Hey Everyone, welcome back to Stash Blasting Wednesday.
So today I decided I needed to make my mom a pair of potholders for Christmas. She likes the potholders that I make and it has been a couple of years so I am pretty sure she will be in need of a new set.Mom isn’t picky about what they look like or what colour they are.
The thing to know about my mom is she doesn’t like them too big and she likes them to be thin. Yep, that’s right thin. I have always wondered about that but I go along with it and use the lightest cotton batting I have. It is not a good idea to use polyester as it may melt and bamboo although very thin is not very fire retardant.
I dug into a container I knew had some pinwheel blocks in it and came out with these two square-in-a-square blocks from when I was making and auditioning fabrics for my Woven Stars quilt. I had totally forgotten I even had them. Good that they are finally going to be put to use.
The square-in-a-square block
I decided I didn’t want to have to do any hand sewing on these and used the same backing method as I did for the placemats I made in October for my guild’s Outreach program. Much like a pillow backing. Make sure to use your finger extender when pressing the bit of fabric over on itself.
The block was 8 ½″ and so I cut the batting to be 8 ½″ and the two backing pieces different sizes. One is 4 ½″ by 8 ½″ while the larger one is 5 ½″ by 8 ½″. This is because a ½″ or so is folded over on the larger piece.
Edge folded over on larger piece of the backing
Once all layered and pinned it was time to sew around the edges.
Pinned and ready to be sewn
Frostie made sure to supervise at a very close distance.
Frostie supervising
Sewing done I clipped the corners and then flipped them right side out. To push out the corners I used my Purple Thang.
After a quick press with steam they were lying nice and flat and ready to quilt.
Front and back of potholders
I decided to free motion quilt them so that I wouldn’t have to hand sew the backing down and the free motion quilting would catch most of the edge and keep it in place. Worked like a charm.
One potholder I quilted with the free motion meandering star motif.
Free motion stars motif
And the second one with the free motion meandering triangle motif.
Free motion triangle motif
They both look pretty good don’t you think?
There they are all ready to go send to mom in Saskabush. Not sure they will make it for Christmas but that’s okay as her birthday is in January.
A couple of orphaned blocks and a fat eighth of fabric for the backing have now been removed from my stash. Only how many more to go?
Happy Quilting!
These are lovely, I especially like the meandering stars quilting. Have you heard of Insulbrite? It’s batting with insulating built in and thin, that would protect your Mum’s hands on the next ones you make. Too late for this time. I bet she likes them thin as they are easier to fold around a handle.
Hi Juliet. Thank you. Yes, I have heard of Insulbrite and will have to try it for future pairs. Mom does like them thin for easier folding and use. Jen
What a good idea, I have been thinking that I should be washing my old potholders, now I think I will just make new ones. I will try out some of the batting samples that were given to us at Guild, and I’m sure I have blocks sitting around somewhere. Thanks for the idea.
Yes, a new set would be good Meryl and I am sure you probably have a block or two hanging around. Michael thinks I need new ones too.
Hi Jen they are great I would love instruction howto make please xx
Hi Elizabeth I will do a post this week on how to make the block for Stash blasting Wednesday. Glad you liked them. Jen