Potholders in Progress

I've been making these potholders for about 15 years, but I haven't made any in a while. Credit goes to Deanna at Wedding Dress Blue where I first saw her tutorial in 2011. String Pieced Potholders. I've made probably 50 sets since then and I still have folks tell me how much they love them on a regular basis. Potholders are not a big deal, but I guess you really do use them daily and it's kind of nice if people think of you when they grab them. Since the kitchen is the heart of the home, it's nice to be a small part of that too.

My favorite gift for wedding showers is a good cast iron skillet, a few hand written favorite recipes, and a set of these potholders.

Our girl requested a new set a few weeks ago to replace a set I made her when she was in college and moved into an apartment about 12 years ago so I pulled out my bin of potholder parts and set things up.

I figured it was time to make a whole slew of them again as they are a fun, and practical gift along with a homemade treat.

I had 1 safari set left from the last time I made these, as well as some wine ones that are just pieced, and 1 set of western ones that need binding. Western, coffee, safari, floral and wine themes have been my go-tos so I went ahead and stitched some of those up and then I thought it was time for  a set with scraps from my bin that houses my favorite Songbook fabric.

I personally only have 1 set and it's the first set I ever made. They are currently in the washer so you only get a 'before' photo. 😉

They have been used hard and washed often, but I still reach for them. They are stiff at first, but just use them and throw them in the washer and dryer and they will soften up nicely before too long.

I need to practice machine binding. So far, I have always stitched them to the back by hand. My original set has probably been washed 50 times and the binding is still stitched tight, but I could get them finished faster if I could conquer machine binding.

I cut my squares at 10" and once they are quilted, I trim them to 8". I layer the backing, Insulbrite, cotton batting, and the top (pieced on a muslin foundation).

I know I could eliminate a step if I used the quilt as you go method, but with the additional thickness of the Insulbrite, they seem to shift too much. I am able to keep things straighter this way. I ended up with 20 sets quilted and 4 sets completely finished. I think I'll confiscate a set or two of these for myself this time.

Project Progress

 I've been enjoying some time in my sewing room over the past week, but after working on 3 blue-green quilts, I found myself left with a colossal, jumbled mess and I needed to set things to rights before I could move forward.

After making 3 pretty good-sized quilts, you would think there would be a noticeable space in my bins, but I have yet to find it. I will admit to adding a few new pieces - not enough to offset what I used, but a quilter ought not to complain about having an abundance of fabric. I hope the quilts I make bring people joy and one can never have too much of that!

So, the projects continue! I pieced another gingham quilt

Made the bindings, pressed the tops and backings for 2 of the blue-green quilts

Pulled fabric and made the scrappy binding for my Americana Hourglass quilt

And pulled out my potholder bin

I've got to get some made for gifts. Some were already partially made, but I need to finish those and make more. The original idea came from Deanna over at Wedding Dress Blue years ago and I'm betting I've made more than 50 sets of these through the years. I'll include the link to her tutorial below:

                                                            String Potholders

I'm keeping them somewhat categorized into floral, safari, chickens, western, wine and coffee. That pretty much covers everyone in my circle. LOL

So a new mess is about to transpire - let the fun begin!

The Potholder Factory

I 've set aside the making of baby quilts this week to work on some potholders.  The original idea came from Deanna over at Wedding Dress Blue. She posted this tutorial for string pieced potholders in 2011 and I'm betting I've made 50 sets since then. One year everyone received a set of potholders with a matching drawstring bag. This one was for my college roommate:

I continue to get requests for more potholders from friends and family and I've had people ask to buy them. I have depleted my supply so strip sewing has been on the sewing menu this week. Initially, I started out making sets with western fabric and in my circle, those are the most requested:

Then I thought coffee ones would be cute:

And for my folks and their friends, wine ones were popular:

I've also made floral sets:

And of course, safari potholders are popular with our hunting and safari club peeps:

On Tuesday, I pieced 14 western ones:

And on Wednesday, I cut and pieced 14 wine potholders:

Up next: Coffee

Next week I hope to get them all quilted and then I am determined to teach myself how to machine bind these things!

A Stitch Here and a Stitch There

A stitch here plus a stitch there equals progress. Just odds and ends to share this week. I cooked for a crew for 3 days this week and those 2:30 am wake up calls gave me some extra time behind the sewing machine.

I really enjoyed embroidering 16 of these soon to be corn hole bags (bean bags) for a  friend's son's wedding. They are planning a variety of yard games for the reception (Doesn't that sound like a fun idea?)  and T sent me the fabric with a request for an embroidered monogram on each bag.

And I pieced the Fun Flower Baby Quilt into a top

 I also made this valance for my kitchen window a while back, but I don't think I ever shared it.

 I had run across the fabric while searching for something for a friend at Joann's and knew it would be perfect in my kitchen.

And I finally stitched up some matching potholders this week:

And an apron may find its way under the needle soon.

 I also finished out the week by piecing this top for the Rodeo Baby baby quilt. There will be strips running across the top and the bottom that will have appliqued stars running across them as well as a star in the center, but the center blocks are pieced.

I hope to get the stars appliqued and make a plan for the Don't Fence Me In horse quilt this week.