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    Home » DIY Projects

    DIY Pretty Pot Holders

    February 16, 2021 by Patti Estep 10 Comments

    Jump to How-to Card
    Potholders over layers of square fabric to make potholders.

    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.

    Botanical fabric potholders, next to fabric with scissors and a crocheted basket.

    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.

    Insul-Bright bag for insulation.

    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

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    Paper shapes for patterns when making potholders.

    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.

    Pretty printed floral, frog and bird fabric.

    I cut out a piece with the frog and one with the bird. Then I cut out two more pieces from the background fabric.

    Layering fabric and padding for making potholders.

    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.

    Frog on a lily pad potholder.

    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

    • DIY Twine Fabric Potholders
    • Fat Quarter Trivets
    • Fabric Mug Cozy
    Print
    5 from 1 vote

    How to Make Potholders From Pretty Fabric You Love

    These beautiful DIY fabric potholders are a very easy beginner sewing project. Use your favorite fabric and give as gifts too!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Active Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: DIY Projects
    Yield: 1 Potholder
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $10

    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.
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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susie

      November 26, 2021 at 8:28 pm

      Beautiful potholders!!! Thank u, Patti!!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        November 27, 2021 at 7:07 am

        Glad you like them Susie. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Kay Bowles

      February 19, 2021 at 10:00 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 19, 2021 at 10:11 am

        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.

        Reply
    3. Joyce

      January 06, 2020 at 12:07 am

      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

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 06, 2020 at 6:24 am

        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.

        Reply
    4. Ann

      May 07, 2016 at 9:30 am

      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

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        May 07, 2016 at 11:07 am

        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.

        Reply
    5. Earlene Ginter

      May 07, 2016 at 9:07 am

      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

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        May 07, 2016 at 11:03 am

        Thank you, Earlene. Those are all wonderful ideas!

        Reply

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