Kim Schaefer - 52 playful pot holders to appliqué: delicious designs for every week of the year

OVAL POT HOLDER Finished size: 7 9 Materials 1 rectangle 9 11 for front 1 rectangle 9 11 for back Scraps of fabric for desired appliqu Scraps of paper-backed fusible web (or 1 sheet 8 11) 2 rectangles 9 11 insulated interfacing (such as Insul-Fleece by C&T Publishing) 1 package of -wide double-fold bias tape* * Or make your own, using a 2 40 bias strip. Fold the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press; fold the edges in to the center and press again. Appliqu Pot Holder Front All appliqu instructions are for paper-backed fusible web with machine appliqu, and all the patterns have been drawn in reverse. If you prefer a different appliqu method, you will need to trace a mirror image of the pattern and add seam allowances to the appliqu pieces. A lightweight paper-backed fusible web works best for machine appliqu. Trace all parts of the appliqu design on the paper side of the fusible web. Trace all parts of the appliqu design on the paper side of the fusible web.

Trace each piece of the design separately. Note Whenever two shapes in the design butt together, overlap them by about to help prevent any potential gap between them. Note: When tracing the shapes, extend the underlapped edge beyond the drawn edge in the pattern. Cut around the appliqu shapes, leaving a allowance around each piece. Iron each fusible web shape to the wrong side of the appropriate fabric, following the manufacturers instructions for fusing. Cut on the traced lines. Peel off the paper backing. Peel off the paper backing.

A thin layer of fusible web will remain on the wrong side of the fabric. This layer will adhere the appliqu pieces. Fold the pot holder front fabric in half and then half again the opposite way and lightly crease to mark the center. Position the appliqu pieces on the front fabric. Press to fuse them in place. Machine stitch around the appliqu pieces, using a zigzag, satin, or blanket stitch.

My choice is the satin stitch. I generally use matching threads for all the stitching. Stitch any additional detail lines. The type of stitching you use and the thread color you select are personal choices. Layer and Quilt Layer the back fabric, right side down; the 2 layers of insulated interfacing; and the completed front, right side up. Pin or baste the layers together.

Quilt as desired. For the square pot holder, trim the quilted pot holder down to 8 8. For the circle pot holder, use the Circle Pot Holder pattern to mark and trim the 8-diameter circle. For the oval pot holder, trim the quilted pot holder down to 7 9 and use the Oval Pot Holder pattern to mark and trim the corners. Add Binding For the oval and circle pot holders, start pinning the binding at the top center and then stitch around the shape, stopping 1 before the start. For the square pot holder, start at a corner and sandwich the tape around only one side of the pot holder.

Pin in place. Edgestitch along the first side. Remove the pot holder from the sewing machine, make a faux mitered corner (see Faux Mitered Corners), and continue to pin and stitch around the square, stopping 1 from the corner where you began. Leave the last inch of the binding open but pin it in place. Stitch 5 of the loose end of the bias trim closed and cut off any extra.