How to Make an Oven Mitt Pot Holder

An oven mitt protects your hand and arm from heat and is a decorative item as well.

A handmade oven mitt is both a useful kitchen tool and a decorative item. They are easy and quick enough to make that you could make coordinating oven mitts for each season, to coordinate with holiday decor or to give as housewarming gifts. Be creative in your choice of colors and patterns but keep function in mind if you decide to experiment with different fabrics. A loosely woven or thin fabric will not offer as much protection from heat as a tightly woven one.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Tracing or pattern paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors
• 1/4 yard cotton or flannel print fabric
• 1/4 yard solid color cotton or flannel fabric
• 1/4 yard heavy cotton quilt batting
• Pins
• Cotton thread
• Sewing machine
• Double folded 1/2-inch bias tape

Cut and Pin

1. Lay your right hand on the tracing or pattern paper and trace a mitten shape.

2. Use your ruler to draw a cutting line 5/8 inch from your traced line on the pattern piece.

3. Fold the print fabric in half and pin your pattern piece to the fabric. Cut along the outer cutting line. Repeat with the solid color fabric and the batting.

4. Place one of the pieces of print fabric face down on your work table. Top it with a piece of batting, then a piece of solid color fabric placed face up. Repeat with the other set of fabric pieces. You should have two fabric and batting sandwiches.

5. Pin each sandwich together. Insert a pin every 2 inches in parallel rows.

Sew the Pieces

1. Place one fabric and batting sandwich under the presser foot of your sewing machine. Sew a straight line of stitching 1/2 inch from the top edge. Cut the threads and position the presser foot 2 inches below the first line of stitching. Sew another line of stitching parallel to the first. Repeat until you have covered the fabric with parallel lines of stitching. Turn the fabric 90 degrees and repeat to create squares or diamonds of stitching lines. This will hold the fabric and batting in place. Repeat with the second fabric and batting sandwich.

2. Cut two pieces of double-fold bais tape slightly longer than the flat edge of each oven mitt piece. Open the bias tape and pin in place. Stitch close to the edge of the bias tape. Trim the ends.

3. Place the two fabric and batting sandwiches together with the print facing outward and the solid color on the inside. Pin in place.

4. Sew the two pieces together with a seam allowance of 5/8 inch.

5. Open the double-fold bias tape and pin around the raw edge of the oven mitt. Overlap the raw edge of the bias tape and turn under. Stitch in place close to the edge of the bias tape.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask someone to help you trace your dominant hand if doing so is awkward for you.

• Avoid using polyester fabrics or batting, which could melt in extremely high oven temperatures.

References

• "Sew Simple: A Collection of Quick Projects"; Projects"; Sew Simple Magazine and Leisure Arts; 2009
• "Pretty Little Potholders"; Potholders; Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader; 2008
• "Oven Mitts to Die For: And How to Make Them"; Diane Wallis; 1999