Homemade Potholders: Easy DIY Sewing Tutorial Using Fabric Scraps
- Jan 27, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 7
Turn fabric scraps into beautiful homemade potholders – a quick DIY kitchen accessory you can sew with or without bias binding, perfect as a gift and for adding colour to your kitchen.
Turn fabric scraps into a beautiful DIY kitchen accessory
Are you looking for a quick DIY gift, a little handmade present to bring along, or do you simply need new potholders for your kitchen? Maybe you just want to add a few soft pops of colour to your home.
For all of that, homemade potholders are perfect.If you’ve ever searched for “sew your own potholders – free patterns”, you’ll know there are endless options out there. Sometimes, though, a simple square shape and a gently explained basic tutorial are all you need – and that is exactly what you’ll find here.
In this DIY sewing tutorial, I’ll show you step by step how to sew your own potholders from fabric scraps – with bias binding or, if you prefer, as a version for sewing potholders without bias binding.
Sew Your Own Potholders – Free Ideas & a Simple Base Shape
Online, you’ll find lots of free potholder patterns – round, square, heart-shaped, with pockets or as mitts. For a first project, however, a very simple, square design is more than enough.
This tutorial:
works without a printed pattern,
can be easily adjusted to whatever size you need,
is perfect for using up fabric scraps and leftover batting,
and is wonderfully suitable for beginners.
Later, if you like, you can move on to other shapes – the techniques you learn here will form a gentle foundation for those.
Materials: What You Need for Homemade Potholders
To sew your DIY potholders, you’ll need:
batting or heat-resistant interfacing – ideally special batting for potholders, or an old towel / thick fabric as padding
two fabric squares (e.g. around 25 x 25 cm / 10 x 10 in) for the front and back
optional: bias binding or a fabric strip about 4 cm (1½ in) wide for the edging
thread in a matching colour
With this basic tutorial you can, of course, sew smaller or larger potholders – just cut the squares to a size that feels comfortable in your hands and fits your pots and pans.
Step-by-Step: How to Sew DIY Potholders
1. Cutting the Fabric and Batting
First, cut:
the batting or inner layer (heat-resistant interfacing or a piece of old towel) in a square shape
and two identical fabric squares for the outer layers
I like to use double layers of batting inside, just to make sure no one burns their fingers later. If you cook with very hot pots and baking dishes, this extra layer is especially helpful.
2. Layering the Fabrics and Quilting
Now place the batting between the two fabric squares:
the right sides of the fabric face outwards,
the batting lies in the middle.
Pin or clip the layers together and quilt them with a straight stitch. You can sew:
diagonal lines,
lines parallel to the edges,
or a simple cross pattern.
If you feel like trying concentric circles, that’s possible too – just a little more advanced.
Quilting connects all the layers and gives your homemade potholders that typical padded look and feel.
3. Trimming the Edges
Smooth the edges with scissors or a rotary cutter so that all layers are neatly even and flush. The more precise this step is, the easier it will be to attach a binding later – and the tidier your finished potholders will look.
4. Preparing the Bias Binding or Fabric Strip (Sewing Potholders with Bias Binding)
If you want to sew your potholders with bias binding, proceed like this:
You can use ready-made bias tape straight from the packet.
For a homemade fabric strip:
Cut a strip around 4 cm (1½ in) wide.
Fold it in half lengthwise.
Fold the raw edges in towards the middle.
Press it well with an iron.
This way you create your own “bias binding” even without a special tool.
5. Binding the Potholder Edges
Place the bias binding or fabric strip along one side of your potholder, pin or clip it in place and sew it on with a straight stitch.
For the corners, you have two options:
Mitered corners – fold the binding neatly at the corner so that a crisp folded corner is created.
Rounded corners – round off the corners of the potholder with scissors before binding, so you can sew the strip around in one smooth curve without folding (this is the method I like to use, for example, for my kids’ potholders).
Once you’ve sewn all the way around, close the binding and secure the seam with a few backstitches.
6. Stitching the Back and Adding a Hanging Loop
Turn the potholder over and stitch the binding all the way around on the other side as well. This gives you a clean, secure edge on both sides.
You can use the end of the bias binding to form a little hanging loop:
shape a small loop,
place it in one corner,
and sew it firmly in place as you topstitch.
Your potholders can now be hung up in the kitchen – always within reach, always visible.
Sewing Potholders Without Bias Binding – A Simple Alternative
Maybe you’d like to try sewing potholders without bias binding – because you don’t have any at home, find it too fiddly, or simply prefer a very minimal edge finish. That’s absolutely possible, and it’s actually very beginner-friendly.
Here’s how:
Cut your fabric squares a little larger, e.g. 27 x 27 cm (about 10½ x 10½ in).
Place two fabric layers right sides together, with the batting on top.
Sew all around, leaving a turning gap of about 5–7 cm (2–3 in) on one side.
Trim the seam allowance at the corners. Turn the potholder right side out through the gap.
Press everything flat and fold the seam allowance at the opening neatly to the inside.
Topstitch all around, close to the edge – this also closes the turning gap.
Quilt a few lines or a grid in the centre, just as you like.
In this way, you get potholders without bias binding, with a clean, simple edge – a lovely option if you like a minimalist look or just want to use the materials you already have.
To add a hanging loop, you can:
insert a small folded fabric strip into the seam when you topstitch around the edge,
or sew a loop on afterwards in one of the corners.
Using Colour to Add Joy: Potholders as Little Kitchen Companions
Done! Enjoy cooking, baking – or simply looking at your new homemade potholders :-).
With this sew-your-own-potholders project, you can bring exactly the colours into your kitchen that feel good to you:soft neutrals, sunny yellow, calm sage green or patterns that remind you of something beautiful.
Every time you reach for them, they quietly remind you: “You made this – stitch by stitch, in your own rhythm.”
More Sewing Ideas with Fabric Scraps and for Everyday Life
If you enjoyed this project, feel free to share the tutorial and leave a little comment. Maybe you now feel like trying more simple sewing projects for your kitchen, your children or everyday family life. On the blog you’ll also find:
kids’ potholders for the play kitchen, perfectly sized for little hands
fabric pennant chains to decorate your kitchen, children’s room or birthday table
simple children’s scarves, ideal for using up small fabric scraps
homemade muslin cloths that show up everywhere in everyday life
Step by step, you’ll create a small collection of handmade everyday companions that make your home warmer, more personal and just a touch more magical.
A hug – and see you soon.
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