In our kitchen sewing series today – an every day essential. These easy quilted potholders can be used to pick up hot pans and dishes, get trays out of the hot oven, and protect your counters or tables from hot dishes and plates. Mine often gets used as an emergency coaster for a hot mug of coffee too.
Materials:
You will need:
- Cotton fabric – two 8 inch squares
- Ideally – insulated lining such as Insul-Bright
- Or cotton batting or fleece, even an old towel
- Bias binding – home made is cute, 1 yard
Want to make your own matching or contrast bias binding ? Take a look at the How to make your own continuous bias binding tutorial.
Easy Quilted Potholders Instructions
I like to start with my fabric a little larger than the finished size to allow for shifting and trimming, so cut two x 8 inch squares of your fabric. Having a reversible potholder with different fabrics front and back is nice too!
Pin the fabric to the insulation or batting. Using the Insul-Bright metallic insulating batting is recommended but you can also use regular cotton batting, fleece or even an old wool blanket or piece of towel to protect your hands from the heat. “Quilt” the fabric to the backing.
I love this fabric. It reminds me of a coral reef and I thought it would be perfect for use in my kitchen overlooking the ocean. The shapes are so organic and I used a free-form design in a contrasting thread following the lines of my fabric, but you can simply sew evenly spaced straight lines too.
Repeat for both sides then place them together, right sides facing out. Smooth and pin, then trim down the seams evenly to make a neat square.
Now its time to add the bias tape. I am using 1/2 inch double fold bias tape – so that is a 2 inch wide strip of fabric. Add the tape along the first side – leave about 4 inches free at the start to make your hanging loop later on. Stitch in the fold closest to the edge, leaving 1/2 inch unsewn at both the start and the end of the first row.
Now we come to turning the corners. I have a separate tutorial on how to make nice neat and sharp corners back and front, so go and check that out if you aren't sure how to do it.
Once you get back to the start, lift up the spare fabric for the hanging loop, and run your final length of binding all the way to the end, then cut it off flush with the edge. Now it will be hidden under the loop when you turn over.
Turn over now to the other side, flip down the bias binding and pin it in place. Fold in the corners neatly. If there is a lot of bulk there, you may need to just trim the corners a little to help the binding lay smoothly. But don't stress too much – its a potholder – not a couture dress!
Now you can sew down the reverse of your binding. Use a straight stitch if you like, but I like to use one of my machines decorative stitches – I think it looks cute and means I don't have to get my stitches perfectly straight so they look perfect and even on both sides.
When you get to the end with the hanging loop, switch back to a straight stitch and sew the binding closed next to the edge. Turn under the raw edges at the end.
Now just turn down your loop and hand stitch in place and you are done.
Mine certainly isn't perfect but its not bad for my first try, and I have plans for more of these soon so I'm sure I'll improve as I go. You can probably get a much neater finish than me – I admit, I was hurrying a bit to get this ready in time for today.
Have you got any ideas for other things you can sew for your kitchen?
Authored by: Deby at So Sew Easy
This is perfect! I was looking for an easy project to do with my teenage granddaughter! Thanks for simple, clear directions! She probably won’t need my help at all. It’s great that you published something on a beginner level, little flaws and all.
We all start out as beginners and its only by giving things a try, getting it wrong and doing it better next time, that we’ll learn and improve. I hope she enjoys learning to sew.
I love the free-form organic shapes you sewed. Such cheerful colors too!!!
🙂
xx Crystelle