Fabric Obsession: HEART POT HOLDER TUTORIAL

I have never made a big deal out of the Valentine's holiday. Normally, I give my husband or children a little token gift and a card to let them know I love them. I tend to keep it simple.

This year and in the spirit of Valentines Day, I made each of my children a heart pot holder. I can see each of them rolling their eyes when they open their gifts, but its the thought that counts, right? Better yet, its homemade and made specially for them by their mother! (LOL!!)

I found the tutorial on Pinterest (via www.aspoonfulofsugar.com) It was a very quick project and I had all the materials on hand. Sew, in light of Valentines Day, I thought I would also share a little token gift with you. A tutorial!

HEART POT HOLDER TUTORIAL

Materials:

4 fat quarters of quilting cotton

quilt batting (such as Warm & Natural)

Insul-Bright batting

Red felt or wool

Pot Holder Template

1. Cut the fabrics, as follows:

2 hearts from Fabric 1 for the front of the pot holder (Red floral fabric, shown below)
1 heart in Fabric 2 for the lining of the pot holder (Tan fabric, shown below)
1 heart in Fabric 3 for the back of the pot holder (Large print floral print on tan fabric)
2 hearts in quilt batting. Cut one of these hearts in half as pictured below
1 heart in Insult-Bright batting

Using the small heart template, cut

1 heart in red (or pink) felt or wool

Cut two rectangles, measuring 2 1/4 x 8 inches from Fabric 4 (red fabric) for the binding on the front of the pot holder.

2. Press the two red floral hearts in half with the wrong sides facing together. Place a piece of batting inside each red heart (using the batting heart that has been cut in half).

To create a binding strip, press the fabric rectangles in half lengthwise. Unfold, and fold the edges into the center, and press. Fold in half so that you have a binding strip that measures 8 inches by 9/16 inch.

Pin the binding strip to the inside edges of the red hearts and stitch in place. Trim the ends of the binding strip flush with the heart formation.

Pin the felt (or wool) heart in position. Blanket stitch the heart in place.

3. Position the red hearts on top of the pot holder lining (tan) and pin in place. Stitch around the outside of the pot holder using a basting stitch and a scant seam allowance. Press.

4. Trace the quilting pattern (i.e. 2 heart shapes) onto the back of the pot holder using a water soluble or heat soluble pen. Pin the back of the pot hold to the Insul-Bright and batting hearts.

Quilt the heart design on the pot holder back. Remove the soluble pen markings. Baste around the outside of the backing with a scant seam allowance only to hold the three layers (i.e. backing, batting and Insul-Bright) in place.

5. Pin the pot holder back and front together with the right sides facing. Stitch around the outside of the pot holder leaving a 3 inch gap one side (preferably not on the curve) for turning. Clip curves.

Turn the pot holder out the right way through the opening. Machine or hand stitch the opening closed. Press.

6. Top stitch around the outside of the pot holder using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press.