TUTORIAL: String Pieced Potholders

My mother recently remarked that she needed some new potholders. Well, I certainly have fabric. And pieces of batting. And an idea.

I wanted something that was pretty, but not too pretty to use. Also, large enough to protect hands and tables and very sturdy. The results pleased me enough that I am sharing them here and thinking about a set for me. I hope you will like them, too.

STRING PIECED POTHOLDER TUTORIAL

MATERIALS NEEDED (for a set of four)

1 Fat Quarter focus fabric (mine is the cowboy boots), cut into 4 8-1/2″ squares.  You can cut the leftovers into 1-1/2″ strips and use them on the front, too.

4 8-1/2″ squares muslin

several matching/coordinating 1-1/2″ strips (at least 10 is nice to give that scrappy feeling)

12  8-1/2″ squares cotton batting. That gives three layers per potholder. This gives you a very sturdy potholder.  An alternative would be to use one square cotton batting and one square insul-brite per potholder.

4 2-1/2″ WOF strips for binding (You really need 2-1/2″ because of the thickness of the potholder.  I usually 2-1/4″ on a regular quilt, but it isn’t good for this application.)

 CONSTRUCTION

1. Using your muslin squares as a foundation, you will piece the diagonal strings.  To do this place one string face up on the diagonal. Leave a bit hanging over the edge of the muslin square.  Do not cut short. You will be sad.

2. Lay a second piece face down on top of the first string. Again, leave a bit hanging over.

3. Stitch through all three layers using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

4. Iron open.

5. Contine to add strings until the entire square is covered.

6. Trim your square to 8-inches.

7. Layer the focus fabric face down, then add your batting squares, then your pieced block face up on top. Center up very carefully. Pin in a few places to prepare for quilting.

8. Quilt by stitching in the ditch across every other seam (so your quilting will is 2″ apart)

9. Turn the potholder 90-degrees and quilt every two inches across the potholder.

10.  Apply the binding using your favorite method.  I machine stitch the front and hand stitch the backs.  Note that I didn’t put a loop on these because noone I know actually hangs their potholders.  But, the WOF strips are long enough that you can add a loop if you desire.

11. Ta-dah!  Finished potholders.

 Enjoy!  I can hardly wait to get these to my mother.  I would love to see any you create.

***POTHOLDER GALLERY***

Karin’s Version

Some of Kay J in Paradise (CA)’s very nice efforts