Quilted Potholder Tutorial

 How to Make a Quilted Potholder: A Step by Step Tutorial. This is a pretty basic square potholder measuring 9 1/2" x 9 1/2".  The back has a pocket for your hand.

To make this potholder, you will need:

1 patchwork block 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" for potholder front
1 strip neutral solid sashing fabric 2 1/2" x width of fabric for potholder front
1 piece print fabric 10" x 10" for potholder back
2 pieces contrasting solid fabric 12" x 12" for potholder lining
3 pieces low-loft batting 11" x 11"
2 pieces twill, canvas, denim or other sturdy fabric 11" x 11"
1 piece bias-cut fabric 2 1/2" x 12" for binding
1 piece fabric 2 1/2" x width of fabric for binding
1 scrap contrasting fabric 2 1/2" x desired length for binding (optional)

Notes about materials:

Fabric requirements assume fabric is at least 42" wide.

I'm not a fan of the crinkly heat-resistant products, which is why I used low-loft batting and canvas.  If you want to use Insulbrite or something similar, you may want to play with the number of layers.

The canvas, twill or denim interlining is designed both as insulation and to make the potholder sturdy.  The stiffer the fabric you use, the stiffer your potholder will be.  If you want a softer potholder, skip the fabric interlining.

Start by using the 2 1/2" neutral solid strip to sew sashing on all four sides of the patchwork block.

Make a quilt sandwich of the following pieces (from top to bottom):

Sashed Patchwork Block
2 Batting Squares
1 Canvas Square
1 Lining Square

Make a second quilt sandwich of the following pieces (from top to bottom):

Potholder Back
1 Batting Square
1 Canvas Square
1 Lining Square

Machine quilt both sandwiches as desired.

Trim potholder back to 9 1/2" x 9 1/2".

Trim potholder front to 9 1/2" x 9 1/2"  (You can do this by measuring out 1 3/4" from the seams where the sashing meets the patchwork block in the center.)

You should now have two quilted squares like this.  It's time to sew them together!

Use a compass or a plate to trace a quarter circle with about a 4 1/2" radius.  Trim potholder back along marked line, creating an opening for the pocket.

If you want to add a little contrasting piece of fabric to your binding, sew it on now.  Fold and press both bias and straight-grain binding in half, as for double-fold binding.

Pin bias binding to the curved opening in potholder back, as shown above. The raw edges of the binding should face out, just as they would if you were binding the edges of a quilt.  Sewing in place, using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Turn binding to the back and hand finish.

Place potholder back and potholder front together, matching linings.  Because of the number of layers, I used binding clips to hold them together.

Sew the front and back together, keeping your stitches near the edge (within the 1/4" seam allowance you'll use to sew the binding.

Pin and sew binding to potholder, just as you would for a quilt.  If you've added a contrasting piece to your binding, start pinning that end of the binding first, so you can determine its placement.

Fold binding to the back of the potholder and hand finish, as you would if binding a quilt.

That's it!  It's really just like making a little tiny quilt.

Fabrics used include Kokka giant strawberry print, Alexander Henry Fashion Dot, Kona Ivory and Kona Basil, Joel Dewberry Aviary faux bois, and Lecien Color Basics gingham.