Featured fabric: Pink Big Cat by Robert Kaufman
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The baby is down for a nap and its raining outside. So, that means what better thing to do than make some sassy new pot holders for Momma's kitchen! Here's a very simple step-by-step tutorial that should take anywhere from 1-2 hours, depending on how detailed you go with your quilting.
2 - 8" x 8" square each of
main fabric (I like cotton), lining fabric (I use bottom weight cotton), cotton batting, Insul-Bright batting
2 - 5" x 8" rectangle each of
main fabric (I like cotton), lining fabric (I use bottom weight cotton), cotton batting, Insul-Bright batting
sewing machine (standard is fine but quilting is better)
cotton thread - polyester might melt in oven
Layer squares as followed:
main fabric (right side down)
cotton batting
Insul-Bright
cotton batting
lining fabric (right side up)
Pin at least 5 pins on each side. This is very important because they layers are very fluffy and puff up about half an inch. As you begin to quilt, the layers will shift as much as a quarter inch...which we want to avoid.
Quilt your hot pad however you'd like. Start in the middle (if possible) and quilt throughout. Starting in the middle helps keep the fabric from major shifts. Otherwise, start in the middle and stitch a 1/8" allowance around the perimeter.
Then quilt pad as preferred. I made a conch shell look in this one. (Click to enlarged view.)
Be sure to first ad the binding to the top of the pocket (5" x 8" piece). If you have never used pre-cut bias tape before, please refer to the picture to below. You will see that there is one side with a shorter fold (on the right in this picture). It is also (usually) slightly farther from the center crease.
Line the right side of the previously mentioned bias tape face down along the top of the pocket. (See below) When pinning remember that the fabric may have shifted during quilting. So, be sure that all layers get attached to the bias tape. You may need to trim off some of the layers that shifted, so I will need to do as well.
Stitch along the folded crease, which should give you a 1/4" seam allowance.
Once complete, fold over the bias tape with the other crease folded under. Pin down the bias tape to prevent shifting. Be sure that you completely cover the previous stitch line, as you should have used a thread that matches the binding and it will (in this case) clash with the backing. Causing it to be very visible if not covered.
Once pinned, stitch around a 1/8" seam allowance from the edge of the bias tape (where is meets the backing). If done correctly, you will have a stitch line tacking down and staying only on the bias tape on the both sides. (Refer to the picture prior to Step 4.) That is the goal and not to drop below the bias tape on the correct (top) side. Doing this will provide a more professional look.
The other option is to pull the bias tape tight on the wrong (back) side so that when you do stitch it down nothing goes through the front side of the bias tape. This will cause the center crease to go past the mid-line of the layers (as seen above). Prior to step 4, you will need to press this out with a hot iron. The aim here is really all or nothing. All on or all off the front of the bias tape.
Click to larger view.
Now its time to attach the pocket to the main piece of the hot pad and add binding all the way around. First, pin the pocket in place, making sure that the prints and quilting are facing the correct direction.
Next, pin down the bias tape onto only one side of the square. Be sure that the same side of the bias tape mentioned in Step 3 is lined up along the edge of the pot holders.
The corners is where things get tricky...if you're new to quilting. Again, staying along the fold crease and about with a seam allowance of 1/4", stitch almost all the way to the bottom. Stop about 1/8" and backstitch one or two stitches.
With the needle down and into the fabric layers, lift your feed dogs and rotate the hot pad 90 degrees. Pull the bias tape slightly so that it is not bunched below the needle. If preferred, pin the bias tape along the new side we're about to stitch. Lower the feed dogs and stitch to the next side, stopping about 1/8" and repeat.
When you get close to the edge we started, fold the beginning of the bias tape so that it lays correctly on the top but does not fold around yet. (See above) Stitch to the end of the side getting as close to the edge as you can without going over. Backstitch for strength. Cut the end of the bias tape so that it extends from the layers. Give yourself some room because we'll be folding it under.
Now its time to fold over and pin! Start at the beginning of the bias tape and work your way around. This time it is important to keep you stitches on the back and front of the bias tape all the way around. Backstitch and go all the way to the end!!
If you were aiming to keep the front side of the bias tape from having stitches on it on the pocket, this will not keep you bias tape down on at the end. So, to stay uniform and consistent, aim to keep the stitches along the bias tape on both sides.
These days I'm not sure how many people hang either pot holders on display, so a loop is up to you. Then again, depending on your fabric choice, you may want to hang them so everyone can see!
If that's the case, just take some of you left over bias tape, stitch along the side to keep it together and attach it to the corner you began attaching you bias tape. This will cover that unsightly corner.
Here's another one I made. Play around with your quilting patterns. This one was supposed to mimic zebra stripes.
Fabric featured: Pink Zebra by Robert Kaufman
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