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Prudent Baby

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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Pretty Potholder: Part 2


A potholder! What a satisfying little project. When I saw Jaime's Pretty Potholders Tutorial last week, I knew I had to try it. Oddly, we are very particular about our potholders here, but with a few tweaks I was able to recreate our favorite style... and with a ruffle of beautiful fabric!

Check out this version of Jaime's Pretty Potholder after the jump.
1. I used an old cotton towel as my batting, as well as, the outer surface for all layers minus the outer pocket. Cut 3 layers of 9"x9" towel, 2 layers of 9"x7" towel and 1 18'x7" piece of fabric. If you want to skip the ruffle effect, cut it 9"x7". This is Alexander Henry Farmdale Crossing in Oatmeal, which is sold out, but they still have the even cuter pink!


2. Baste stitch (your longest stitch, usually a 5) along the very top and bottom edge of your fabric rectangle.


3. Gather the fabric down to 9" wide by pulling on the back thread on one side and scrunching the fabric.


4. Repeat on bottom. Tie threads together at all 4 corners to secure ruffle.


5. Pin ruffle to top of double layer of 9"x7" towel.


6. Sew all 3 layers together all the way around 1/4" from edge.



7. Start quilting the pocket by sewing straight lines down from top to bottom. I used my handy Stitch Guide Foot that came with my sewing machine for perfectly spaced 1" lines.

tip: try not to cross over large folds, create flat spaces to hide your stitches.

This is what the back looks like/

8. Along the top of the pocket, add 1/2" double fold bias tape. Here is a refresher on How to Sew with Bias Tape.



Set pocket aside.

9. With 3 - 9"x9" layers in a stack, sew 1/4" from edge all the way around.


10. Quilt in straight lines 1" apart.


11. Pin pocket to main square.

12. Turn over and draw round corners on all but top left corner (which is actually top right corner on front.)


13. Starting on that straight corner and down left side, pin bias tape, following curved line as you hit the corners. When you get back to the start, leave a tail approx 4" long.


14. Here I switched to a walking foot because of the thickness and sewed around first fold.


15. When you get all the way around, make sure your original tape is closed around the top edge and just sew until you meet the original tape edge.




16. Use the bias tape edge as your guide and trim the rounded corners and any uneven edges.



17. Fold bias tape up and around front of potholder and sew in place starting with the top right (not tail) end.


18. When you get to the end, keep sewing until the end of the tail.




19. Loop the tail into a well... loop and secure with several forward and backward stitches.


20. And your done! Highly functional potholders, just like Daddy likes, but with a little style, just like mommy likes. It's all about compromise they say. Clare just says "it's ugly because the ribbon is gray."


So, what do you think? Are you inspired to replace those grundgy potholders? Remember to enter your potholder into the SEWING MACHINE DOUBLE DOWN CONTEST for your chance to win a new Brother Sewing Machine!

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31 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

OMG...I love, love, love this!!! It totally rocks. I know what I'll be making tomorrow...thanks for sharing.

Tammi xx

January 5, 2011 at 1:46 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Mine could really need a upgrade, so this is now on my list.
Thank you for sharing this.
:)

January 5, 2011 at 4:52 AM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

Yeah...I'm embarrassed to say that my potholders need replacing! thanks for another great project :)

Jennifer

January 5, 2011 at 5:32 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I may not be inspired to make a new potholder. . . but I am totally going to use the ruffle technique for a pretty princess pillow! Yippee!

January 5, 2011 at 5:45 AM  
Blogger Tonya Lynn said...

Oh my I love these! We have a huge family Christmas shindig each year which requires a small gift for about 40 people - I'm going to be starting these very soon as they seem fairly simple and easy to crank out assembly line style.

January 5, 2011 at 6:50 AM  
Blogger Lil Mama Stuart said...

love using the towel as your batting! i'm still intimidated by bias tape though =X

January 5, 2011 at 8:01 AM  
Blogger jillian sara said...

I never say this.... OMG! Look at all the ruffly goodness! I would slap a ruffle on anything.... No seriously I would. If I could put one of those ruffle butted onesies on my son I would... what? Is that wrong???

January 5, 2011 at 8:07 AM  
Blogger Jen said...

These are beautiful. Who knew that pot holders could be beautiful?? I've bookmarked these as I know I'm going to use it as part of a Christmas gift for next year (but I'm working on them early this time around!) Thanks for the great tutorial.

January 5, 2011 at 8:27 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I love these and put them on my list to add to my favorite things thursday post tomorrow! i cant wait to take making some of my own!

January 5, 2011 at 10:05 AM  
Blogger Mrs. Rogers said...

Those are great and you always have such super cute fabric! Totally have all the materials in my sewing room this moment...I think I here them screaming to be made into potholders while the kids are taking a nap this afternoon....

January 5, 2011 at 12:06 PM  
Blogger Fay said...

The chickens are so adorable. I never thought I could combine "chic" and "chicken" in the same sentence until now. Awesome fabric find!

January 5, 2011 at 1:56 PM  
Blogger Steph at ModernParentsMessyKids.com said...

Those are some hip pot holders - great colors!

January 5, 2011 at 2:54 PM  
Blogger Jan said...

I don't think it's at all odd to be particular about your potholders ... I am too! Some are too big and thick (although they protect from heat) to get a good grip on a cookie sheet and others are too thin and flimsy ... easy to get a grip, but no protection from heat.
I have some beautiful, barely used potholders, but always reach for the icky, stained ones that are flexible, easy to handle and safe. (Embarrassing when I have guests and I'm guessing that is why I receive pretty ones as gifts.) :)
I will definitely be making a few of these beauties. I even have all supplies needed on hand! (Dang, no extra trip to the fabric store!)

January 5, 2011 at 4:23 PM  
Blogger Lucha Lovely said...

This may be the version I use for my super fabulous, I'm the best sister in the world, cooking themed present for my big sisters birthday present! This resolves my issue of making this a super awesomely cost effective gift as well.

January 5, 2011 at 6:11 PM  
Blogger Dawn said...

I love this!! I've been looking for just the right pot holders, I think these may be it! :)

January 9, 2011 at 9:20 AM  
Blogger Kharlie Bug said...

What a fabulous tutorial. Thank you. I will definitely try this. I am in desperate need of new pot holders!

January 9, 2011 at 11:48 AM  
Blogger Allie said...

Love love love this! That fabric is great and I love ruffles anywhere-especially on the unexpected things! :) Great work!!

January 9, 2011 at 12:24 PM  
Blogger Kate said...

I wish I could figure out how to sew straighter lines. I would love to sew a gazillion potholders (I cook so often mine are always in the wash).

January 9, 2011 at 3:11 PM  
Blogger Michele T said...

Thank you for sharing. This is something that I can do especially with your step-by-step photos and instructions! These would be perfect gifts or for a bazaar!!

January 9, 2011 at 5:39 PM  
Blogger Hilda said...

this is so pretty! I'm actually getting to the point where I seriously need to make some new potholders. Most of mine I got as handmedowns from my mom when I moved out. I've been married for 6.5 years now with 3 kids... you'd think I'd have my own pot holders by now ;)

January 10, 2011 at 7:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love this potholder! I love the ruffle, and the matierial....(I love all things chicken!) Thanks for the great tutorial!

January 14, 2011 at 10:08 AM  
Blogger Precious said...

I seriously can't wait to try this! Just yesterday as my 4-year-old was helping me put the cold cookie sheet full of oatmeal cookie dough drops, I was thinking how "manly" those potholders looked. Now I know they just need some ruffles! Thanks for sharing!

January 14, 2011 at 3:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ohhh I tried bias tape for the first time a week or so ago (it ended badly) and I have been wanting to try it again!

January 20, 2011 at 2:01 PM  
Blogger Carol F said...

I'll be making some of these. They are just like, at least very similar, to my very favorite potholders that need to be retired. I like the terry cloth, and the use of an old towel is perfect! Thanks for the tutorial!

January 20, 2011 at 7:48 PM  
Blogger E said...

My husband would love nothing more than for me to replace the beat up pot holders we've had since we were married (ten years ago yesterday! woohoo!) But sadly, I can't....well not supposed to start anything new until I finish my mending projects. I wonder if he'll notice me slipping in one or two or four pot holders in between the mending... ;)

January 21, 2011 at 4:04 PM  
Blogger Emily. said...

I keep coming back and looking at this. It's awesome. I love the ruffled look on the pocket...it makes the chickens look like they're running fast. :)

January 23, 2011 at 1:42 PM  
Blogger Mama Bear said...

Wow, this looks great! I think I may even like it better than the first version. My pot holders are all stained and gross so I can't wait to try this out!

January 25, 2011 at 1:28 PM  
Blogger Sarah said...

I LOVE this potholder! It's totally fab and pretty. However, I've had issues with sewing five layers of towel. I feel like I'm really pushing my machine a little too hard. Perhaps it's the towel I used, but on the next one, I'm going to try to cut the ruffle side towel short maybe about 1/2 inch on the three sides so that when it's all sewn together, my machine only needs to sew through the ruffle fabric (which will be attached to the towel by the vertical seams). I think that will work better for me and my machine :)

January 25, 2011 at 4:41 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Wow love the potholder I am going to have to try this. Thanks so much for the tut

January 28, 2011 at 5:24 AM  
Blogger Lia said...

I love this. I am making one today as a wedding gift.

March 25, 2011 at 10:29 AM  
Blogger Dawn Holiday said...

I love it! I totally went out and got the few things I didn't have and I am making everyone a set of pot holders for this christmas!

October 25, 2011 at 10:41 AM  

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