09 December, 2011

Hot Gift Idea!

I ran across this bowl of potholders on a recent shopping trip. They were cute (and carried a price tag of $20)! I definitely have all the raw materials to construct a few dozen hundred, (I'll bet you do too) that, and a layer of heat-resistant batting and I'm ready to stitch. Who couldn't use a new potholder? So, I grabbed up a few scraps and stitched together my own version. My pieced "top" measured 8.5". I ended up using two layers of the insulated batting (that just felt right!) and did some minimal (in the ditch) quilting through all three layers. I placed this quilted unit on the backing (cut 10.5"), folded the edges down and wrapped them up onto the front, topstitching them in place. I added a loop (tucked it under the folded corner) that was secured at the same time by the topstitching; this entire project, start to finish, took 30 minutes. Then, most important: the test. I used my newly created potholder to remove a pan from a 350 degree oven. Success!
I'll be whipping up a batch of these before the holiday baking begins.
Life is Good!
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18 comments:

Nane said...

I agree on the two layers! I used this batting before for a similar project and just wanted to be sure to have good protection between hand and hot! It would be funny (or scary) to actually calculate the number of pot holders I could make with the fabric I have!

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

Like!!!!

Pat said...

What a great idea. A good use of some orphan blocks, prolly (as Nancy would say). Looks like I'll be making a quick trip to the LQS for some of that heat-resistant batting.

Janet O. said...

Thanks, Debbie, for a nice, relatively quick gift idea (though I'm sure I'll manage to make it take a lot longer).

Amy said...

Thank you for the border directions. I've been binding mine like a quilt which takes longer. I use a layer of Warm and Natural and a layer of the insulating batting. It works well for me.

AnnieO said...

Very cute! I'll remember about the two layers :)

Michele Bilyeu said...

I am a potholder maniac. Seeing the bowlful makes me want to make one. A bowlful..I can never stop at just one. Last year I donated two dozen to our quilt quild ..all in all we made over 900 of them and sold them for $6 a pair. Great way for groups to earn money..church groups too!

Unknown said...

great idea!

cityquilter grace said...

if we could find a few people who pay that kind of money for potholders we could seriously clean up...i never have but not for lack of trying....good job!

Karen Newman Fridy said...

Are you sure they were labeled as potholders? They could have been small art quilts at that price!

Just asking...'cause I recently had someone ask me if my handpainted ornaments were coasters *snicker*...they were laying on a table at the moment as they had not yet been hung. Oy. You never know.

In any case, you have a great idea! Seems like I bought some of that heat resistant batting last year...wonder where it's hiding?

Carrie P. said...

Glad you didn't burn yourself. That means you made a good potholder.
I made some for gifts this year. They are fun little quilts to make.

Angie said...

Great minds think alike...:D I've been working on iron skillet handle potholders that slip on the handle. I've made 3 now trying to get the dimensions to suit me and now I'm thinking I need two layers of insulbrite instead of one which was used in the pattern I went by. I tried one out last night on a pan of cornbread from a 450 deg. oven and I think it needs a tad more insulation. Would there be any reason NOT to have two layers of Insulbrite and one layer of cotton batting? Anyone know the answer to this? :D Happy Holidays!

Anonymous said...

My MIL loves to set hot dishes on the table for serving and purchases cute quilted hot pads as barriers between dish and table. I always think I should make her a few....dang that would have been easier than the large quilt I just mailed off! LOL

Pamela Kieffer said...

I use old silver backed ironing board covers along with cotton batting.

Paula, the quilter said...

Like like.
How apropos this would be with a gift of homemade cookies!

Gari in AL said...

Just last week I was thinking that pot holders would be a great gift NEXT Christmas. And it is something I could do all year long and really be ready when the holiday rolls around next year. Thanks for the reminder.

JKW said...

A great idea and so quick. Thanks. Blessings, Janet

Vicky F said...

Thanks so much for the idea!
(Here's a "wondering" for you... do you think that people would look at a gifted potholder, such as the one you saw at the store, and think you spent $20 for it?? I think not!)
Merry Christmas!
Vicky F