Potholders--Ninth Finish for 1st Quarter FAL 2019

The 7 inch squares that are pockets

Since the death of my friend Martha last July and since the repurpose project of her sewing/quilting supplies, I've been trying to use items that I brought into my space. At least once a month, I make an effort to finish something that she started or to pull some of her scraps into a project that I'm trying to finish from my WIPs.

The last time I was at her house, I picked up a bag of what I thought were flannel scraps. I was in a for a surprise when I opened it because the bag was a chenille potholder project. I saw three seven inch flannel chenille squares on top. I didn't delve further in the bag. Going through her patterns one more time, I also had picked up the pattern for this project so it was serendipity to reunite the pattern with the started project.

Stages of the process

Martha made a number of flannel quilts using this layer and slash/chenille technique. She called the quilts, "Curly Quilts" because of how the edges frayed and curled after washing. She loved how cuddly and soft that style of quilt was. I'm not surprised she started this project. She probably thought these would make great gifts as well as a way to use up some of her leftovers from the past quilts that she had made. For my 1st quarter FAL list, I decided stitching four potholders was doable and it became goal number 19. After all, three of the potholders just needed binding.

Upon closer inspection of the "parts," I chuckled. No, I laughed outright!!! The seven inch squares that I thought were potholders needing binding were actually a pocket for a larger potholder!  That bag contained enough units to make seven potholders.

With some effort, I thought might be able to make an additional three potholders. I had also picked up a few chunks of flannel scraps from her stash so I could make the 7x10 inch larger pocket.

I'm sure she had a plan for which parts went together. I have no idea if I followed her plan; but, I did put as many parts together for a potholder as was possible. Sometimes, I needed to cut a piece of binding. Sometimes, I needed to machine sew the binding to the pocket and for sure, I needed to finish attaching the binding to the pocket. Martha always

Potholders before washing and drying

preferred to machine stitch her binding because it was faster. She was all about fast!

I did make several attempts to machine stitch the binding; but, I wasn't happy with the results. I pulled out a hand sewing needle and got to work. I was surprised how easily my needle went through the flannel. Once I had bound the pocket edge, I added a loop and the outer binding. I cut outer binding pieces from the flannel leftovers for three pockets that she had placed in the bag. Then I discovered the black flannel binding she had cut for the project! I used that binding on the remaining potholders. (She had cut just the right amount!)

Potholders after washing and drying

NOTE: Hand stitching the binding was a great activity to do while watching the NCAA March Madness Basketball games. My husband and I make our brackets and it is a hoot to see which, if any, of our teams actually make it to the finals!

After I had completed the stitching, it was time to wash and dry the potholders. I added these to my regular load of towels. This is where the magic happens because all those slashed edges fray and fluff! Of course, I also needed to clean the lint trap from the dryer! These are now ready for gifting.

Take note of that potholder on the far right. I missed cutting some of the channels!!! I've sliced those last sections and will rewash and dry that potholder. In the end, it will work great too! I actually made five potholders. The other five potholders are ready to have the binding hand stitched which will be a good take along project for next quarter. I have some leftover pieces that need a purpose; but, I did a great job of making a dent in that project bag!

I used 2 1/2 yards of fabric. My goal this year is to use 57 1/2 yards of fabric from my studio. This finish means that I have sewn 35 yards into projects and I have 22 1/2 yards left to stitch before I meet that goal. This is my ninth finish this quarter.