On the home run

 

Scrappy Potholders

My oldest daughter had a birthday recently. As she is trying to de-clutter and simplify, my best option was to give her something to be used and not too precious. She does enjoy cooking so potholders seemed obvious.
 

Bright charm squares and scraps. QAYG. One layer of insulbrite and one of cotton.

Nothing else to show. Secret Christmas Business.

Potholders (Again)

So I made two smaller potholders to go with the bigger one.

The 'front' is the red Cat in the Hat and the 'back' is the all-over white print.

For daughter Number One, by special request.

Potholder

Potholder made from scraps of Dr Seuss fabric.

Two layers of batting - one is insulbrite and the other cotton.

Approximately 9 1/2 inches square.

I will make a friend for it and then give the pair as a Christmas present.

Scrappy Potholder

So we are off to a family tea at my sister-in-law's but I had a few minutes to finish up this scrappy potholder/trivet. The last one I gave her she didn't want to use because it was too 'good' so I thought surely this one would be ordinary enough to use.
A very plain back and as I had to use a flash to get the photo, you can't really see the quilting.

It's got two layers of wadding, one cotton and one insulbrite. It measures approximatley 12 inches by 14.5 inches.

I've nearly got the back pieced for my green wavey quilt and hope to sandwich it up tomorrow for machine quilting - going to practice a little free motion. Gotto go now to check my vegetable casserole as my contribution for tonight. Evidently my niece-in-law is bringing fish pie. Should be interesting.

Hope you all have a very blessed time with family and friends this Easter.

Potholder Progress

I decided to sew the binding to the back of the potholder and then turn it to the front and machine stitch. I've heard of this but have not tried it. I had to keep telling myself that finished is better than perfect.

Here it is all sewn on ready for turning. I pinned it well and did opposite sides.

I sewed close to the edge.
This is how the corner looks from the back.
And the corner from the front.
Here is the finished potholder. One side has a little flaw and it won't sit flat.

While putting on the binding this way makes it a little rough around the edges, it was super quick and this is not an heirloom but meant to be used and thrown in the washing machine with the kitchen towels. I think with a little practice I can neaten up some of the stitching and pin a bit better. I have three other potholders ready for the binding so when time permits I will use this method and see how I go. I used one layer of insulbrite which is meant to be ok, but if you make an oven mitt the package says to also use a layer of cotton batting in addition to the insulbrite. Have any of you used insulbrite before? It's a batting with a layer of mylar in the middle.

.

Edit: Of course I've just checked their website and they recommend a layer of cotton batting for potholders as well. Oh well, a few of mine will only have the insulbrite. Guess I'll be keeping those ones for me... lol.

Pot Holders

Remember the oranges and lemons fabrics I showed you a while back? I'm using some of it to make potholders. I made hourglass blocks because they are just too easy... layered them with insul-brite and then simple quilting...

I'm trimming them up before I add the binding. I'm going to try something different with the binding... I'll take photos and let you know how it turns out...

This is the just-too-yummy backing fabric...

What's in the Box?

Photos (non-digital) of Quilts Past...

I've scanned them in but the quality is shocking. I will show you 3 today.

This first one I made for my sister-in-law Sandy (she of the amazing bead prowess - on my blog search 'pretty bauble') in 2005. It's meant to be a kitchen quilt and used as a hot pad. At a recent family dinner she was deficient in hot pads (some didn't make the move) and I asked her about it and she said it was too good to use. I explained that she should use it, and if it got wrecked I would make her another. Some of the scrap sewing I'm working on will be used to make her another - one that doesn't look so precious so she will indeed use it! And you may be interested in knowing that the potholders I made my mother-in law (here) are being used and one even has a scorch mark! I gave her a big hug and thanked her so much for using them!

This one was made for my sister-in-law Wendy. I don't know if she uses it.

And this one was made for my dear mother-in-law.
She does use it everyday on her kitchen bench under her fruit bowl.
I did warn you the photos were shocking!
I built these up from the centre out using a stitch-n-flip, quilt-as-you-go technique. I gently pressed every seam and squared it up at the end. Finished is around 12 inches as I recall. They were so much fun and quick... I feel a couple of more coming on... but my sewing table is filled with little sets of scraps at the moment so maybe next week...

Potholders - The Kind You Use

I've seen some pretty fabulous potholders out there in blogland, but almost always they are decorative and not used...

My mother-in-law has made me numerous potholders over the years. She stuffs them with old tea towels. She says you need to use three layers of toweling because two will allow you to burn your fingers. These are the real workhorses of my kitchen. The top pair is the oldest. Well-used and needing a wash by the looks of it...

So this wonderful woman turned 80 last Saturday and we got a lot of the family and numerous friends together to celebrate. She asked for no gifts, but I thought I would make her a couple of potholders - it seemed the right thing to do..

They're not fancy, and not made with tea towels... I used two layers of cotton wadding. I know she will actually use these, and that's the whole point. And they match her kitchen...

So family gatherings are photo ops. Here I am with my two oldest daughters. This is in the grounds of a private high school where my brother-in-law teaches.

"Mum and Dad" with their four children. Mr Fixit is on the far right.

The 'immediate' family, less a few who had to work or couldn't get there.

And my gorgeous youngest daughter who couldn't be there. She said I had to use this picture because she looks cute in it...

Well, off to the day job. Thursday I do the late shift. Hope you are all surviving this very weird weather!