potholders

I like to use the silvery stuff because it doesn't burn or scorch like cotton does. Besides, using it, you don't need any batting, just a cover. I use scraps or just a whole cloth square with rounded corners. I like to make mine like a glove. Put the rounded square "on point" and make a pocket with another square of cotton folded in half. Then, when you put your binding on you have a nice pocket to put your fingersinto. I don't make mine bigger then 8". It really isn't needed because you are using it as a diamond.

Hope that helps.

I've been asked to make quilted potholders for my church's Holiday Fair. They wanted those instead of the baby quilt I made [sigh!].

Anyone got any pointers? what works, and what doesn't? good sizes? etc.

TIA!

Martha

PS Linus will take the baby quilt, so it won't be wasted.

I literally make hundreds of potholders a year and I have streamlined the process quite well - in my opinion anyway. For the handle, cut a piece about 5" x 2", sew wrong side out the long way then turn rightside out. For the potholder, Cut 2 - 9" squares of fabric and 2

- 9" squares of warm and natural batting. I don't use the silvery stuff, the two layers of warm and natural works fine for me.

Put the two layers of batting down first, one layer of fabric face up on top of that, fold over the little handle and stick it in a corner, then put the other layer of fabric face down. Use a little bit more than a 1/4" seam and sew around the outside leaving an opening on one side. I would leave it kind of like this - - - - - - - - that way your corners don't get wonky.

Cut the extra fabric off the corners outside of where you've sewn then turn it right side out through the opening that you left. Use something pokey to poke those corners out as much as you can. Don't get over zealous though, you don't want to poke through the fabric. Sew around it again using a scant 1/4" seam. This closes that opening and makes it lay flat.

If that doesn't make sense but sounds like something you'd like to try, let me know and I'll make one taking pictures during the whole process. Then make a how-to website or something.

Tamra

I like to use the silvery stuff too ... I use up a lot of scraps making a log cabin pattern for them too. I always stuff one or two in with Christmas gifts and everyone loves them.

Sharon (N.B.)

Hmmmmm. Very interesting, Tamra. It had never crossed my mind that potholders don't have to have a bias tape binding, but they don't, do they? For that matter, they don't have to have a handle/hanger. I guess I could make a survey here but don't think I know anyone who uses their potholders for decoration anyway. We certainly wouldn't want to decorate with mine. ( erk!) A 9" square, even after trimming and turning sounds mighty big; the ones I always reach for are much smaller. Thanks for some very good ideas. Polly

I agree with Polly. I don't like great big potholders. My favorite potholders are 6" - 6 1/2" square. Big ones just get in the way, flop over into the skillet or pan and generally make a nusiance of themselves. Although most of my store bought potholders have handle/hangers I never hang them up.

That does certainly sound like a much easier way to make them than messing with bias tape binding.

Donna in Idaho

I don't hang my potholders either, Polly. I go through potholders like crazy - I'm very hard on them. One of my friends made me a pile of them for Christmas a couple years ago, exactly the way Tamra explained. I love them. It seems the first thing to begin "falling apart" on the other kind, is the binding starts to come off. I much prefer them "without". I like the smaller ones too, they fit in my had better. Patti in Seattle

From: snipped-for-privacy@mindspring.com (Polly=A0Esther) wrote Hmmmmm. Very interesting, Tamra. It had never crossed my mind that potholders don't have to have a bias tape binding, but they don't, do they? For that matter, they don't have to have a handle/hanger. I guess I could make a survey here but don't think I know anyone who uses their potholders for decoration anyway. We certainly wouldn't want to decorate with mine. ( erk!) A 9" square, even after trimming and turning sounds mighty big; the ones I always reach for are much smaller. Thanks for some very good ideas. Polly

What Pati said, except I usually trim a triangle off one corner and bind that short straight edge with a bit of bias. Then go all the way around as above, leaving a "phantom corner" where the cutout is. Makes a tidy hanging loop with no exposed edges at all. Roberta in D

"Pati C." schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:fb4lr3$om3$ snipped-for-privacy@aioe.org...

I hang mine, not for decoration but because I know where they are that way. And drawer space is limited. Roberta in D

"Polly Esther" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

This group always does come to the rescue with great information!

Thanks to all!

Martha

Out with the binding, wonderful idea. I don't have drawer space to put pot holders so I have some magnetic hooks, but I hate the hooks. Most of the time I go to grab a pot holder and end up with the hook dangling from the loop.

I've been pondering and percolatin' ideas.......I have a mess of 'wafer magnets'. They are about the size of a quarter, I'll try sewing them into the corner of the single layer of fabric so it's inside, other than the stitching you won't see it, and it won't scratch the paint......cut a piece of fabric and use the zipper foot to sew around them..... and slap those up on the "hidden" from view side of my fridge next to the stove.....yeah, that should work. I already tested the magnet and it has a very secure hold through a layer of cloth.

I saw a neat trick on Fons & Porter for making an easy corner when birthing quilts that should work well too. They used a plate, for the pot holder I'll use a small glass, and just rounded the corners a bit by tracing along the rim of the glass, then stitch along that line. When they turned the quilt, no corners to have to poked out and get even, worked like a charm, gave a nicely finished corner and turned as easy as can be! That should work on the pot holder just as well.

Val

There isn't much in the way of a visitors side of my kitchen Pat. If you are in that part of the house you are 'family' and probably will be helping out. We are pretty casual around here. Taria

Pat > R: I hang mine, too. The previous owner left a big brass hook installed

Is there a right side and a wrong side?

-- Anita --

Reading this, Val, it occurred to me that there's no real reason why a potholder should be square at all. How about circular potholders? . In message , Val writes

Great solution! Wish I'd known that a couple of years ago when I made a bunch of potholders! Thanks for the idea!

I usually put a layer of that silver-stuff between two layers of cotton batting - haven't been burnt since - Gave many as gifts and was told by the recipients that they were the best potholders they'd had.

Fabric - well, I needed to make a bunch back then, and I used (what TSWLTH calls:) novelty prints.... chilli peppers for those who liked southwestern, patriotic prints, NASCAR prints, geometric, etc. (colors to match their kitchens.) No piecing necessary, and they went together really fast -- would've been even faster with Roberta's binding idea!

ME-Judy

Actually there is, one side is shiney the other is dull. But it doesn't seem to matter in the finished product

ME-Judy