Thursday, June 10, 2010

Hot Potholder Tutorial & A Fabric Giveaway!


Ok, so we just saw how Insul-Fleece keeps thinks cool with the Chic Lunch Sac, now today's project shows how to use it for the hot stuff.   Now I know this isn't the most original, but it is something we all use, the good old potholder.  This item has been on my to-do list for ages, but kept getting pushed back by more creative projects.  So can you guess what kind of potholder I've been using for the past year?

The one that had a giant blue Christmas snowman on it, random food stains and a burned off corner from where it caught fire at one point (don't even ask how).  Ridiculous, I know.  But besides just procrastinating, I knew that I wanted the ones I made to really hold the heat back.  Enter Insul-Fleece!

What you'll need:
- fat quarter or 1/4 yd Cute cotton fabric
- 1/4 yd Insul-Fleece
- 1/4 yd Cotton Batting
- 1 package of double fold bias tape
- Sewing notions (thread, rotary cutter/scissors, ruler, tailor's chalk or sewing marking pen)

Decide what dimensions you want (I traced my bogus snowman one which had rounded corners) and cut out 2 of each fabric per potholder: 


Stack the pieces like a sandwich so the cotton prints are the outer pieces, the batting is directly under those and the Insul-Fleece is in the center like this:


Now for a little quilted action, measure and draw lines with your marking pen diagonally across the potholder, 1.25 inches apart:


Stitch over the lines:


Now start stitching on your bias tape in the middle of the top side.  Since all the layers make it pretty thick, it's easier to hold the bias tape on with your hand as you go instead of using pins.  Once you've gotten all the way around to meet the starting end, make a loop (approx. 2 inches), cut your bias tape and then stitch the end down to make some hot little numbers like these:


Now onto our hot giveaway - some fab fabric!  A while back I discovered PET fabric (most commonly used for reusable bags & made from recycled pop/water bottles) and made these shopping bags:


This fabric is ideal because:
  • It holds it's shape without needing interfacing
  • Lightweight, but strong
  • Doesn't fray
I'm looking for more great uses for this material & want you to try it out too.  

So here's your chance to win a fat quarter of each of these cherry & damask prints!

To get your first entry: Leave a comment telling me what you would make with this fabric

Additional entries (leave a separate comment for each one): 
- An additional project idea using this fabric
- Become a follower of Sew Can Do
- Add the CraftShare button to your blog

GIVEAWAY CLOSED. The giveaway will be open until 11:59pm EST June 13, 2010.  I'll announce the winner on June 15th.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!


52 comments:

  1. thanks for the tutorial.
    i'm tempted to make an umbrella with the fabric but it will be pretty hard i think.

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  2. i think the fabric can make good lunch bags too.

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  3. I am a follower of sew can do! I love your blog by the way.

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  4. I would love to try to make a cute clutch purse with the blueish fabric its really pretty.

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  5. I also added the cute craftshare button to my blog sidebar.

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  6. I would probably make a reusable grocery bag with this lovely fabric.

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  7. Another idea is a baby changing pad, or even baby bibs.

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  8. Thanks for the tutorial.
    its currently raining a lot right now where i live that means kids school books get wet sometimes and i would make a rain proof messanger bag for my boy.

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  9. I would make changing mats for baby gifts...everyone i know is PREGGO!!!

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  10. Thanks for the great tutorial! Looks like a perfect mom/daughter project.

    I follow you.

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  11. I've gotta get me some insulbright! I'd love to win some fabric to make myself a new purse.

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  12. Cheryl!!

    This is such a cool tutorial!!

    I think even I can do that one! :)
    Would be great at xmas too!!

    Love,
    Bird

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  13. I would make grocery bags Mine are looking pretty tattered these days.

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  14. I think I would use this fabric in my soon to be nursery to make either curtains or bedding!

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  15. Or... I could use it to make a skirt for me!

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  16. I think I'd try to make it a grocery bag...or maybe a diaper bag.

    beckyfdavis at comcast dot net

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  17. I follow your blog.

    beckyfdavis at comcast dot net

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  18. I just made potholders with insulbrite! I read to make sure the shiny side of the insul brite faced out, to the side of the potholder that will touch the hot item. I used pins for the binding and sewed it on a little differently. Your way looks easier!

    I have been wondering about this kind of fabric for a while. I think it would make a cute rain hat for my toddler, but not sure a fat quarter would be enough for that. So I would probably start with a lunchbag. Which would totally help me get the feel for working with it so I could hopefully feel confident enough to buy some and try other things.

    Thanks for the cool giveaway!

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  19. Oh, another project idea - I have been making luggage tags, and they require interfacing to give them body. These wouldn't need that extra layer. Much easier!

    I have a tutorial for a fabric business card holder on my blog, and need interfacing for that too, to give it body.

    Or you know, that fabric is just really cute. Cute enough to wear. Perhaps a D ring belt?

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  20. I would make clutches using the "gathered clutch tutorial" from noodlehead! Great prints!

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  21. I would try to make cute flip flops with that material.

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  22. I love the blue demask fabric, I would use it to make a toy bag for the car.
    Angela
    nscrofan at rogers dot com

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  23. I am a blog follower
    Angela
    nscrofan at rogers dot com

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  24. I am grabbing your Craft Share button for my blog, amamas2centsworth.blogspot.com
    Angela
    nscrofan at rogers dot com

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  25. I'm afraid I don't have anything new cuz I really need a beach bag to take to the lake and river this summer lol.

    Oh and by the way...
    I've given you an award here: http://thecraftyhippo.com/2010/06/warm-sunshine-my-first-award.html

    And here: http://goodmorninbeautiful.blogspot.com/2010/06/im-trendy.html

    Congrats!

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  26. I love the blue print... it matches my living room perfectly! The first thought I had when I saw it was coasters. Perfect for a fat quarter and they would wipe clean. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  27. My extra project idea is something for my baby girl with the cherries fabric. It would make a great change pad or bib. Thanks!

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  28. I follow! I'm glad I found your blog! Great projects! Thanks!

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  29. I am visiting from NFF. I am a homeschooling mom too. I am not very crafty though, although I would like to be. I enjoyed reading your tutorial.
    ~Theresa
    www.beingrefinedassilver.blogspot.com

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  30. Lovely fabrics! I would use them to make a basket for my daughter's bike.

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  31. i would make a 'wet bag' for all of our swim suits this summer.

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  32. I've seen these cute "tea wallets" on etsy that I think would be fun to make. Also want to make luggage tags that would make it easy to spot our bags. Could probably come up with a lot of other ideas too :D

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  33. I just discovered this fabric at Joann's and bought some myself. Grocery bags seem to be the most common use for this type of fabric, but I have also been brainstorming trying to think of what else it could be used for. I am thinking a bag that can hang from the headrest in the car to catch trash, or those cool fabric bins (think cubes without tops made from fabric) to sit in the back and keep groceries or other things from rolling around in the car.

    Just discovering your blog today, thanks for putting your ideas out there.

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  34. I would make a reusable sandwich bag... velcro at the corners to cross and close. :)
    kerrydi@pacbell.net

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  35. How fun! I follow your blog. ☺ aubril@gmail.com

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  36. I would use this fabric to make a cute, insulated snack bag.

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  37. And I just became a follower of your blog :)

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  38. love your blog! I would make a wet b ag or change pad for my son as i seem to always forget them when i go out... sure enough he gets wet or the public hcange table is soo icky!!! Ewww!

    kymmy_grad2002(@)hotmail.com

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  39. Well I am fairly new to sewing and also being green so I think I would try to make reusable lunch bags or tote bags!!

    jessandshelly@gmail.com

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  40. Another idea maybe some place mats or bibs! It seems easy to wipe clean!

    jessandshelly@gmail.com

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  41. Im a follower!

    jessandshelly@gmail.com

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  42. i would like to make a grocery bah
    jessicalangzoz@gmail.com

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  43. Those pot holders are wonderful! I need new ones bad, some day I'll have to drag out my sewing machine! :)

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  44. I would make reusable grocery bags like yours because they look so great!

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Getting your comments brightens my day. I'd love if you left one:)

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