Fruit Pie Potholder - Want to make one? Tutorial with pictures.

Here's another project you can make using scraps you have on hand or purchased fabric just for the project itself. Scrap sewing at its best. Use this as a jumping off point. There are no rules written in stone. I've learned from others, so I now pass this along to you. A fruit pie potholder.

I photographed my first attempt at one of these, so it's way far from perfect. I'm making more for Etsy and as gifts. Here's the basic how to:

The usual tools - well, the plate's not too usual. It's the best 9" circle I could find and it was tons easier than using a paper pattern. You'll need a pie crust looking fabric too. I made bias tape out of the same fabric for binding the potholder when it was done. 

I have some fruit fat quarters and chose blueberry for my first foray into pie making. You'll also need insulated batting made for potholders and hot pads. I use InsulBrite, but there are others. 

Next, cut the pie crust fabric and the insulated batting and the fruit fabric using the 9" plate as a guide. I tried using the fabric pen tracing and then cutting with scissors method. The second time, I used the rotary cutter and a rotary cutting board. Much easier. 

Cut a variety of lengths of 1-1/4" strips. These will be the lattice work on the pie.

Fold one edge of the strip toward the center and press. 

Fold the other edge of the strip toward the center, but not all the way to the edge. The goal is to keep the raw edges toward the back of the lattice strips. 

Turn your strip over and press again, then set them aside. I made too many strips for one potholder, but will be using them for other potholders. 

Looks kinda cute already, doesn't it?  Layer the circles in this order:

Back crust right side down

Insulated batting

Fruit fabric right side up

I chose to baste the layers together with a long stitch that I will remove later. 

This is the basting from crust side. The basting will hold things in place while we put the lattice on the top of the pie. (Looks kind of like a pita unfolded to me.)

Pin strips of lattice that were set aside at equal intervals and pin in place. Then stitch across the top to hold the strips while you weave. Be sure your strips are raw edge side down. 

Take another piece of lattice and weave it over and under through the tacked down pieces. I pinned them down, but it wasn't really necessary. 

Sew down one edge and back up the other. Weave another strip, alternating the over and under pattern, stitch up one side and down the other. Continue this process until you have all the woven pieces sewn down. 

This is how the back looks with one direction of the lattice sewn in place. I also took out the basting stitches at this point as the were no longer needed. 

Stitch the strips going the other direction, up one side and down the other. 

Trim the circle of uneven edges and excess fabric. Apply bias strips to the edges. I created a hook with the bias binding. 

As mentioned, this is my first try making one of these. I have 3 more cut out and ready to go. 

I suggest making your bias tape with the pie crust/back fabric. If you like, you can add rick rack to the edge for decoration. You can leave the loop off or do it another way. 

I use primarily machine stitching so that the potholder is fully machine washable. I've never had a problem with any I've made for myself, and I hope you won't either. 

One thing I will do differently is to add a hanger that will allow the pie lattice to show, when hung up, as straight up and down rather than on an angle. 

Now, go make some potholders!