Potholder from Scrap Fabrics
If you need a gift for a special person, or just need
some time to unwind, make a creative handicraft. Crafting is
therapeutic when you are feeling stressed, and it also can
yield a useful or decorative item. Everyone has some measure
of creativity, and with modern kits and patterns, a creative
handicraft does not have to end in frustration.
If you have a sewing machine, you can learn to make a
creative handicraft that will be a useful and welcome gift.
Potholders are a great beginning sewing project that can be
made from scrap material or unwanted clothing and a bit of
double-fold bias tape. Here are the simple instructions for
this creative handicraft.
First cut two 8-inch (21 cm.) squares of fabric to be the
front and back of the potholder. Choose coordinating fabrics
that match your kitchen for these pieces. To make it easier,
you can make an 8-inch square pattern from a piece of
cardboard to use as a pattern. Cut more 8-inch squares of
any old fabric to stack for the filling. You want the stack
of fabric squares to be thick enough to protect you from a
hot pot, but thin enough to be flexible and able to be sewn
through.
Stack all layers so that the outer layers are facing to the
outside and the filler layers are inside. You can put a
couple of large straight pins through all layers to keep
them together. Now sew right across the middle of the stack.
Sew across the middle again, perpendicular to the first
stitching. You will have divided the square into 4 squares.
Sew across the stack again from corner to corner, and again
from the other corner to corner. The layers should be joined
and sturdy now.
To bind off the raw edges of your creative handicraft, trim
with scissors so that all the layers are again even at the
edges. Open out one folded edge of the bias tape. The wider
bias tape might seem to be easier to use, but the narrow
type makes a neater finished product. Starting at one
corner, line up the edges of the tape with the edges of the
potholder, and start stitching through all layers along the
first fold line, which will be about 1/4 inch from the edge.
Stitch neatly and slowly, attaching the opened tape all
around the edge until you reach the beginning corner. Cut
the bias tape off, leaving 3 inches, (7 cm.) to make into a
hanging loop.
Fold the bias tape over the raw edge so that the middle fold
lines up with the outside of the potholder and the other
fold is hiding the raw edge of the bias tape. Now, for best
results, hand sew the binding down, forming a loop on your
creative handicraft when you get to the end.
This potholder is just one example of a creative handicraft
you can create if you have a sewing machine. When it is
finished, you will have a useful item made from all recycled
materials. Feel free to give this creative handicraft away
or keep it for yourself.
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