Mini-Quilts

 Are you a frustrated quilter, never enough time in your day to cut out ALL those little pieces, match them, for all the HOURS it takes to at least complete a throw quilt, if not a bed quilt of varying sizes?

Well folks, onto your frustrated scene marches the lowly potholder.  Only takes an hour or three...can be displayed in your kitchen either on the wall or in/on other spaces.  Not to mention the utility it creates for those hot chores that can aggravate your skin cells as they attempt to navigate your hot pot handles! OUCH.

There are as many ways to quilt a lowly potholder as there are ways to traditionally quilt:

-log cabin

-rail fence

-scrappy

-crazy

and so forth. Allow me to bring to your attention some of these exciting methods, to enhance your quilting skills, add to your kitchen design, pick up and support your color scheme there, use up scraps in your sewing room and maybe most importantly - exercise your creative sewing energies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfn13KReGCU

Erica from SEW.QUILT.CREATE shows off an easy example of a traditional pattern with her pretty christmas fabrics. Then she adds a traditional quilting finish with a quick binding and a neat way to connect the ends. Presto, now she has a quick holiday item to add to her baking area, or a lovely gift to wrap and add to her holiday giving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcX-tQhVtbU

Sherri from THE QUILTING LIFE presents an easy, detailed tutorial on a 16 and 20 patch quilted potholder.  She shares several interesting points for making these lovelies.  

-How she does her quilting

-How she adds batting to the Insul-Brite for a thicker potholder

-How she rounds her corners

-How she uses BIAS binding because of the rounded corners - instead of regular binding

-Explains her reasons for HAND STITCHING the binding on the opposite side instead of machine finishing.

-How she includes a little 'hook' to hang the potholder - if desired.

A more detailed tutorial, yet all points are succinctly explained for even a beginning sewer.  Have at it folks: hands down, the lowly potholder is a beautiful way to express your creativity - no matter what your sewing level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9WNLONQnQo

Becca from SEW BECCA presents a 30 plus minute tutorial on 4  different types of potholders: the last is my fav! So sit back, maybe with your fav drink and be prepared to enjoy. Some parts may be familiar, some not.

RE: the last example: I have also used 4 triangles to make this jewel, your choice.  As well, most people use only 2 choice fabrics.  Be creative - use 4 different fabrics to sparkle up your creation! 4 examples of the lowly potholder...magic again!

One of life's MAGIC ways to reboot...rejuvinate your day, your hours - can be easily achieved by an hour or two - in your sewing area.  Don't think you have an area?  Yes indeeddy you do, your kitchen table!  Get a small plastic tote and fill with your basic sewing necessities...scissors, thread, pins, ruler. Use a small, vintage portable machine and set your "sewing area" up. Eating on your TV trays for a nite or two...won't erase your lifestyle. Change - particularly TEMPORARY change...can stir up your energy, your creativity.  Can't hurt to try.  In a few hours, you will have a new LOWLY POTHOLDER; something YOU created - to adorn your kitchen area. 

The MAGIC of making!

Thankx for sharing.

danielle