder that will hang, these can be found with craft supplies)

Sewing machine with matching thread, or, if you're feeling industrious, a sewing needle.

Iron

Directions: Place the potholder front on top of the batting material, right side up. A nice option is to quilt the batting and top piece together before securing them to the bottom piece. This can be something as simple as stitching an X across the entire piece, corner to corner, crossing in the middle. Or you can be creative and stitch an A for apple, for example, or you can cut out a design, such as a chicken, from another piece of fabric and zig-zag stitch it to the front. The ideas are unlimited and this part really allows your creativity to flow as you personalize these, whether for gifts or for yourself.

Center the batting and top piece on top of the potholder back, right side of potholder should be facing out. To center pieces, be sure that the extra 1" of fabric on the potholder back evenly borders the other two pieces. Pin all three pieces together, placing pins 1" in from edge of top piece.

To make your border, fold outer edge of bottom piece over until its edge touches the edge of the top piece. Iron so it stays down flat, tucking corner edges in. Fold over again, so the folded edge comes over top of the top side edge. Iron down, tucking corners in once again. Once the border is ironed down you need to pin it down before sewing. Stitch border edges down to top piece and batting. You can use a zig-zag stitch or straight stitch, whichever you feel best suits the style of your potholder.

If you choose to have a hanging potholder, attach plastic O ring by hand sewing, either to a corner or to the top center of your potholder. This placemet will depend on your design.

Enjoy making these simple potholders as much as others will enjoy receiving them.