It's Sew Sunday: Pot Holder Towel

I fell in love with a fabric - I didn't buy it the first time I laid eyes on it, because that's not my style.  I'd rather think about it, obsess over whether or not I need it, decide I do, and then go on a mad dash to find it again. (It's usually cute and popular enough that finding it a second time can be a real disaster!)

But I knew it was true love - we're talking orange and bicycles!  So I went on that very mad dash to find the fabric again, and after I was about to leave the fabric shop empty handed and sad, I saw it out of the corner of my eye behind the cutting counter!  I marched on over and got it! 

Not a lot, just 1/4 yard to make a Pot Holder Towel:

What you'll need:

1/4 yd. fabulous cotton fabric
1/4 yd. terry cloth (or really an old towel)
matching thread
scissors
ruler
fabric pen
sewing machine or the ability to hand sew (I do not possess this ability)

Begin by cutting both the cotton and the terry cloth down to an 18 x 23 inch rectangle.  With the remaining cotton cut out two triangles that are about 7 1/2 inches at their peak and that match the opposite corners of your original rectangle.  I outlined where the triangles should be placed below.

Before we begin to pin the whole thing together, remove the triangles and press and sew the inside seam of the triangles that will serve as the actual pot holder opening where your hands will slide in.

Then pin the triangles onto the main cotton fabric with wrong sides together.  The rough edges are all the way around on the outside of both fabrics.

Then with right sides together, pin the terry to the cotton fabric (that already has the triangles pinned on).  Simply sew the perimeter of the fabric - leaving a 4 inch opening to turn it all right side out! 

Once it's turned right side out - use your finger or a chopstick (my new favorite sewing tool) to push out the corners.  Press the seams until flat and set being sure to press under the 4 inch opening (as if you sewed it).

Then topstitch around the entire towel.  I think this makes it look so much more finished as well as takes care of that pesky opening without having to hand sew it shut!

There you have it!  I hang mine on the oven door, use it as a towel when needed, but also grab it to pull items out of the oven with in a pinch!

I'm linking up to:

The Inspiration Gallery and Made from Pinterest

It's Sew Sunday--Sweater Mittens

For Christmas dC got me a new sewing machine!  I have been in a sewing slump since my old machine was acting up - having a new one meant that I could get back to having some fabric fun.

I'm not proclaiming to be good at it, I just like to follow patterns, sew straight lines and fix things!  I've made all of the curtains in our house (straight lines) but now that I have this fancy new machine, I'm going to dive into some different types of projects and maybe some not so straight lines!

Today I am making Sweater Mittens.  They are sooo fast to make.  I had an old wool sweater in my closet that I no longer wore due to a hole.  I had grandiose ideas of felting it and making it into a pillow, but as Fender and I were walking home from school, I felt his little hands as we crossed the street and they were freezing!  He had lost one of his mittens and it was time for a new pair! 

If you'd like to make them too, here's what you'll need:

An old sweater (Thrifting for this would be fun!)

pencil

scissors

freezer paper (my new best friend)

iron

sewing machine

matching thread

the hands you'd like to mitt

Begin by laying out a piece of freezer paper and trace the hand in a mitten pattern onto it.  Leave a good 1/2 inch seam allowance around it and make sure to leave an inch allowance at the wrist.  Aren't Fender's little fingers cute?

Cut out the pattern and place on the sweater.  I used the bottom edge of the sweater since it had a naturally knitted pattern I thought would be cute for the wrist of the mitten.  Using a dry setting, iron the freezer paper pattern shiny side down onto the sweater.  The plastic on the shiny side creates a temporary bond to most fabric.  Fender added a little decoration to his pattern!

Cut out the pattern through both layers of the sweater.  Remove the freezer paper re-iron onto another area of the sweater and cut out the second mitten.  Cutting through both layers saves a lot of time, since you'll need 4 patterns for 2 mittens.

Putting right sides together pin the mittens with pin heads facing out for easy removal while sewing.

Then starting at the bottom edge sew a straight stitch around the perimeter of the mitten.  Slow down around the thumb and raise and lower the presser foot turning the mitten each time to create a smooth, round corner.  Be sure to lock your stitches at the edges when you begin and end.

I went around the mitten twice just to ensure the sweater stitches were locked and wouldn't fray.  Cut any extra seam allowance off to remove the bulk.  Repeat for the second mitten!

PS~I would normally use matching thread, but I used contrasting so you can see the stitches (curvy and imperfect for sure!)

Turn right side out and press the seams to finish the mittens!  They are as warm as the sweater you made them from!

I'm linking up to Funday Monday!  Check it out on the link above!

Happy Sewing!