Pretty Little Potholder TUTORIAL

Need a quick hostess gift? Or stocking stuffer? You'll love this! We are making a potholder!!

1. Fabric: You'll need a 4" square for the center (fussy cutting recommended!), a 7" solid square for the first frame, a 9" print for the second frame, an 8 1/2" square for the backing and a 2 1/2" x width of fabric strip for the binding.

You will also need batting. I used this.

2. Cutting the Frames: Cut the 7" and 9" squares into fourths diagonally. Align the square with the 45° line on your cutting board and cut from corner to corner.

It should look like this.

3. Sewing the First Frame: Fold your center square in half to find the center. Finger press.

Fold a solid triangle in half to find the center. Finger press.

Align the folded marks.

Sew along the edge with a 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat for the opposite side.

Press away from the center. Marry the seams first:) You *can* trim the excess off the sides; I don't bother because we are going to square up.

Repeat this process for the two remaining sides.

4. Squaring the First Frame: You will need a well marked ruler. The edges are not square/straight. We will use the center square as the basis for squaring up.

Align the ruler 1/4" beyond the right intersection.

Make sure that the same line is going through both the top intersection...

And the bottom intersection. Cut.

Now use the side you just cut as the straight line to trim the other three sides. Always cut 1/4" from the intersection if the center square and first frame.

5. Sewing the Second Frame: You will sew the second frame in the same manner as the first. HOWEVER, you will trim 1/2" from the intersection. You want to sew with the center square/first frame on top. If you sew directly through the intersection, your point will be perfect.

It should look like this.

Trim 1/2" from the intersection.

It will look like this.

6. Quilting: Make a sandwich with your backing, the batting and your pieced front.

I quilted with three simple lines around the center square, but the pattern is up to you!

Trim off any excess. Use your pieced front as the guide. It should look like this.

7. Binding: Press your binding in half lengthwise. Cut off a 6" piece.

Fold in the raw edge to the pressed line.

Repeat for the other raw edge and press.

Top stitch along the edge to close the piece.

Fold the piece as shown.

Place it in the corner of the back. If your center square is directional, make sure it is right side up. Sew a short seam in the corner to hold it in place.

Bind. I sewed mine on the machine (even though machine binding offends me:) because this is a utilitarian project for me. But I made a bunch as gifts and I sewed that binding by hand. It's up to you!

Let me know if you have any questions and as always, upload your completed amazingness to the Made with May Chappell Flickr group.xo LC