subject: Craft A Pot Holder From Unwanted Fabric [print this page] Craft making is a great opportunity to make the perfect present for friends and family and a nice way to relax and slow down. This is because crafting is a very therapeutic pastime which can also yield something decorative and useful.
Everyone is creative to some extent and through the use of templates and handicraft kits, even learners can produce something imaginative without becoming stressed and frustrated.
Having your own sewing machine is very useful because then you could learn how to craft a pot holder for the home or as a gift for a loved one, especially if that someone cherishes their home and garden.
Pot holders are easy to create for a learner as all you'll need is some scrap fabric or disused items of clothing and some double fold binding tape. So far, this task has cost very little, although if you wish to make your pot holder a little nicer then you could use ribbon instead of tape!
If youd like to create yourself a pot holder then just follow the instructions below:
Craft a Pot Holder
To start with cut two eight inch (21 cm) squares of fabric for the front and back of the pot holder. Pick coordinating fabrics which go with the decor in the kitchen for these two squares. If you would like a bigger pot holder simply increase the dimensions.
No matter what youre making, ideally you should make a pattern first, if required. Using a piece of cardboard measure and cut out 8 inches square to use when cutting out a stack of fabric squares.
The pot holder must have a filling so use the pattern to cut out a small pile of squares for this purpose. There should be enough of a stack so that the filling will shield your hands from heated pots and pans but thin and flexible enough so that you can sew them together easily.
Stack all layers so that the outer layers are facing to the outside and the filler layers are inside. If necessary, pin them together in order to keep the layers in place during sewing. Sew straight over the centre of the stack. Sew across the centre again, perpendicular to the first stitching. You will have divided the stack into 4 squares. Sew across the stack once more from corner to corner, and once more from the opposite corner. Your stack should now be sturdy and all joined together.
In order to bind the ragged edges of your pot holder, using scissors trim the edges to make them all even. Open out one folded edge of the bias binding tape. You can use a wider binding tape for this task, however the thinner tape allows for a tidier finish.
Beginning at one corner, line up the edges of the tape with the edges of the pot holder and start stitching through all layers along the first fold line, that is about 1/4 inch from the edge. Sew neatly and at a slow pace, attaching the opened tape all round the edge until you reach the corner you started with. Cut off the remainder of the tape, leaving 3 inches (7 cm) or more if you'd prefer, to turn into a loop for hanging.
Fold the binding tape over the raw edge so that the centre fold lines up with the outside of the pot holder and the other fold is covering the raw edge of the binding tape. Sew the tape by hand for the best result, remembering to form a loop in the tape at the end. For further ideas of stuff to make buy some books on family crafts and hobbies.
As a result, you will have a useful item made to fit in with the decor at anyone's house and home and made by recycling unwanted materials and clothing.
