Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Sewing: Birch Fabrics "Grove" Potholders (Tutorial & Giveaway)



Today I am sharing a collaboration with Birch Organic Fabric for their new, first ever certified organic line of canvas home decor fabrics. It's called "Grove" and you can see the line here.


This fabric would be great in a bag, or child's footstool, or my favorite: tablecloths and place mats (always the "what to do" when I find a great fabric but can't decorate a room in it). But we came up with another idea--potholders, or "hot pads" if you prefer.


Who can't use a new potholder? I know I can. And one that is nice to look at? Such a luxury! These would make great gifts for your girlfriends, or next Mother's Day, or Father's Day for that matter. These fabrics are beautiful, and one of my favorites is the Poppies print, but there are several that wouldn't be described as girly.


If you are a quilter, think of these as mini-quilts. A potholder is a nice size for experimenting. And if you aren't much of a quilter, don't be scared away because these are really very simple. In fact, you don't need to quilt at all. And, they work! I've included a lining fabric that reflects heat.


Want to learn to make a potholder? Click through for the tutorial.

Just wish you could have a new set of potholders? Then enter the giveaway! Birch Fabrics is giving away a pair of these potholders (sewn by me) to two winners? To enter see the instructions at the end of the tutorial.


BIRCH FABRICS "GROVE" POTHOLDER TUTORIAL
For a set of two potholders, you'll need:
  • Four 9"x9"squares of fabric (1/4 yard is 9" long and you can cut more than four squares, but you may want to mix some fabrics, so 1/4 yard of each of the fabrics you'd like to use)
  • Four 9"x9"squares of cotton batting such as Warm Company Warm White
  • Two 9"x9" squares of  Warm Company Insul-Bright (this is the heat-reflective material)
  • 2 yards of  1/2" double-fold bias tape binding (I made my own using this "tube method" tutorial), plus an extra 5" if you would like to create loops for hanging

The Birch Organic Fabric I used for the potholders are all from their Grove line. Pictured above from left to right are:


  • Patch Blocks
  • Flight Dusk
  • Poppies Mineral
  • The Grove Sun

  • The bias tape binding was sewn from a solid organic fabric in cream.



    To start, layer your materials for one potholder as shown above: 1 square outer fabric wrong side up, 1 square batting, 1 square Insul-Bright, 1 square batting, 1 square outer fabric right side up.


    Stack neatly and pin around the raw edges.


    Now for the fun part: quilt through the stack of fabric in any way you'd like! I followed the lines in Patch Blocks...


    ...and marked 1" intervals to sew...


    ...parallel lines down The Grove Sun.


    I thought it would be fun to sew flight paths across Flight Dusk. And it was! Note that you can quilt through the entire stack, or you can temporarily divide your stack of fabrics to quilt each side differently--"flight paths" on one side and quilt blocks on the other, for instance. Then just put the stack back together to proceed. You can also skip the quilting altogether and leave the fabric plain (see photo below).


    Quilted or not, the next step is to create rounded corners. I like the look, but it also makes applying the bias tape binding a bit easier. To create your rounded corners use a glass or small glass bowl to trace a curve on each corner...


    ...then cut through all the layers of fabrics to round out your potholder.


    You will need 1 yard of bias tape for each potholder.



    Unfold the bias tape and pin it to one side of your potholder, right sides together. Align one of  the unfolded edges of your bias tape with the raw edge of the potholder. Pin generously and ease the bias tape around those curved corners. 



    You should fold back the start of your bias tape .5" and then lap the end over the top of that fold. (When it is turned right side out you'll have a nice folded edge showing rather than a raw edge.)


    Stitch the bias tape to the potholder using a .5" seam allowance.

    Trim the seam allowances a tiny bit to take care of any unevenness. Then re-fold the unsewn edge of the bias tape towards the center fold line of the tape, and then pull the bias tape over the seam allowances to the opposite side of the potholder so that the center fold of the tape is at the center of the seam allowances and the folded edge of the bias tape can be pinned along the stitching line.


    Pin the bias tape along the stitching line on the opposite side of the pot holder.

    Before stitching...


    Take an extra length of bias tape binding and stitch along the double folded edge. Cut a 3.5" length to form a loop by folding it in half.


    Insert the raw edges of this loop in the folded end of the bias tape binding (one edge on each side of the potholder seam allowances) and pin.


    Stitch all the way around the potholder as close to the folded, pinned edge as possible. 

    And there you have it: a beautiful and functional potholder.

    TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR A PAIR OF THESE POTHOLDERS PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST BELOW. Multiple entries are acceptable, as follows.

    1. Leave a comment here telling me which of the Grove Decor fabrics you like best.
    2. Add a Pin for this tutorial on Pinterest, and leave comment on this post letting me know.
    3. Post a link to this tutorial on your Facebook page and leave a comment here letting me know.
    4. Like my post about this tutorial on my Facebook page and leave a comment here letting me know.

    Entries will be accepted until midnight on May 28th and then I will pick two winners. Good luck!


    72 comments:

    Kim@Snug Harbor said...

    Pinned on my sewing board - thanks for a great tutorial.

    Kim@Snug Harbor said...

    I posted a link on my FB page. Thanks for the great giveaway!
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Snug-Harbor-Bay/182334041818494

    SuzyMcQ said...

    Pinned the tutorial:
    http://pinterest.com/pin/52143308158315259/

    breannesp said...

    I pinned this to my sewing board. Thanks!

    breannesp said...

    Birds are my favorite, so I love the Flight Dusk and Flight River Rock... I can't decide which color I like best, though!

    Megan said...

    I love the birds! So pretty and I can think of so many uses for it in my home.

    sewbeckyjo said...

    Oh. Love Birch fabrics. I have some of the Fois Bois in Mineral on hand now and would love some of the Patches Blocks or The Grove Sun to go with it...I have some bags to make!

    Anonymous said...

    My favorite Grove fabric design is Patch Blocks because I like the combination of different designs geometrically together with a mix of tasteful colors. I'd love to feel this organic cotton on my hands when I use a holder to take hot pans out of the oven. My husband would too, as he cooks more than I do! Sarah Helene, Minneapolis

    annemarie said...

    I love their mod squad line of fabric.

    Lynn said...

    i love the grove in mineral. potholders are one of my favorite things to make and give. thanks for the easy to follow tutorial!

    Laura | Making Baby Provence said...

    I love this tutorial! I have a hard time picking my favorite fabric, but I think Patch Blocks may be it.

    Laura | Making Baby Provence said...

    I pinned this because I love it!
    http://m.pinterest.com/pin/256353403761941546/?e_t=07be145b0e404f639788419d6adfe31c&e_t_s=pin-text&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_pin_user

    Laura | Making Baby Provence said...

    I posted this on Facebook, but I can't figure out how to send you the link. :-/

    Laura | Making Baby Provence said...

    I liked your Facebook page, but I couldn't find this tutorial on it. :-(

    Choo Choo Family said...

    Flight Dusk is my favourite! v(^-^)v

    Heather Lou said...

    Honeycomb Sun is definitely my favorite, from this line!

    Rachel W. said...

    Gorgeous! I love the Poppies Mineral print!

    Heather Lou said...

    I pinned this tutorial. :)

    http://pinterest.com/pin/19844054581041771/

    Heather Lou said...

    I have posted the link to my Facebook page.

    facebook.com/heather.hearnewalker

    free indeed said...

    I like the Knotty Bois fabric...cute using the french word for wood...

    Little Ella Lu said...

    I really like knotty bois.

    Gayle Himmelwright said...

    Love the patch blocks (but really love them all : )!

    Gayle Himmelwright said...

    I pinned the tutorial and will definitely use it soon!

    Unknown said...

    My favourite is poppies paprika

    Unknown said...

    I pinned the tutorial: http://pinterest.com/pin/181762534933656186/

    Unknown said...

    I've shard on facebook

    Unknown said...

    Unfortunately can't find the tutorial post. I've "like" your facebook page for ages.

    Erica said...

    I love Birch fabrics! I love all of the fabrics in this line, but if I have to pick a favorite...it would be the honeycomb with the small bees. Thanks for this tutorial. We just got a new oven this weekend, and ironically I was thinking that I should make some new pot holders.

    kathyinozarks said...

    thank you much for the tutorial and the introduction to this fabric line. I don't do facebook, and I just got rid of my pinterest account-don't like the new format they have now.
    so thank you for the chance to enter here. I love the tan one with the elk or deer in it, and love also the one with the white flowers on teal.
    Kathy

    OhioLori said...

    Love them ALL...but the Poppies Paprika & also in Teal are my very favorites!

    I too, don't do the FB, Twitter & all thing...and thank you for this way to enter your Drawing. ( I am a follower of your blog tho..)

    Lizzy said...

    The poppies mineral is my favorite.

    LadySurgeon said...

    I just pinned this to my projects board (and not just because, I am definitely going to use this, because I've made potholders before and made it way more complicated than it needed to be)

    LadySurgeon said...

    I love them all! I think The Grove Sun might be my favorite though...

    passionknitone said...

    It's so hard to choose, but I think Flight Dusk is wonderful.

    kristin said...

    I loooove Flight Dusk - saw it at Quilt Market and it was fantastic! Love the whole line, actually.

    Sandy B. said...

    I pinned to my "things I want to sew page"!!! I love the poppies mineral fabric....lovely!

    Angela R. Stewart said...

    my fav is Poppies Mineral!

    Angela R. Stewart said...

    pinned on my pinterest! Plan to sew some!

    Christine S said...

    I love, love, love Flight Dusk!

    Christine S said...

    Pinned to my sewing~for the kitchen!

    camelama said...

    Flight Dusk is definitely my fave!

    Crafted by Carly said...

    Oooh! I like!!! Thank you for sharing the tutorial! :-)
    Carly
    x

    Esther D said...

    Just pinned it to my sewing board! I am always looking for new tutorials on your blog!

    VickiLorraine said...

    Love all the fabrics, but if I had to choose it would be The Grove Mineral. Trying to share on Pinterest, but couldn't find the proper link ...will keep trying.
    Thanks for a grand giveaway

    Jules said...

    Pinned it. I love your blog. I followed the tute for the chenille blanket a few months ago too.

    Anonymous said...

    Love the poppies paprika, just the right amount of red. Love your tutorials, btw!




    stephervescent said...

    flight dusk!

    stephervescent said...

    liked on Facebook!

    Jessica said...

    I like the knotty bois the best!

    jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

    Stacy said...

    This is a great tutorial!
    I have pinned to my tutorial board! http://pinterest.com/pin/373517362815573032/
    I like all the Grove fabrics. I might have an even softer soft in my heart for Honeycomb Sun!
    I have liked you on facebook, but I can not seem to see your posted link to this tutorial... But I have added a link on my page: https://www.facebook.com/CraftEnVille/posts/387752701344452

    Kay said...

    I have liked your post on facebook.
    Great tutorial, nice and easy to follow.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

    Kay said...

    Thank you for a great giveaway. I love the poppies print in both mineral and paprika.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

    Anonymous said...

    Great tutorial! My inaugural potholder is really cute. Posted a link to your site/tutorial on our Facebook business page, Heron Manufacturing.

    Beth

    Anonymous said...

    My favourite is the Patch Block fabric. Thank you for the tutorial and lovely photos. Frances.

    little roger said...

    such cute potholders! I've pinned this!

    Lee said...

    Thank you for a fabulous tutorial. I really love Flight River Rock the most - great fabrics!

    Kelly L said...

    Beautiful! I'm so glad I found your blog.

    John & Kat said...

    These are adorable!

    Lia said...

    These are beautiful! I love the colors and I love canvas fabric - I like a lot for skirts, actually. : ) My favorites are "The Grove", mineral and dusk, and "Poppies" in mineral.

    Anonymous said...

    LIKE YOUR POST ON FB!

    msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

    Anonymous said...

    HI! NEAT PROJECT!
    LOVE THE "STORYBOEK" COLLECTION!

    msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

    Gill said...

    Great tutorial!
    I like Flight Dusk best!

    zuegerk said...

    Pinned this to my sewing board!
    http://pinterest.com/pin/382243087093563658/

    andri. said...

    Your flight dusk potholder is gorgeous!!:)

    andri. said...

    And I've liked your post on fb;) awww i really love your potholders!

    jmj said...

    I love the way you quilted the birds in flight, looks like the are all standing on a wire! Great tut too pin it onto pintrest. thanks for the giveaway too!

    katiedidit said...

    Your potholders are wonderful. Thanks for the tutorial. I took a look at the Birch website. What wonderful fabrics! I especially love the Charlie Harper collection. Love his artwork.

    whittarook said...

    Great idea and great tutorial! I'm a beginner and I'm not scared off - this is my next project!!
    In your tutorial it mentions to use two pieces of the heat reflective material, but the picture only uses one - can you please clarify?
    Thank-you.

    Anneliese said...

    @Whittarook: Glad you like the tutorial, thanks. You found an error, which I've corrected, so that the materials listed are for the set of two potholders... Thanks.

    Anneliese said...

    @Whittarook: Glad you like the tutorial, thanks. You found an error, which I've corrected, so that the materials listed are for the set of two potholders... Thanks.

    Lisaknits said...

    Love the poppies minerial

    Jen said...

    Love all your projects. I have three daughters and I love to sew, knit, paint and work in the garden. Question about the potholders: Is there a trick to sewing the tape on the rounded edges so there is little to no puckering of the tape? It's been awhile since I've used the bias tape! Thanks for your posts- they brighten my day:)

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