This tutorial about making potholders is a great beginner sewing project. With a few materials, you can easily complete this DIY in about one hour.
This is a very easy beginner sewing project. Potholders are something that I find just need to be replaced now and then. I do try to wash them, but even then, they never seem to be the same afterwards. So when I was shopping for fabric to cover my lampshades, I found this adorable nature print and purchased it too. I thought it would look great in the kitchen. I think this was also a drapery fabric remnant. It has a cute little frog and a couple of birds on it.
How to Make Potholders
Materials
1/4 - 1/3 yard of pretty cotton fabric
1/4 yard of cotton batting
1/4 yard of Insul-Bright
Matching or contrasting thread
To make a simple template I used that old trick of taking a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper and folding over the bottom edge to the side. Cut off the remaining piece and you have a perfect 8 1/2 inch square.
I cut out a piece with the frog and one with the bird. Then I cut out two more pieces from the background fabric.
Here's how you set it up for sewing.
1 Background or plain fabric right side up
2 Pretty side (frog or bird) right side down,
3 Cotton batting
4 Insul-bright, shiny side up.
Sew 1/2 seam allowance all around leaving two inches open for turning.
Turn the potholder right side out, by turning the first fabric (background print) right side out.
Fold the opening edge under and place a piece of binding tape (optional) just inside, and top-stitch a 3/8 seam on all four sides.
Then sew vertical lines about 1 1/2 inches apart along the entire potholder. I used the edge of my stitch plate as a guide to start me off, but you can really just eyeball this step.
I used a cream colored thread, but I could have used a light brown which would have faded more into the background.
Another great gift idea? Something to match your friend's, sister's, mother's .... new kitchen? Or, something to make with the many extra fabric swatches you have lying around. Time to put them to good use. 🙂
More Fabric Projects
How to Make Potholders From Pretty Fabric You Love
Equipment
- sewing machine
- Fabric scissors
Materials
- 1/4 - 1/3 yard of pretty cotton fabric
- 1/4 yard of cotton batting
- 1/4 yard of Insul-Bright
- Matching or contrasting thread
Instructions
- Make a template by taking a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper and folding over the bottom edge to the side.
- Cut off the remaining piece for a perfect 8 1/2 inch square.
- Cut out two detail pieces.
- Then cut out two more pieces of background fabric.
- Layer the background fabric right side up.
- Then the detail piece, cotton and Insul-bright, shiny side up.
- Sew 1/2 seam allowance all around leaving two inches open for turning.
- Turn the potholder right side out.
- Fold the opening edge under and place a piece of binding tape inside.
- Top-stitch a 3/8 seam on all four sides.
- Sew vertical lines about 1 1/2 inches apart along the entire potholder.
Susie
Beautiful potholders!!! Thank u, Patti!!
Patti Estep
Glad you like them Susie. Enjoy!
Kay Bowles
Hi Patti! Of all the ideas out there to make potholders, yours is the first I've seen that talks about Insul-Bright! And it makes so much sense! Duh! My fingers don't work as well as they used to so I quit frustrating myself trying to turn projects like this inside out. My mother had the same issue and she simply "pinked" the edges and stitched everything right side up. She then stitched bias tape all the way around to finish the project. It may not have quite the professional look that yours do but what it saved in frustration trying to turn everything right side out was a life saver in more way than one! Thank you for another great project!
Patti Estep
Kay, your mother's solution sounds so smart. I bet they looked just as good as mine. Thanks for another great comment and for sharing your ideas.
Joyce
I have your potholders. Having trouble that they are so thick and won't sew easily or come out properly shaped after. Turning inside out. Any suggestions? Thank you
Patti Estep
Joyce, I'm sorry that you are having trouble. Sometimes it takes a little effort to turn thicker projects inside out. However, I don't remember this one having any issues with this one. Is your printed fabric or your cotton batting very thick? As you can see from the picture even with the insul-bright the resulting potholder isn't that thick. Still, the same principle should work with a thicker material.
Ann
Hi Patti - I just wondered where you are located...I thought I read you were in the Pittsburgh PA area. I am in Weirton WV. I started a garden blog and would love you to take a look, although I've been under the weather a lot lately and haven't been able to post as much as I'd like!
I appreciate this post, as I am also a sewer/quilter!
Ann Bailey
http://www.thenorthernwestvirginiagardener.blogspot.com
Patti Estep
Hi Ann,
It's always great to meet another garden lover. And yes, I live just south of Pittsburgh in McMurray (Peters Township). Not far from Weirton at all. It did check out your blog and it looks like you are off to a great start.
Feel free to email me with questions. I'm going on vacation but will get back in touch with you when I get back.
Earlene Ginter
Yes,you can make potholders from anything,I have used mattress pads,old towels,jeans,for the inside,,also for the outside you can usjeans thhecenter of bathtowels,make big potholders to sit on the table for hot dishes,also haveusepreprinted fabric and top stiche around the motif.find things at thrift shops,for little bit of $, i quilte, and you cancan use use left over square thanks for all your hints,you inspire me to do things
Patti Estep
Thank you, Earlene. Those are all wonderful ideas!