Stringed Pot Holder

Make a stringed block with a twist.

MATERIALS

• Assorted white-with-black scraps • Fat quarter orange tonal • 1/ 8 yard black-with-white crosshatch • 1 (9" x 9") square each cotton batting

and insulating batting • Thread • 1"- diameter black button • 2 (51/4") squares easy-to-tear paper • Size 90/14 machine needle (optional) • Basic sewing tools and supplies

CUTTING

Press scraps before cutting into strips. From assorted white-with-black scraps: • Cut scraps in various widths from 3/4"– 2" wide

and various lengths up to 8" long. From orange tonal: • Cut 2 (51/4") A squares. • Cut 1 (9") backing square. From black-with-white crosshatch: • Cut 1 (11/4" x 5") B hanging loop strip. • Cut 1 (21/4" by fabric width) binding strip.

MAKING THE STRING- PIECED UNITS

1. Fit sewing machine with a size 90/14 needle. Set machine stitch length for a closer stitch (1.5 or 12–15 stitches per inch). 2. Place one scrap strip right side up across the diagonal center of one paper square as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

3. Place a second strip right sides together with the first strip, matching raw edges on one long side; sew along the matched edges using a 1/4" seam allowance as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

4. Flip the top strip to the right side as shown in Figure 3; press.

Figure 3

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with additional strips until half the square is covered with strips as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4

6. Repeat steps 3–5 on the other side of the center strip to complete a stringpieced unit as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

7. Trim the excess strips at edges to match the paper square as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6

8. Repeat steps 2–7 to complete a second string-pieced unit.