Potholders are nothing new to our culture. Wikipedia explains some historical facts relating to them:
Throughout the pot-holder's lifetime, it has also been used as a representative symbol of various cultural movements. During the United States Abolitionist Movement, they were displayed by women who wanted to show their support for the Abolitionist cause.[1] These provided women with some way to casually identify as part of the Abolitionist Movement without overtly expressing such. Additionally, it is sometimes used by Cajun cultures as part of their Mardi Gras masks.[2] During the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, the interred Japanese created several pot-holders out of various colored fabrics in order to reflect their own culture.[3] This was done to break up the monotony, as the colorful nature of the crafts was in stark contrast to the generally bland surroundings of the camps.
Surfing the web looking for more history on these little gems – though fruitless in that area, brought me to this interesting pinterest site with some absolutely amazing crocheted potholders.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/220183869255628033/
One particular cutie popped out for me; https://www.pinterest.com/pin/435793701449244830/
But then, I HAVE been called the 'chicken lady'. I cannot help enjoying my 'girls' as they provide for us daily, with those lovely little green and brown jewels we so Love...in our custards, surrounding our breakfast sausages, embracing the ham and cheese in the quiches we devour...etc. They are truly amazing little dinosaurs! But, I digress...back to potholders.
For those of us with cookware that does NOT have heatproof handles, this neat video I found, shows a unique way to make potholder “handles” for just this need.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXw21bWc-Pg
Another variation of the lowly potholder is the “finger” version. This was new to me. Craft Genie explains the easy construction method for this cute addition to the kitchen collection of handy hand protectors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJaUvE7N2M4
If that wasn't enough variation to the lowly potholder design, enter – the “double knit hot pad”! I'll bet you thought that two potholders worked just peachy for handling those large 9 by 12 sized bake-ware items. Think again. Here's a better way...at least according to “Scrappy Patch”. Very inventive, I say.
If you are the more traditional “oven mitt” type person, Crafty Gemini has a neat tutorial on just this little item. Per her usual upbeat, easy teaching methods, you'll be making these potholder cousins in no time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtS5itzH9tk
There are as many patterns and as many designs as there are imaginations for making the lowly potholder. One can practice their free motion quilting with them, use the 'turn them inside out' method to finish the edges, or bind them like a traditional quilt. One can even leave them ragged on the edges...providing of course that the ragging is short so as not to tempt any nearby open flames near the stove tops. OF COURSE!
Insulbrite or some other form of heat resistant fabric works well in the middle of our hard working potholders – providing they will be used as real workhorses, not the third cousin – twice removed - decorative crocheted variations that began this post. But what is a finished kitchen, if not one with crafty eye candy hung about....
So make sure to hang on to all those fabric scraps and leftover yarns, to make sure you have the necessities to create any amazing forms of the lowly potholder, when you want a little fun time in the sewing or craft room. After all...fun time is something we all need to help us relax our nerves in the INTERESTING TIMES we find ourselves these days.
The lowly potholder; there is always room for one more!
