How to Make Felted Potholders

Making felted wool is a wonderful way to recycle and reuse old wool sweaters and other knitted wool items. The resulting felt can easily be crafted into beautiful projects. Felted wool does not ravel or fray, making it ideal for projects with exposed seams and simple machine applique. Felt wool to create a functional potholder. It is a terrific craft for a beginner. Make several to give as gifts, or use the potholder as a teaching project for children.

Things You'll Need

• Wool sweaters or knitted wool items, 3 different colors
• Washer and dryer
• Scissors
• Ironing cover cloth
• Iron
• Ruler
• Lightweight cardboard
• Pencil
• Disappearing ink pen
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread

Instructions

1. Felt three sweaters or other knitted wool items in a washer on a hot cycle. The hot water may cause the colors to bleed, so wash each piece separately. Dry each piece separately in a hot dryer to complete the felting process. Cut the felted pieces apart, removing the seams. Lay the wool flat and use a cover cloth and a warm iron to press it smooth.

2. Measure and cut two pieces from one color of felted wool 9 inches square. These are the front and back pieces of the potholder. Measure and cut a 1/2-inch wide by 4-inch long piece for the hanging loop.

3. Lay your hand on a piece of lightweight cardboard with your fingers and the thumb together. Draw around your hand with a pencil. Remove your hand. You should have the shape of a hand with no gaps between the fingers. Cut the hand out. Cut a 2 1/2 inch square of lightweight cardboard. Fold the cardboard in half. Draw half of a heart on one entire side of the folded square, with the center of the heart on the fold. Cut the heart out. Do not cut along the folded edge. Open the cardboard to reveal the heart.

4. Place the hand pattern on a second color of felted wool and trace around it using a disappearing ink pen. Cut out the felted hand. Place the heart pattern on the third color of felted wool and trace around it using a disappearing ink pen. Cut out the felted heart.

5. Lay the felted hand on your work surface. Center the heart in the middle of the hand's palm and pin. Sew a top stitch on the heart's edge, 1/4 inch from the edge, to applique. Use matching thread. Lay one potholder square on your work surface. Center the hand, right side up, on the square and pin. Sew a top stitch on the hand's edge, 1/4 inch from the edge, to applique. Use a matching thread. This is the potholder's front.

6. Place the back square of the potholder on your work surface. Place the potholder front on top, right side up, matching the edges. Fold the hanging loop in half, matching the short ends. Insert 1 inch of the short-cut ends between the potholder squares at the top left hand corner. Pin the corner and all edges of the potholder through all layers. Sew a top stitch around the edges of the potholder, 1/4 inch from the edge. Use matching thread.