Quilted Leaf Potholder ~ A Tutorial

Materials:

• fabric scraps in Fall colors at least 5.5 inches in length
• fabric for backing at least 6" x 9"
• fabric for loop 1.5" x 4"
•  bias binding 2" x 24" long
• cotton batting at least 6" x 9"
• Insul-Bright at least 6" x 9"
• thread
• leaf template Click here to download template

Directions:
1. Download and print leaf template.  Make sure template is set to print at actual size. Cut out leaf and cut in half along dotted line. Set aside

2.  Cut strips of fabric 5.5 inches long and in various widths ranging from 1" to 2.5" wide.  There wider the strips the less you need.  Layout your strips and arrange them to your liking.

3. Sew the strips together using a scant 1/4" seam allowance (the seams will get crowded if it's too wide).  Sew on strips until you get a piece at least 8.5" long. Iron seams to one side. 

 4. Take the right side of the leaf template and lay it on your pieced strips at an angle tilted to the right. Cut out the shape. Save the left overs to make another potholder. I don't now exactly what angle I cut this on but it was less than a 45° angle... maybe around a 30° angle.

 5. Repeat steps 2 thru 3 for the left side of the leaf.  This time when you lay your template on the fabric it should be angled to the left.  This will allow for the seams to meet at a downward angle when sewn together. 

 6. Sew your left and right sides of the leaf together and press the seam open.

 7. Sandwich your batting and Insul-Bright between the backing fabric and your leaf.

 

 8.  Quilt your leaf as desired.  Trim the excess fabric from your leaf.

9. Sew bias binding to the leaf starting from the bottom of the leaf.  When you get to the top point of the leaf backstitch and cut threads.  Fold bias binding up at an angle (similar to what you would do when sewing binding at the corner of a quilt).

*** To make my own bias binding I cut a fat quarter in half on a 45° then cut a strip 2" wide the full length of the bias cut then pressed the strip in half long sides together.

 Fold bias binding back over to go down the other side.

 Then continue sewing the binding to the rest of the leaf.  Stop just before you get to the very bottom to insert your loop.  

To make loop: use the 1.5" x 4" piece of fabric.  Fold in half lengthwise and press. Open and fold long edges to meet in the middle, press, fold in half again, press. Stitch folded edges togther.

 Lay the loop with raw edges matching the leaf raw edge.  Place bias binding over loop and continue sewing.  Backstitch over loop to secure.

10.  Using a ladder stitch hand sew the binding to the back of the leaf.  At the bottom of the leaf I just tucked and folded the raw edge of the fabric in until all raw edges were covered and stitched them down (there may be a better method but doing it this way worked just fine).  I also put a few stitches through the loop to make it stick out away from the leaf.  

You should be able to get two potholders  out of your pieced fabric.  You can vary the size by enlarging or shrinking the template.  Varying the width of the strips would also give a different effect.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial!  

I would love to see what you come up!!