We spend a lot of time baking here at A Spoonful of Sugar. As a result our oven mitts and pot holders get well used and regularly need to be replaced. I have been working on a new quilt this week and wanted a quick project to work on. Pot Holders fit the bill perfectly!
Pot holders are a quick and fun sewing project, perfect for a beginner. They make a great little gift for baking lovers. If you would like to make a pot holder, here are some instructions on how to make an easy circular pot holder, with pockets for your hand. It includes a layer of Insul Brite batting for extra insulation and protection.
Finished size – 7 1/2 inches in diameter.
Materials:
- 5 fat quarters of quilting cotton
- quilt batting
- insul bright batting
- crocheted trim (optional)
- decorative patch (optional)
Using a compass (or a side plate) and draw a circle that is 8 inches in diameter onto cardboard. This will become your template.
Using the circle template, cut
- circle in Fabric 1, Fabric 2, Fabric 3 and Fabric 4
- 2 circles of quilt batting. Cut one circle in half.
- 1 circle in insul bright batting
Cut two rectangles measuring 2 1/4 inches x 8 inches from Fabric 5 (for the binding)
Press the two of the circles in half with the wrong sides facing. Place a semi circle of batting inside each of these circles.
To create a binding strip, press the fabric rectangles in half lengthwise. Unfold and fold the edges in the centre, and press. Fold in half so that you have a binding strip that measures 8 inches x 9/16 inch.
Pin the binding strip to the inside edge of the semi circles and stitch in place. (Optional – add a piece of lace to the edge of the semi circle and stitch in place with the binding).
Position the two semi circles, on top of the pot holder lining and pin in place. Stitch around the outside of the pot holder using a basting stitch and a scant seam allowance. Press.
Layer the backing circle on top of the batting and insul bright circles. Pin together and then quilt layers together.
Pin the pot holder front and back together with the right sides facing. Stitch around the outside of the pot holder leaving a 4 inch gap on one side for turning. Clip curves. Turn pot holder out the right way through the opening. Hand stitch the opening closed using a ladder stitch. Press. (Optional: Hand stitch a label to the front of the pot holder).
Note: We store our oven mitts and pot holders in a kitchen drawer so don’t need a hanging loop. If you would like to attach a hanging loop, cut a piece of twill tape that is 4 inches in length. Fold in half and insert into the seam when you are stitching the front and back together.
Our Heart Pot Holder Pattern is one of our most popular sewing tutorials. The techniques used in this tutorial are very similar to those used in the Heart Pot Holder. There are more step by step photos on the Heart Pot Pattern, so check out that post if you need more photos to help with construction. The template for the Heart Pot Holder has recently been updated, thanks to a lovely reader Kathryn Humes. You can find the updated template here.
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You make the prettiest of things! Adorable!
lovely! where did you get your little Paris patch? it’s adorable!
Love,love,love you potholders. I had forgotten that I printed the heart template and had put it together with some fabric. Now I really must do it. Your website is so inspiring.
Dynamite tutorial! Just love the look. And the timing is perfect…my potholders need to be replaced desperately!
So cute!! Thanks for your tutorial!
thanks for sharing, it reminds me I need more, mine are shot and shabby. these are precious..
Thank you for sharing this! I’ve been trying to make something similar for my family for 2 years but the insul bright batting, when testing it on a hot dish from the over, didn’t seem to protect my hands well.
I’ll try your design and see how it goes. Thanks!
HI: LOve your potholder pattern – could you please give me the French phrase on your little label. I would love to give it as a prize in my French Club but I cannot read all the words as it is too small to be clear. Thanks, Denise
send to: paperpals@yahoo.com
thanks girls!
PS – I love that you two are a team. I miss my daughter, who lives in another country, SO much.
I have a similar pattern and tried the heart one here and found it very bulky. I used my even feed foot, graded the seams and still had issues, especially closing the opening so it fit evenly. Any tips on how to decrease the bulk would be most welcome! I love the lace and other touches!
I have already made two of the split in two. I just love this tutorial thank you
Thanks Daisy 🙂
Stack the individual parts as you want them to look when finished, stay stitch around the outside seam it holds them in place
then use bias tape to finish the pot holder. I used 1 and 1/2 inch bias strip, folded it in half lengthwise and sewed the rough
edge down and then folded the already finished edge over the raw edges of the pot holder and hand stitched it down. Works great , and looks good.
Such lovely work. I especially like the pot holder.
Thanks Minti,
This is the first time I’ve quilted anything AND the first time I’ve used insul-bright.
What fun this project was, and how gorgeous does it turn out?
Thanks so much for this tutorial! If I could post pictures of my brand new oven mitt I’d show you.
Ash.
Yay – glad you made one – now you are quilting you won’t be able to stop!! Have a great week Ash