As satisfying as a well-written recipe, a smart and thoughtful DIY is our kind of lunch break reading. Bonus points if it's an easy project AND teaches us how to make something beautiful.
Today: Liz Stanley at Say Yes (with assistance from Sara Albers and Sarah Iveson) shows us how whip up a linen potholder with just a few scraps of fabric and a couple deliberate stitches.
It’s crazy how quickly I can wear out a set of potholders -- especially during soup season! Being able to make your own means a new set is never far from reach, and it adds a personal touch to hostess gifts or to the gifts for any avid bakers on your list. They're easy to sew even for beginners, they double as great trivets, and the linen wears beautifully with time.
What You'll Need:
Two 9-inch by 9-inch pieces of linen
Two 9-inch by 9-inch pieces of batting, fusible or fleece
Iron
Sewing Pins
Sewing Machine
Chalk
1. Square one piece of linen on top of one piece of batting, matching the edges as best you can, then iron to fuse together. Repeat with other pieces. The batting is what gives the potholders their cushion, protecting you from heat; in a quilt, it acts as insulation.
2. Stack the two sets linen against linen, and pin around the edges. Yes, with the batting on the outside -- we'll flip them inside out later.
3. Using a sewing machine, sew along 3 sides about 1/4-inch from the edges. Sew 2/3 of the last edge, leaving a 3-inch opening near one corner; this is where you'll reach in to turn the potholder right side-out. Do that now.
4. Once it's right side-out, work the corners and sides so that your potholder is fully square. Iron it flat.
5. Make a final seam around the potholder 1/4-inch from all edges, closing up the hole as you go.
6. Mark with chalk where you want your quilting design to go. This part is just for decoration, so make any design you want! We went with this modern one; just be sure you make a few lines that go all the way across, to keep the batting in place over time.
7. Then sew along those lines. That's it!
Photos by Liz Stanley
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