FO Friday – Magic Potholder

I’ve been spending most of my time working on a new knitting pattern, so, there hasn’t been a lot of FOs in my life. But. Sunday afternoon, I decided to break out my crochet hook and try out this Magic Potholder. I was able to finish one potholder in just a few hours (that’s amazing for me!)!! With success like that, I went ahead and crocheted up another one. I do have to say, the pattern worked up on the smallish side for me (6 inches). That could be because I didn’t work up a gauge swatch (I’m reckless that way….). BUT. I did read on a different pattern, that you could vary the size by adjusting the amount of chains you start with, on my 3rd potholder, I’m starting with 40 chains instead of the 30 I used in the 1st 2 potholders. We’ll see how that works out for me. What FOs are in your life? Having any great success lately?

Happy crocheting!

Lori

Tutorial Tuesday – Add a Hanging Loop to a Washcloth

A recent project was to make a washcloth using the Seed Stitch Pattern. As I was binding off, I decided I wanted to add an I-Cord hanging loop. It’s very easy. Here’s how to add a hanging loop to almost any knit washcloth, dishcloth or potholder…..

How to Add a Hanging Loop to a Washcloth:

Bind off to the last 3 stitches. Leave these 3 stitches on the needle. Begin knitting your I-cord.

Knit until I-cord is desired length (I knit mine 4 inches in length). Bind off. Make a loop and secure to wrong side of your washcloth (dishcloth? potholder?). Weave in ends and BOOM! You’re done! Pour yourself a cup of something, sit back and admire how clever you are! 😉

Happy Knitting!

Lori

Supporting My Local Quilt Shop! ;)

Yesterday, a friend and I took a trip to a local quilt shop ( Tater Patch Quilts ). It was an AMAZING quilt shop! I should have gotten some photos for you all to see, but, I was a little busy Oogling fabrics! Even though they had the most BEAUTIFUL fabrics, by looking at the selection above, I see I stuck with fabrics within my comfort zone (small scale fabrics in reds, browns and golds). Sometimes it’s hard to break habits!

This recipe print fabric is really the only fabric that is out of the ordinary for me. I thought it was cute, but what in the world would you do with it? My friend convinced me that it would make cute potholders. Well, you can’t argue with that! It WOULD make cute potholders! See how easily I can be persuaded when it comes to fabric?!?! 😉

Now that I have this fabric home, I ‘ve also thought of some other ideas to use this fabric . I wonder if I should have bought more than what I did? 😉 I think a return trip might be in the works soon!

How does your stash look? Maybe a trip to a local fabric store is needed?

Happy Sewing/Quilting!

Lori

Tutorial Tuesday – EZ Potholder Construction

 

As promised, the Potholder Construction I used to make my Denim Potholders. It’s very simple construction. It has what looks like a narrow binding….without the fuss of binding! I’ll also give you a method that requires no hand stitching (if hand stitching is not your thing)! I hope you find it as EZ as I do! Let’s get started!

EZ Potholders – Finished Size – 8×8 inches

Materials:

• Main Fabric, Contrast Fabric and Batting (I used a heat-resistant batting) – 1/4 yard of each
• Thread

Cutting List:

Main Fabric-

• 7-1/2″x7 -1/2″ square (1) Front fabric

 

Contrast Fabric-

• 8-1/2″x8-1/2″ square (1) Backing Fabric
• 1″x9-1/2″ strip (4) “Binding” Fabric
• 1-1/2″x4″ strip (1) Loop Fabric

Batting-

8-1/2″x8-1/2″ square

Directions:

Using a 1/4″ seam, sew one of your “binding” strips to one side of your (Main fabric) front square . I prefer using the walking foot on my machine, but any multi-purpose foot will work.

Sew another strip to the opposite side of your (Main fabric) front square. Press the seam allowances toward the strips and trim the ends to square up.

 

Sew the other two strips to the remaining edges of your (Main fabric) front square (including the edges of your “binding” strips just sewn). Trim edges to square up.

With right sides together fold your hanging loop in half long edges (4″) together. Sew the long edges using a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. Turn loop right side out. Press flat with seam to one side. Edgestitch this side (if you want to try my no-hand sew method, edgestitch the other long edge also). Fold raw edges together to form your loop. Pin loop in the left corner (as you look it) of your front square. This will become critical if you have a one-way print! Baste in place using an 1/8″ seam allowance.

Time to layer up your potholder…..Place your batting on your work surface. Place the WRONG side of your (Contrast fabric) Backing square onto the batting. Then, place your assembled front square on top of the backing square, RIGHT sides together. Pin around leaving a 5-6″ opening in the center of one of the sides.

Place the batting side down on your sewing machine and using a 1/4″ seam allowance sew around your potholder. Make sure you leave that 5-6″ opening for turning. I only mention that because I may or may not have forgotten that on one of my potholders…. 😉

Trim the corners and turn your potholder right side out.

I use one of my DPNs to poke the corners out. It’s the only good use I’ve found for DPNs since I learned to knit Magic Loop 😉

Fold the seam allowances of your opening in and pin to hold. Now, you can either sew this edge shut by hand OR edgestitch around the edge of the entire potholder (I prefer this method).

The last step (YAY!) is to edgestitch the opposite edge of the “binding” (the edges seamed to your main fabric square).

That’s it! You’re done! Now sit back and admire your new potholder! AND. Start planning your next potholder!

Happy Sewing!

Lori

Modification Monday – Denim Potholders

Recently, I convinced myself I needed to:

1. Use my (what I still refer as my new….)  sewing machine more often.
2. Use up some of the old jeans I’ve been hoarding.
3. Use up some of some of my scrap fabrics.

So, I started perusing Pinterest for ideas. I stumbled across this denim potholder post . Bingo! It was perfect! Sewing machine, old jeans and scrap fabrics! Plus….I’d get some NEW potholders out of the deal! I definitely need those….I’m not even going to post a photo of what I’m currently using. Let’s just say, unless you’re holding the pad the right way, you’re going to burn your fingers! 😉

I’ll tell you right now, It would have been easier to just follow Mary’s instructions and whip up a bunch of potholders. But No-o-o-o-o-o! I decided my potholders needed a hanging loop AND I might have an easier method (and I might….stay tuned, a tutorial is on it’s way 😉 )!

If you decide to make some of Mary’s potholders (and you really should) and want a few with the pockets on them, here’s the tricky part about using the pockets…..

There is not enough seam allowance between the pocket and the yoke on some jeans!

I broke out my handy-dandy seam ripper and tore the stitches out of the yoke.

Once the stitches are remove, pull the yoke up and you’ll gain almost a 1/2 “.

Cut as close as you can to the yoke seam. Then you’ll just need to center the potholder (front) square over your pocket and proceed with the construction (Mary’s or your favorite) . If you don’t need potholders, I bet you know someone who does! Hostess/Christmas gift time is approaching fast! YIKES!

Who do you know who needs new potholders?

Happy Sewing!

Lori