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How to Make Pot Holders

Hot pads are necessary for every kitchen and get a lot of use. They are probably something you don’t pay much attention to though. If yours are getting a bit tired, learn how to make pot holders yourself with this easy tutorial.

Two homemade pot holders hanging from a hook with text overlay.

Frequent use can wear them out and leave hot pads looking dingy and flat. This easy hot pad sewing pattern only uses a fat quarter of fabric for two, and you are sure to find some that coordinate with your kitchen.

Sewing a set of elastic bowl covers is a good idea too while you’re at it. You might want to grab a few matching fabric quarters.

Pot holder patterns are also great for using up leftover fabric, batting and binding scraps from quilt making. Just make sure all your materials are 100% cotton.

Other materials can be flammable, and you don’t want to run that risk when using hot pads to remove items from the oven.

This design features a pocket for your hand and 1″ binding to make sure it holds together through heavy use. Read on to learn how to make pot holders.

Supplies

  • 1/4 yard 100% Cotton Fabric (fat quarter)
  • 1/4 yard 100% Cotton Batting
  • 1.5 yards 1″ Double Fold Bias Tape
  • Coordinating Thread
  • Fabric Shears
  • Rotary Cutter
  • Cutting Mat
  • Acrylic Ruler
  • Straight Pins
  • Sewing Clips
Flat lay of cutting mat, rotary cutter, fabric shears, sewing clips, straight pins, bias tape, fabric and batting

It is important to ensure that all your materials – the fabric, batting and bias tape – are made of 100% cotton. Other materials can be flammable, so you don’t want to put them in an oven!

How to Make Hot Pads

Begin by washing and drying your fabric. Then follow this easy way to square fabric. Now your fabric is ready to cut.

To make one pot holder, cut the following:

  • (2) 8″ x 8″ fabric
  • (2) 8″ x 6″ fabric
  • (2) 8″ x 8″ batting
  • (1) 8″ x 6″ batting
Fabric and batting cut into 8" squares

Next, layer one fabric square right side down, two squares of batting, and top with the remaining fabric square, right side up.

Insert a straight pin or two to hold all the layers in place.

Layered fabric and batting squares with straight pins on magnetic holder

Do the same with the rectangle pieces, but only include one piece of batting. This is similar to sandwiching the layers of a quilt before quilting it.

Repeat if you are making two pot holders.

Fabric and batting sandwiched together and pinned

Now stitch around the perimeter of each sandwich with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

If you find that the layers are too thick for your sewing machine, you can switch to a walking foot or even feed foot. The special foot will feed both the top and bottom layers through the machine at the same time.

Sewing around perimeter of square with sewing machine

When approaching a corner, lift the presser foot and turn the fabric toward you. Continue to sew down the next edge.

Sewing machine footer lifted up at corner

Repeat until all your fabric sandwiches are stitched.

Fabric sandwiches all sewn around perimeter

The fabric layers may shift slightly while sewing. Use fabric shears to trim any corners and edges.

Corner of fabric square with batting sewing in center

Next, cut a length of double fold bias tape to 9″.

Insert the longer side of a rectangle sandwich in the center of the bias tape, and clip to hold.

Double fold bias in teal color clipped across top of fabric rectangle and batting sandwich

Top stitch along the bottom edge of the bias tape.

Stitching binding on rectangle with sewing machine

Now trim the ends of the bias tape so they are flush with the rectangle.

Rectangle with fabric shears and excess binding trimmed

Place the rectangle on top of a square sandwich with the bottom edges aligned. Pin to hold.

Rectangle sandwhich layered on top of square sandwich, aligned at bottom

Flip it over to the back. Open up the bias tape, and attach it to the top left corner with a clip, approximately 2.5″ from the edge.

Opened double fold bias tape clipped to top left of back of hot pad

Sew along the top fold line. When approaching a corner, stop 1/2″ before the edge and lift the presser foot.

Sewing machine sewing bias tape to the corner

Turn the fabric so that the corner is pointing at you. Then continue to sew to the corner and off the fabric.

Hot pad with bias tape stitched to corner at an angle

Now pull the bias tape up to meet the edge where you began stitching it. Clip to hold.

Bias tape folded back to top edge over corner and clipped

Continue sewing down the fold line.

Sewing machine sewing bias tape to back of hot pad

Repeat for all four corners and sides. Then stop sewing 1″ before meeting the beginning of the bias tape. Leave the remaining bias tape attached.

Bias tape sewn all the way around back of hot pad with excess

Next, pull the bias tape around to the front of the pot holder. You can see how the corners are mitered since you stitched to each corner.

Bias tape folded and flipped to front of hot pad with excess tail

Fold the bias tape onto itself, and clip it along the front.

Bias tape clipped to front of hot pad with sewing clips and excess tail

Take care to form miters on the front corners as well.

Closeup of folded corner of bias tape held with sewing clip

Now top stitch along the front of the bias tape all the way around the perimeter.

Top stitching bias tape around hot pad on sewing machine

When you get to the tail of the bias tape, continue sewing across the top of the pot holder and along the open edge of the bias tape until you reach the end.

Sewing machine sewing tail of bias tape

Now twist the bias tape tail into a loop that ends at the back of the pot holder. Clip to hold.

Bias tape tail turned into a loop and held to the back side of pot holder with a sewing clip

Finally, sew the loop in place. You can see in the photo below where we chose to stitch at an angle to match the other corners.

Trim any excess bias tape from the back with fabric shears.

Completed hot pad with leaf print, teal bias tape and hanging loop

You made a pot holder!

Yield: 1 Pot Holder

How to Make Pot Holders

Leaf patterned square hot pads with loop hanging on chrome hook with gray background

How to make pot holders to handle hot items in the kitchen.

Active Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $5.00

Materials

Instructions

  1. Wash, dry and square fabric
  2. Cut dimensions for one pot holder: (2) 8" x 8" fabric; (2) 8" x 6" fabric; (2) 8" x 8" batting; (1) 8" x 6" batting
  3. Layer fabric square right side down, two squares of batting, and fabric square right side up on top
  4. Pin to hold
  5. Repeat for rectangle pieces
  6. Sew around perimeter of each with 1/4 seam allowance
  7. Trim as needed
  8. Cut bias tape to 9"
  9. Place long side of rectangle between bias tape
  10. Clip to hold
  11. Stitch along bottom of bias tape
  12. Trim ends of bias tape
  13. Place rectangle on top of square, bottom edges aligned
  14. Pin to hold
  15. Flip to back
  16. Open bias tape
  17. Place at top left corner 2.5" from side
  18. Sew along top fold
  19. Stop sewing 1/2" before reaching the corner
  20. Lift presser foot
  21. Turn fabric so corner is facing sewer
  22. Sew to corner
  23. Pull bias tape up to meet top edge where you began sewing it
  24. Clip to hold
  25. Continue sewing down fold line
  26. Repeat for all four sides
  27. Stop 1" before the reaching the beginning of the bias tape
  28. Leave bias tape tail in tact
  29. Pull bias tape to front of pot holder
  30. Fold bias tape and arrange on front
  31. Clip to hold
  32. Top stitch bias tape all the way around front
  33. Continue sewing tail across top of pot holder and along remaining bias tape
  34. Twist bias tape into loop ending at back
  35. Clip to hold
  36. Sew loop in place
  37. Trim bias tape

Notes

Only use 100% cotton fabric, batting and bias tape for this project. Other materials can be flammable.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Yellow sewing machine drawing above Beginner Sewing Projects Text Logo.

Beginner Sewing Projects is a site filled with quick and easy sewing projects that anyone can make. In addition to sewing projects for beginners, you will find crafts made with felt and sewing tips and techniques. Every post contains easy to follow instructions and photos for you to successfully complete the project.

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Gayle

Sunday 11th of December 2022

Thanks so much for the pot holder instructions. I love the pictures you showed how it would look. You did an awesome job. I'm definitely making those. I love the clips you use, sure beats using pins. Merry Christmas

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