Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Stashbusting Potholders

I am doing the September Stashbuster Challenge and have been industriously creating without spending!
I have way too much fabric and swear that I am going to make use of it!
So here is what I have been working on...I made 42 of them.  They are great wedding shower gifts in a basket with kitchen hand soap from Bath and Body Works and a few knitted dishcloths.
I try to color coordinate with their registry kitchen linens...
and coordinate the fabrics so they contrast, maybe not necessarily match!
Sometimes it works out better than others!
I love this group...love those browns and blues together. 
And ladybugs, just ask my niece Ruth...I once gave her a ladybug backpack that is still the occasional topic of conversation!
I love this butterfly print that coordinates with the flowers print.  Too bad the butterflies are upside down in the picture!
This fabric is totally strange and cool!!
Love the beaver family and the

dogs and pigs...
To give you a mini tutorial on how I make these, I cut two 8.5" fabric squares and I cut 2-3 (depends on how thick the batting is--if it is thick I cut two, if it is thin I cut three) 8.5-9" squares of batting.  With right sides together I center the fabric on top of the batting squares and sew a 3/8" seam around all but 3" on one side of the fabric stack.  I turn them right side out, pulling the corners into, well, corners with a large needle.  Then I hand stitch the tiny opening shut.  I usually iron them flat so they are a bit easier to top stitch...this time I didn't do that, probably because I was lazy, but who really knows??
Anyway, then I top stitch 5/8-3/4 inches from the edge of the pot holder....and then I smile because one potholder is done!
Love the dandelion print...I have had that fabric for a long time, bought it at a garage sale in a sack of yardages for $1!  Can't beat that and now it is out of my closet stash!!

17 comments:

AmericKim said...

Love your potholders! Great gift idea.
Kimberly

Carolyn @ My Backyard Eden said...

Wow! You really have been industrious! I love all of your fabric choices. Did you use a special batting?

elizabeth said...

Oh, these are great! I need to make some for Christmas gifts.

elizabeth
http://piecefullife-elizabeth.blogspot.com/

Quiltstory said...

What a good idea to have in the stash! You are PREPARED!! Thanks for linking up on Fabric Tuesdays, see you next week! :)

Sasha said...

Found you on Thrilling Thursday @ Paisley Passions. Love what you did with these!

http://sashas-books.blogspot.com

A Little Bit of Everything! said...

So cute! Thanks for sharing. :)

p.s.phyllis sews said...

Great work on these! They look so neat and even! Also, kudos for slashing into the fabric stash!!

Rebecca said...

Great idea! Thanks for sharing!!!

Haylee said...

The potholders look awesome. Thanks for telling us how to make them.

Nina... said...

A wonderful Stash Buster! Pot holders are really the perfect gift! Great idea.

Joselyn said...

Love your potholders! I think I will make them instead of buying them too. Great job! Where did you get the brown and blue fabrics. They are beautiful!

Diane Bohn said...

What a great idea! They look fantastic! :) Thanks for sharing at Paisley Passions! :)

Following along! :)

Leslie said...

wow, that is a lot of potholders....great finish

Katie said...

Thank you for another great link to A Crafty Soiree! I've got to say, those Beavers are my favorite of the bunch. How random and fun! Nice to get so much fabric out of your stash and made into a finished project. It will be nice to have a bunch on hand for last minute gifts.

Carla said...

That is a great idea! I know I could use a few more.

Lori@Paisley Passions said...

DARLING! Thanks SO much for joining in on Thrilling Thursdays @ Paisley Passions. I hope to see you again next week :)
~Lori S.
Thrilling Thursdays @Paisley Passions

Rene' said...

Great potholders and a fun way to use your stash. Thanks for sharing!