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When in Doubt, Make a Potholder

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If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, I’m no quilter. Oh, I come from a long line of quilters, and I still marvel at the intricacy of quilts my great grandmother created generations ago. But I’ve always been more of a garment girl.


From abandoned piecing to potholder!

However, when you work at an office that is staffed with devout quilters from sister magazines, it tends to rub off. Somehow, some way, I ended up with a batch of pieced quilting squares and a roll of matching bias binding.

They weren’t my squares, and I honestly can’t recall how they came into my possession, but there they were sitting in my office. No doubt, they were the by-product of some, “Let’s Make a Quilt!” bonanza that took place when someone got married, had a baby, or moved on for greener pastures. We tend to make quilts around here when things like that happen.

I tried to assemble the squares into a semblance of a quilt, to see if I could solve the puzzle of what they were meant to be. But there wasn’t enough binding and the squares were too mismatched. Maybe these were the leftovers of two different quilt projects? Big mystery.

I puzzled and fiddled for quite some time until I figured out that I had an even number of sets of matching squares. Then, I dug out some heat-resistant batting that I had stashed away.

I ciphered that I had exactly enough matching pieces and binding to make several quilted potholders. It was a very exciting moment, because I hate to see anything, especially several carefully pieced squares, go to waste (which was the reason I assume I had rescued them in the first place.)

It looks like several of my family members will be getting potholders for the holidays. And who doesn’t love a potholder?

For lots more sewing projects for the home, check out the new Stitch Winter 2013 in the Sew Daily Shop! 

Have you rescued an abandoned project and reworked it? I would love to know.

Happy stitching.  

 

 

 

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  1. I just got around to reading this email. What a great idea for all those wonderful leftove rblocks. Between that idea and putting them together randomly as doll quilts, I am looking forward to getting into my scrap drawer without fear! Thanks!

  2. It’s funny that you wrote this article Amber as the same just happened to me.My story is a little different but,much the same.I love to go thrift shopping,it was on Sat about 2 weeks ago…it was 50% off day on everything!! The crafty,artist in me always has to check out the “Arts n Crafts” wall…….well, I hit the jackpot!!! I found several bags w/h a good assortment of fabric…or so I thought.I opened the one bag to find part of a curtain,and pieces to what looked like a garment project.The other bag had quilt squares,they were perfect in size and the sewing was from a A+ experienced seamstress.I thought to myself……well,I can’t make a quilt from these,but the colors would match my sister-in-laws kitchen!! I will make her potholders for Christmas!

  3. I was a garment sewer for 30 years and then got into ASG and encountered many quilters. They were forever presenting programs featuring quilted garments, which I embraced and made many. Then they started doing programs on different quilting techniques. I was always making blocks along with them and would joke saying, “Well, here’s another potholder!” Then I retired, didn’t need so many clothes any more and I’m glad I learned some of those quilting techniques because now I’m making quilts!

  4. I love making pot holders as they use up all your scraps and they’re a great quickie gift. I made one for a hostess gift for a friend the other day and it was a huge hit.

  5. “Orphan” quilt blocks also make good trivets – make them into a pocket with a flap and velcro and put a tile inside. A good rule of thumb is the fabric should be about an inch bigger than the tile. Check out moosestashquilating.blogspot.com for some great directions and ideas