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!

ANGELS AMONG US...

Well folks, it is the 15th of February, 2020, LEAP YEAR as DH reminded me.  And that shawl I so carefully explained and promised - OMG - almost two years ago.....is still IN PROCESS.  Time waits for nothing!  

Noticed that, did 'ya! 

We are sojourning in the heavenly state of Oregon for another month or two before we mosy back to our roots in Colorado.  Oregon is too beautiful folks!  Moss hanging everywhere.  Water running around literally - every corner.  Rain - except for summer = several times a week.  NO WIND!  Well - they CALL it wind here.  Little do they know how SE Colorado WIND behaves.  But that - is for another post.

The soil I am convinced - has steroids in it 'cause...if you put ANYTHING in it - it grows...IN DAYS!  HMMMM...where did I put my dollar bills...

Probably not.

Just renewed this domain so you folks can simply input POTHOLDERSPLUS and it will bring you here, to this BLOGSPOT URL.  A new - expanded website upcoming in a 'few' to include all the OLD posts and pics.

DH still struggling.  Oh my but the trooper, that he is.  We've named our 'guardian angels', his is FRANK.  I talk to Frank -A LOT!  Hope he hears me.  DH can use some UNEARTHLY HEALING.  That too...another story, another day.

So for now - welcome back folks.  I promise to not be away so much.  New projects to create.  Some started - to be finished. Fabric still "follows" me - no matter how much I try to sell and give away. Such a burden.  Yeah - RIGHT!  TRUTH...is subjective, right?  RIGHT!

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I just acquired an early 1970's GOLDEN TOUCH 'n SEW model 750 in a nice, deluxe cabinet, available for sale.  Just had it tuned - "Dane" gave it "thumbs up" - actually charging only half price, it was so clean and well-cared for.  The plastic gears are solid; it's clean; even has a (1970's version) needle threader in it!  The manual is good/readable - simply missing the original cover.

18 extra bobbins.  The amazing auto bobbin winder, a feature that sometimes stops working on these machines - works beautifully.  I have always loved this feature.  Not only do you simply fill the bobbin without the usual fuss and fanfare of removal and cutting of thread and re-threading (ALL THAT UNNECESSARY with this dollbaby) but the bobbin thread gets wound at the same tension every time! Let me know if you want additional information on this.

Couple extra feet, 3 different feed dog plates - even one for darning/free-motion quilting etc., to cover feed dogs. AND...a bunch of fashion discs including FLEXI-STITCH ones.

"Angel wings" sent to you all.  We can all use a little...off the ground time - so to speak.

Some special Angel wishes:

-My dear Son is moving; can use some UPLIFT for improved health and increased strength thru his journey ahead
- Pastor Kent and his wife Lora are retiring soon, and moving. All that stress...can use some "intervention".
-Special CO friend with financial roadblocks; Angel strength and power wished her way.
-Some homeless folks - in particular, an elderly couple in poor health here in Oakridge, needing some INTERVENTION as well as so VERY many homeless folks across our nation - and the world.
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Looking for a particular type of potholder?  Or a unique pillow case pattern?

Jenny Doan at Missouri Star Quilt Company has a neat video on a quick, almost magic method for a darling pillowcase.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYWCma9wgM

Mr. Domestic shows the same method...with a few giggles to boot!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LOfWHrlccE

Yoan has a magical way of smiling her words across that makes her sewing seem - well...magical! Beautiful work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7-cLQFQjNw

Scrappy Patch youtube has a unique and utilitarian way to make potholders that are easy to hold - and strong. Gotta love denim!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2tdS9zY7wY

Guys, gals - no matter! DH has sewn too..."back in the day".  ANYONE can enjoy their creative juices with small projects like potholders.

If you want to see a special pattern for a potholder or any other small sewing project, please let us know here at POTHOLDERSPLUS. We'll 'get r done'!

Please give us your feedback.  We would enjoy hearing all about your sewing experiences.

And as we always say here at Potholdersplus; "There's always room for one more"!

Goodnite George....

Goodnite Gracie.

Thanksgiving to Christmas

Oh my gosh my sewing friends; it's been 4 years since I wrote here.  

I hear the Amtrak tooting its horn in the distance - such a mournful sound; yet...reminiscent of traveling days gone by - places we visited, people shared with....many years, many miles, many wrinkles, too many new generations.  

Life is amazing.  So many memories to cherish, people to recall;  MANY...whose 'footprints' are set in my heart's 'cemented places of freeze-frame memories'.

DH deals with increasing medical issues, but - per his usual unstoppable MO JO, persists in his tenacious handle on life, acceptance, the ultimate capacity to Love...  He is and has always been, and WILL always remain my 'resident angel'...teaching me the art and depth of forgiveness and tenacity. 

 A new 'kitty-kitty' graces our property - a Loving, cuddly, combination of need-to-be-Loved...but scared as well – bundle of creation.  As I sit in the dried up garden, he cavorts in numerous variations of rubbing, snuggling, twisting and turning under my 'petting hand'.. his capacity for Love and closeness...soothed my low mood - reminded me that Love - is the ultimate bond that gathers us all together in an Earth-Recipe that can boggle the mind and fill the senses with awe, wonder, mystery and hardship.

This is by no means an easy life. Neil de Grasse Tyson, the new Captain of the show Cosmos which was originally charted so amazingly by my hero and mentor - Carl Sagan, does a pretty good follow-up job.  When asked if he believed in God, his response was something in the order of..."No Loving God I can imagine would put us on such a dangerous planet!"   And indeed, planet Earth can be an unsafe path to navigate.  When one begins to ponder the numerous manners in which one could 'pass on' even in their own home - well, it's craziness. We are so fragile and yet so strong....all of Creation.  The complexities of life....

I'd rather recall..

-the new chicks crawling out from under Mama's wings.  
-the new-born foal struggling for purchase on brand new, not-so-cooperating, shaky legs
-a new bird cracking through the prison/bassinet of pale blue shell, aching to spread it's wings, taste it's first beak of clear water, yearning for the moment of first flight through the pale blue and white wonder of the space we call...sky.

But this is a sewing blog!  SEWING...it is.

These past few weeks, I am conjuring...you know that creative state of mind where those video - type, constantly moving - 3D mind games, begin to grab images and place them in puzzle-like randomness...as a new 'creation' from the depths of human imagination - begins to slowly merge into a...'creatable' piece of clothing?!  

A new Shawl is coming together in my creative space.  It will be crafted with artisan hand-sewing using #10 crochet thread...placed along the edges of seamed pieces of used, earth-colored (with some brighter pastels) pieces of old sweatshirts.  The SOFTNESS of the double-knit fabric calls me; the slight stretchiness...soothes my rough emotional edges of late.  It will be comfortable, warm and of little stress to my financial reserves.

I'm imagining... some of the lovely embroidery left on older sweatshirts - still intact and lovely...added as patchwork in a few places...   Yes,,,coming soon....

I can find no similar YouTube videos on such uses of these plentiful thrift-shop goodies. This may be something new to pass along......

here...

on POTHOLDERSPLUS.BLOGSPOT.COM.

Stay tuned!

Danielle

Special Tribute: SNOWSHOE Kitty Korner

In memory of our dear LILYLOU, Snowshoe kitty extraordinaire, 18 year friend and companion, I post this tribute to her dear paw-prints that fill my heart...forever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowshoe_cat

If you would like to read more information on our Lilylou, please find my post here:

http://trailsofnature.blogspot.com/2014/05/trails-of-love-my-lilylou.html

To our Lilylou, Oh so special Snowshoe kitty friend....

CRAZY, SCRAPPY QUILT PICTURES

The pictures below are pretty, artistic examples of this Scrappy, Crazy Quilting way to play with fabric. I've requested a guest post/tutorial from Emily; we'll see if she can squeeze us into her busy schedule.





Pinks are my passion so this block got first billing.

 

This one above is so balanced; all the strips 'feel' like they link together in a flowing interlude.  More pictures are available here.

Let's hope Emily will oblige our invitation for a tutorial to take us from start to finish with her Scrappy, Crazy Quilt project.

Of course, any of these blocks would make worthy potholders to grace any kitchen!

There is...always room for one more!

Crazy, Scrappy Quilting Tips

I garnered a few quilting tips over the past week while surfing through some Scrappy Quilting sites. I've pulled out three and expounded on them below.  Hopefully, they may help your next project achieve a higher finish to perfection. I know these tips will give my Scrappy, Crazy Quilting a new touch.

With many of my Crazy,  Scrappy Quilting potholders, I find it cumbersome at times when sewing on the binding because the pieces of fabric on the edge tend to move around.  Andie Johnson runs a stitch line around the backside of her block to stabilize these edge pieces.  Great tip, Andie...and your Scrappy, Quilting block is lovely, as well!

Jennifer has a Scrappy, Crazy Quilted table runner on Etsy that shows a nice arrangement of interlocking strips.  She arranged her pieces so they gently flow from the typical 5 sided center beginning, into an interlocking directional flow of 2 basic angles aiming toward the ends.  This arrangement gives a sense of motion, direction and added length to the overall look of the finished piece. Nice touch of creativity, Jennifer.

Judie gives a short, precise tutorial on a Crazy, Scrappy Quilted block.  Though I've seen numerous explanations on how to keep the original angles going as you work out from the center piece, this simple tute leaves no mystery to making a perfect Scrappy block. And your embellishments are stunning, Judie!

Added note:  Some videos and tutorials suggest that you sew down (usually 1/8 inch from the edges) all 4 or 5 sides of your center beginning piece onto your foundation block fabric.  I find that using 505 spray adhesive (or your favorite brand) on the back of this piece, saves time and serves the same purpose.  As an added bonus, spraying keeps the entire piece of fabric stable, for whatever quilting you do afterwards.

We'd love to see and learn from your quilting tips and short cuts you use with your Scrappy, Crazy Quilting method.  Feel free to leave a comment.

Potholders are an easy, quick method of quilting - trying out your new-found skills.  Practice brings perfection oh-so-much-closer, and with a minimum of fabric, time and energy.  And you now own a lowly potholder - an indispensable part of the kitchen team.

Here at Le Petit Chat..... ...there's always room for one more!

                                  Not ANOTHER flash in my eyes!

CALLING ALL CATS

In tempo with our kitty corner expansion here on potholdersplus, (Le Petit Chat), you can now indulge yourself with all sorts of cat fabrics to create your latest and greatest scrappy quilted cat projects.  Several web-sites sell lovely fabric filled with kitty pics of all varieties.

www.quiltedcatfabric.com/shop/Just-Cats/NEW.htm has Christmas cats, Vintage cats, bad cats, realistic cats, cats for children and variations therein. There are large prints to center your favorite cat picture inside a random scrappy quilted potholder, as we did for our February giveaway.

   

Or, you can combine all sorts of random cat fabrics and allow your creativity to run amuck..okay, at least run a tad wild?

For $33.15 you can belong to the quilted cat quarters club and receive up to 3 coordinating colors to enhance any project that may be percolating in your quilted imagination. And if you are anywhere near Blandon, Pennsylvania, hop in your little mobile and stop by the store;they would so enjoy helping you discover your heart's delight!

www.meowscape.com...known as Katbeary's Fabric Shoppe, takes their cat-staff very seriously! (too funny!)  I'm particularly attracted to the "head clerk", near the bottom of the page:

 Photo of Kohanna, below, taken from Katbeary's Fabric Shoppe at www.meowscape.com.




Kohanna: Head Clerk, Katbeary's Fabric Shoppe
Though still in training, Kohanna vows
to make Katbeary purroud.
She knows she has big paws to fill!

"Hello Kitty" brand name has an interesting origin, according to Wikipedia;  "Hello Kitty (ハローキティ Harō Kiti^?)^[3] (full name Kitty White (キティ・ホワイト Kiti howaito^?))^[2] is a fictional character produced by the Japanese company Sanrio, first designed by Yuko Shimizu. She is portrayed as a female white Japanese bobtail cat with a red bow.^[1] The character's first appearance on an item, a vinyl coin purse, was introduced in Japan in 1974 and brought to the United States in 1976."

Many fabrics use this kitty logo and can be found at Sy Fabrics, the find, the fabricworm as well as Hobby Lobby, and many other online stores.   

NOTE:  I favor Hobby Lobby whenever I can, as I respect their willingness to stand up to the government to protect their religious values.

So pullout your scrap box/drawer/jar or wherever those anxious little leftovers live.  Take stock of your colors and pick out a matching cat fabric from any of these websites and begin your new and exciting scrappy quilted cat creation.

Now don't forget to share your works of art with us here at potholdersplus.  We will gladly show off your lovelies; let us know when you're ready.

 

Potholders...there's always room for one more!