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Autumn Acorn Potholder

Autumn Acorn Potholder

An insulated pot holder stitched in a fun acorn shape is the perfect fall update for your kitchen. Beautiful autumn embroidery adds even more seasonal flair; a ribbon loop is perfect for hanging while not in use.

Supplies & Materials:

Project Needs & Notes
- 1/3 yard quilter's cotton
- 1/4 yard quilted cotton
- 10" x 16" piece of ironing board fabric (I found the fabric in the utility fabric section of Joann Fabrics)
- 10" x 10" piece of cotton batting
- 10" x 16" piece of Insul-bright insulted lining
- 10" length of 1" wide cotton ribbon or strapping
- Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)
- Air-erase pen for marking

For this tutorial, I used the small size of the Delicate Red Oak Leaf design  .

Finished Size:  8 1/2" x 11 3/4"

To get started, print the PDF of the pattern pieces linked below. There are two pattern pieces that will print on two pieces of 8 1/2" x 11" paper.

Gather Materials:

Download the acorn potholder pattern. Cut out the pattern pieces.

Two paper pattern pieces labeled "Section 1" and "Section 2" cut in shapes resembling parts of an acorn, placed on a wooden surface next to a silver pair of scissors.

Prepare the quilter's cotton for the embroidered front of the pot holder.

Place the section 1 pattern piece on top of the cotton.

Pin in place. Trace the shape using an air-erase pen.

Hand holding a blue fabric marker outlining a pinned paper pattern labeled "Section 1" on green fabric, placed on a wooden surface.

Print the design from embroidery software to make a template. If you do not have embroidery software, you can use a piece of paper the same size as the design to gauge the placement of the design. We also recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for.  Hatch Organizer  works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchases made with this link.)

Place the template in the shape. There should be at least 3/4" between the outer edges of the design and the side and bottom edges of the shape.

There should also be at least 1" between the top edge of the design and the top edge of the shape.

Mark the center point and the horizontal and vertical axis lines.

A hand holding a purple marker draws a rough shield shape on beige fabric. A printed paper with a detailed single oak leaf sketch is pinned above the fabric. The leaf design is shaded with fine lines for texture. The background is a wooden surface.

Start Embroidering:

Remove the template and spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the cotton on top.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Light beige fabric hooped in an embroidery frame with purple pen markings outlining a two-part leaf and a center line on a wooden surface.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design.

Move the hoop so that the needle is aligned with the center point on the fabric.

Embroider the design.

Close-up of an embroidery machine stitching an orange, red, and brown striped leaf design on beige fabric secured in a rectangular hoop, with purple guide lines visible.

When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.

Piece of white fabric with an embroidered autumn leaf in shades of brown, orange, and cream, next to a pair of silver scissors on beige fabric.

Cut out the shape.

Piece of beige fabric with an embroidered autumn oak leaf in shades of orange and brown. Fabric is cut in a shape with marked points. Metal scissors lie nearby on a wooden surface.

To prepare the back and inner lining pieces, lay the Insul-bright flat with the shiny side facing up.

Place the cotton batting on top of the Insul-bright, then place the ironing board fabric on top of the batting right side facing up.

Place the embroidered cotton piece on top of all the layers, right sides together. Pin in place. Cut around the shape of the cotton.

Sew a 1/4" seam along the side and bottom edges only. Trim away the seam allowance leaving about 1/8" excess behind, being careful to not cut the seam.

Hand holds layered fabric pieces above a pinned white fabric with stitched orange and brown pattern resembling an autumn leaf, all on a wooden surface.

Turn the fabric right side out in-between the cotton fabric and the ironing board fabric. Press the seam with an iron.

Then top stitch a 1/8" seam around the side and bottom edges only.

Beige fabric potholder with detailed orange and brown embroidered oak leaf design. Hand holds edge; purple guide lines visible on fabric. Wood surface underneath.

Prepare the top of the pot holder by pinning section 2 of the pattern on top of the quilted cotton fabric.

Trace and cut out the shape.


Hand holding white pencil marking fabric through pinned white paper pattern labeled "Section 2" on dark green quilted fabric, wooden surface underneath.

Next, lay the Insul-bright flat with the shiny side facing up.

Lay the ironing board fabric on top with the right side facing up.

Place the quilted cotton piece on top of the layers, right sides together. Pin in place.

Cut around the shape of the quilted cotton.

Note: I am not adding batting to the top section as the quilted cotton fabric already contains batting.

Hand holding partially sewn fabric layers pinned with colorful sewing pins on a wooden surface, showing quilted dark brown fabric on top with inner gray and white lining layers.

Prepare the loop hanger by cutting 10" length of the ribbon or cotton strapping.

Form it into a loop and insert it between the quilted cotton layer and the ironing board fabric as shown.

Leave about 1/2" of the raw edges of the ribbon extending out past the edges of the fabric.

Pin in place and sew a 1/4" seam along the side and top edges only -- leave the straight bottom edge open for turning.

Hand holding a layered brown quilted fabric piece with blue and green sewing pins, showing partially folded layers including white and beige materials on a wooden surface.

Turn the top fabric right side out and press the seam. Turn the opening in 1/2" and press.

Insert the bottom cotton section inside the top quilted cotton section.

The edge of the bottom section should be about 3/4" inside the top section.

Pin in place and top stitch a 1/8" seam around the side and top edges of the top section.

Then sew a 1/4" seam along the bottom edge to attach the bottom section.

Hand with red-painted nails holding a cream and brown quilted potholder pinned with multicolored sewing pins; embroidered orange maple leaf detail visible on cream fabric.

This pot holder gets a fun, autumn look thanks to its acorn shape and fall embroidery.

Stitch it as fall decor for your kitchen, or give as seasonal gifts!

Quilted fabric potholder shaped like an acorn with brown top and cream bottom featuring orange embroidered autumn leaf, placed on peach towel on dark wood table with wooden utensils.