Hexagon Pocket Potholder

This tutorial shows how to make a pot holder out of pieces created on an embroidery machine. In these steps we show a potholder that is a hexagon shape, but the same steps below can be used for a pot holder of any shape or size.

The first embroidery file will make the front piece of the pocket. Cut a piece of cotton fabric and a piece of Insul-Bright Insulated Lining that are bigger then the embroidery hoop. Spray the Insul-Bright with temporary spray adhesive, and smooth it on to the wrong side of the cotton fabric.

Hoop the cotton and Insul-Bright together. Make sure everything is hooped tightly and that there are no wrinkles or puckers in the fabric.

Load the first embroidery file onto the machine, attach the hoop, and embroider the entire first design to create the front of the pocket.

The final step of the embroidery file will sew an "outer border" that shows the final shape of this piece. This line will also be used as a guide to follow while sewing.

Once the embroidery is finished, iron the first embroidered piece with a pressing cloth on top. Try to remove any wrinkles and make the outer border as straight as possible.

Then, repeat the previous steps to create the second embroidered piece. Cut and hoop a piece of cotton and Insul-Bright, embroider the second embroidery file, and press it with a pressing cloth on top as needed.

To prepare the first front piece for sewing, the seam allowance will need to be to cut around the embroidered outer border. Reference the bias tape you are using, and select the seam allowance you would like to use for this project. For our pot holder we are using 1/2in double fold bias tape and a 1/4in seam allowance.

Measure, mark, and cut your chosen seam allowance outwards from the sewn outer boarder all around the sides of this piece. This will leave a fabric border around the edges that will be the seam allowance. For example, we measured and cut 1/4in away from the outer border on all sides.

The easiest way to measure and cut the seam allowance around the design is by using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter. If preferred, you can also measure and draw the seam allowance around the outside of the piece using a ruler and marking tool, and then cut on that drawn line with scissors.

To make the pocket lining for the back side of the front piece, lay the front piece onto the lining cotton so the wrong sides are together. Then trace its shape onto the cotton using a fabric marking tool, and cut out the traced shape. This will make a piece of the lining cotton that is the same size and shape as the first front piece. If preferred, you can also cut this using a rotary cutter and ruler.

Lay the lining piece on the wrong side of the front piece with wrong sides together. Pin or clip them together around the edges.

Then, baste the two pieces together by sewing in the seam allowance around all the edges. You can use a longer stitch length on your machine to baste them together. This basting stitch will hold everything in place throughout assembly.

When sewing bias tape onto these pot holders, you do not want to line up the edges of the fabric and bias tape like you normally do. Instead it works best to line the fold of the bias tape up with the inner edge of the sewn outer border. This way the fold should sit just a little bit inside of the sewn outer border.

When lined up correctly, you can sew following the fold of the bias tape, and it will help your seams to be straight. Lining things up and sewing this way will also hide the outer border once sewn and prevent too much cropping of the inner design.

Line the fold of the bias tape up just inside of the sewn outer border, and sew it along the top edge of the front piece only. Then, fold it over and finish sewing the back of the bias tape in place as desired. Once the bias tape has been sewn in place, trim any excess bias tape hanging past the left or right sides.

To prepare the second embroidered pocket piece for sewing, measure and cut the same chosen seam allowance around all of the sides. Add the seam allowance exactly as we did on the first piece above.

Also create a back piece out of cotton or ironing board fabric by tracing the embroidered piece onto the fabric, and cutting it out to be the same shape and size as the embroidered piece.

Lay the back piece on the wrong side of the embroidered piece with wrong sides together. Pin or clip them together around the edges.

Next, baste the two pieces together by sewing in the seam allowance around all the edges. You can use a longer stitch length on your machine to baste them together. This basting stitch will hold everything in place throughout assembly.

To prepare the pieces for the final bias tape boarder, lay them on top of each other so the embroidery of both pieces is facing up. Match up the edges, and pin or clip the two pieces together along the edges that they line up.

Then, baste the two pieces together by sewing in the seam allowance around only the edges they line up. You can use a longer stitch length on your machine to baste them together. This basting stitch will hold everything in place throughout assembly.

Line up, pin, and sew the bias tape around all sides. Make sure to line the fold of the bias tape up just inside of the sewn outer border on each side as you go. If desired, you can even create a loop out of the bias tape for hanging.

Now that the pot holder is complete, use it to decorate your kitchen, protect things while you cook delicious meals, or give it as a gift to someone who loves to cook.