Welcome to our first week of tutorials for the 2019 Finish-A-Long!
I have been in rather desperate need of new potholders, and since "more gingham in my life" is an actual goal of mine for 2019, I thought these Easy Gingham Potholders were the perfect subject for a fun and easy tutorial!
For this batch of *mismatched* potholders I spent a pleasant afternoon playing with several different fabric combinations to give you all an idea of how different combos might look: Linens, Solids, Scrappy, and Black/White.
So let's get started!
Fabric Requirements:
For 1 pair of potholders you will need:
- 8 5" charms: 2 Dark, 2 Light, 4 Medium value charms.
- 2 8 1/2" squares Insul Bright, or other reflective batting. Alternative: 2 8 1/2" squares cotton batting per potholder.
- 2 8 1/2" squares fabric of choice, for backing
- 2 1 1/2" x 4" pieces of matching fabric, for optional loops, if you hang your potholders
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| Materials for 1 potholder. I used 2 layers of cotton batting for my potholders. |
Piecing:
We are basically making 4 4-patches per potholder, using a really fun and easy method that I use often! I've used it for my recent 16-Patch Jolly Bar Quilt, and also to make 8 patches for my Tumble Bug Quilt. So it is a good little method for any quilter's toolbox!
1. Take 1 Dark, 1 Light and 2 Medium charms. Pair each medium with the dark and light charms.
2. Sew 1/4" from the left and right edges of your pairs.
**If using prints, be sure you sew the pairs right sides together.
**If using prints, be sure you sew the pairs right sides together.
3. Using the seam line, measure 2 1/4" to find your cut line. If using precuts, you may want to measure and cut from both sides, for accuracy.
4. Pair one of each together, right sides together, making sure as you "flip" one unit over the other, the mediums are paired with the dark and light. Because we pressed to the medium, seams should nest nicely.
5. Rotate and sew 1/4" from each edge, sewing across the nested seams.
7. Arranging in such a way as to nest all the seams, chain-piece the top row and the bottom row. Press in opposite directions. Sew top to bottom. You now have one potholder top finished! It should measure 8 1/2" at this point. Repeat Steps 1-7 for a pair of potholder tops.
Optional Loop: If you like to hang your potholders, make the loop by folding/pressing the 1 1/2" x 4" piece lengthwise in half. Press each side in half again, to the center. Stitch approximately 1/8" lengthwise. Make loop and stay stitch ends together.
To finish potholders:
1. Layer batting or insulbrite, backing (right side up), and top (wrong side up).
**If adding the loop, stitch into one corner between the backing and top, laying the loop to the inside.
2. Pin layers together around edges, leaving a 3" space along one edge for turning. I always use double pins to mark my opening.
3. Stitch 1/4" all the way around potholder, beginning and ending on either side of the space left for turning. Backstitch at the starting and stopping points.
4. Turn right side out. Press well. Turn edges under at the opening, secure with pins or clips, and stitch 1/8" around all edges, closing the opening as you go. You may want to change your top thread to match before stitching.
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6. Again, using the seam to measure from, cut in half at 2 1/4".
This will result in 4 identical 4-patches. Press one unit to the dark/medium side, and the others to the medium/light side.
Optional Loop: If you like to hang your potholders, make the loop by folding/pressing the 1 1/2" x 4" piece lengthwise in half. Press each side in half again, to the center. Stitch approximately 1/8" lengthwise. Make loop and stay stitch ends together.
To finish potholders:
1. Layer batting or insulbrite, backing (right side up), and top (wrong side up).
2. Pin layers together around edges, leaving a 3" space along one edge for turning. I always use double pins to mark my opening.
3. Stitch 1/4" all the way around potholder, beginning and ending on either side of the space left for turning. Backstitch at the starting and stopping points.
4. Turn right side out. Press well. Turn edges under at the opening, secure with pins or clips, and stitch 1/8" around all edges, closing the opening as you go. You may want to change your top thread to match before stitching.
Mission "More Gingham" accomplished!
Have fun sorting out your own gingham combinations!
Just remember it is all about light, medium and dark!
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me, I am happy to clarify if I can!
Thanks so much for joining me here! If you make a set of potholders for yourself, I hope you will share a picture of them with me! To share on Instagram, please tag me @cedarforksarah and use the hashtags #ginghampotholder and #FALtutorial!
We will be having a new tutorial each day this week, during the Q1 Linky party!
Check the link up post for the schedule!
Happy Sewing, friends!
5 comments:
Adorable! Great tutorial! I also use double pins at my stopping/starting point and I think you may be the first person I've seen do that, I thought it was just me. HAHA
Very nice! Thanks for the tutorial! I can always use more potholders since mine get burnt, stained, etc.
I love gingham!!! Great project! Thanks for all he examples.
How cute! I have actually never done a 16-patch (or even a four-patch) that way. If I made potholders my husband would faint. He is used to the stained, threadbare ones that I use forever. ;)
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