Learn how to make potholders. Potholders are a necessary item in the kitchen to protect your hands from heat when removing things from the oven, microwave, or stovetop. They can be hung on hooks to decorate and add color to your kitchen. Making your own DIY potholders means you can have beautifully coordinated fabrics instead of boring plain ones like you get in the shops. They make great gifts and are quick and easy to make.

How to Make Potholders Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to make potholders with or without binding. Traditionally most store-bought ones have binding but you can make ones without. Making pot holders without binding is a great method for beginners.

How to Make Potholders - Supplies

INSULATING OR HEAT RESISTANT BATTING - This may also be called thermal batting. Because your potholders will be holding hot items, it is important to purchase batting to insulate your hand from any heat. Insul-Bright is a brand of insulating batting made from polyester and can be used for potholders, oven mitts, and ironing board covers.

WARNING - Do not use regular quilting batting as you will burn your hands when you use the potholder.

FABRIC - 100% Cotton fabric is recommended. Look for quilting fabric pre-cuts such as fat quarters or layer cakes. Otherwise, check your scrap basket for some tightly woven cotton fabric. Linen can also be used as it is a natural fabric. Synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon are not suitable for potholders as they can't take the heat and may even melt.
BINDING (for potholders with binding) - 2 ¼ inch (5.7cm) binding strips or ½ inch (12mm) double fold bias tape. You will need a 100% cotton binding and not a cotton/poly blend. You can cut the binding straight or on the bias. I have a tutorial on how to make bias tape if you would like to make your own.
COTTON RIBBON (for potholders without binding) - Make a loop at the top of your potholder with cotton ribbon or twill tape.
SSEWING BASICS - Sewing machine, scissors, pins, iron, thread

What is the Best Size for Potholders?

Potholders do come in various sizes but a fairly useable standard size is 7 x 9 inches (18x23cm).

How to Make Potholders with Patchwork Blocks

Now your fabric pieces don't need to be plain. You can use quilting blocks to make fancy patchwork potholders. You may choose to save some time and effort by using patchwork on the top and a plain rectangle on the bottom.

Here are some patchwork blocks you can use:

How to Make Potholders With Binding

Potholders with binding around the edges are attractive and are great for confident sewers. The binding adds a pop of color and a loop can be added at the top all in one motion. Using bound edges allows you to use thicker batting.

Step 1 - Cut the Fabric for the DIY Potholders

Fabric - Cut 2 rectangles 7 x 9 inches (18 x 23cm). The potholder will end up approximately the same size as the fabric you cut.
Insulating Batting - Cut 2 squares of batting the same size as your fabric. (We will use a double layer of batting for extra protection.
Binding or Bias Tape - Cut 40 inches (102cm).

Step 2 - Sandwich the Fabric and Batting

Place the 2 pieces of fabric with the wrong sides together with the 2 layers of batting in the middle. Secure the layers with some safety pins as they will probably be too thick for regular pins.

DIY Potholders - Adding the Insulating Batting

Step 3 - Quilt the DIY Potholders

Baste around the edges and trim. When basting, it is easier to sew on the fabric side. Quilt the top of the potholder in a 1 inch (2.5cm) grid. I used a diagonal pattern but you can use a square grid or even sew random squiggles.

*How to Make Potholders With Binding - Quilt*

Step 4 - Trim the Edges

Trim the edges so they are even. It is best to use a rotary cutter and a quilting ruler. Make sure you protect your table by using a cutting mat. Your rectangles will probably end up a little smaller. Just make sure they are nice and square off as that is what is most important.

Step 5 - Apply the Bias Tape

Apply the binding to the edges of the potholder. There are 2 main methods you can use - quilt binding or double fold bias tape. I have a full tutorial on how to bind a quilt. Of course, a potholder is much smaller than a quilt but the technique used is exactly the same.

Quick and Easy Method

The method I found the easiest was to use ½ inch (12mm) double fold bias tape slipped over the edges. This is a quick method of applying bias tape. For a full tutorial on this method read how to sew bias tape corners.

You will notice that double fold bias tape is wider on one side. Place the tape so the shorter edge is facing up.

Mark the halfway position on the top of the potholder. I used a pin. Slip the bias tape over the edge starting about a ½ inch (12mm) to the left of the center. You can use pins or quilting sewing clips to hold the bias tape in place.

Stitch close to the edge of the bias all the way to the first corner. Then fold the bias tape down at 90 degrees. Fold it back over making a nice mitered corner. Hold it with a pin.

Stitch down the next side.

When you get back to where you started, overlap the bias by about ½ inch (12mm) to the center, then sew the edge of the bias tape to form what will become the loop. You should sew about 5 inches (12.5cm) of bias.

Fold the loop over, stitch and cut the excess at the back. If you sew the loop into your previous stitching line, it will be almost invisible.

How to Make Potholders With No Binding

Learn how to make potholders with no binding! These are really quick and easy and a great sewing project for beginners or if you are a little short on time. These potholders still have 2 layers of batting so are just as effective as the bound version.

Step 1 - Cut the Fabric

Fabric - Cut 2 rectangles 7 ¾ x 9 ¾ inches (19.5cm x 25cm) . This will give you a finished size of 7 x 9 inches (18 x 23cm).
Insulating Batting - Cut 2 squares of batting the same size as your fabric. (We will use a double layer of batting for extra protection.
Ribbon or Tape - Cut 5 inches (13cm).

Step 2 - Add the Loop

Cut 5 inches (13cm) of ribbon or tape. Baste a ribbon loop in the top center of one of the pieces of fabric. I used some of the double fold bias tape stitched along one edge but you could also use ribbon or tape which is ⅜ inch (1cm).

Step 3 - Layer the Batting

On the wrong side of both of the fabric pieces, place the batting pieces on top.

Step 4 - Stitch Around the Edges

Put the fabric with right sides together and stitch around the edge with a ⅜ inch seam (1cm) leaving a 2 inch (5cm) gap on one side as shown.

You don't need to serger or finish the raw edges since they will be encased inside when the DIY potholder is turned the right way out.

How to Make Potholders Without Binding - Stitch — *How to Make Potholders Without Binding -* Stitch

Step 5 - Turn and Press

Clip the corners and turn the potholder the right way out. Press well and make sure the corners are poked out.

*How to Make Potholders Without Binding - Press*

Step 6 - Handstitch the Gap Closed

Using an invisible stitch, close the gap. If you don't feel like hand stitching, just topstitch all the way around the edge.

Step 7 - Quilt the Top

Quilt a grid across the potholder to hold all the layers together. I used a diamond shape pattern with the lines approximately 1 inch (2.5cm) apart. A walking foot can help minimize puckers.

How to Make Potholders in Other Shapes

You can make potholders of almost any shape using the above instructions. Round, oval, square, and rectangular are all popular shapes. When rounding corners, just use a cup or small tin from your pantry to make a template. A suggested size for a square potholder is 9 inches. (23cm).

How to Make Potholders - In Conclusion

Now you know how to make potholders, you are ready to go and cook up a storm in the kitchen. Make embellished or plain DIY potholders in your favorite fabrics and give them as gifts.

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