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How to Make a Pot Holder for a Small Space

When you live in a small space, you probably don't have extra space for items that are not useful. Potholders can be decorative, but it is most important that they be functional, as well. Potholders prevent burns when lifting lids off of steaming pots and removing baking pans from the oven. They can also double as mats to protect tabletops from hot dishes. Look around your home and recycle some common items into potholders.

Things You'll Need

Old jeans
Old blanket or sweatshirt
Scissors or rotary cutter
Sewing machine
Heavy-duty thread
Old cotton towels

Instructions

- 1
  Cut squares from old jeans. Cut squares about half inch smaller from old blankets or sweatshirts with scissors or a rotary cutter. Sandwich a blanket square between two jeans squares. Thread your sewing machine with heavy-duty thread, and sew around the four edges quarter inch from the edge with a straight stitch. Sew diagonally from corner to corner, making an X shape. Over time, as the potholder is used and washed, the raw edges will fray up to the line of stitching
- 2
  Cut squares from an old cotton towel with scissors or a rotary cutter. Lay three or four layers of towel squares together. Thread the sewing machine and set it to the zigzag setting. Stitch around all four sides of the square. With scissors, trim off any excess fabric from the edges.
- 3
  Cut squares from an old ironing board cover with scissors or a rotary cutter. Thread the sewing machine with heavy-duty thread. Sew around all four edges. Ironing board covers are made to withstand the heat and dampness of a hot steam iron, and so make ideal material for potholders.
- 4
  Wash felt wool sweaters in your washing machine. Allow them to dry, and cut squares with scissors. For a decorative look, use pinking shears. The fabric that results from felting a wool sweater will be thick and will not ravel. If you want a thicker potholder, sew two of the squares together.

Sewing