This month’s potholders are my “oldie but goodie” owl potholders!
I actually made this as a block for a quilt for the FIRST quilt I was ever published with in Mccall’s and the potholders were a bonus pattern on Mccall’s website for a while (might still be?)
Anyways, they are fun and easy to make especially with Accuquilt circle dies!
I used the 2,3,5” circle die
and then I also used the 1” circle off of their new small circle die
I first picked some fabrics (I busted into a FQ bundle I had but scraps are just fine, you really only need 1 FQ for the background and the rest are scraps
I also used lite Steam a seam 2
I cut (2) 5 1/2” squares, (4) 3 1/2” squares, (4) 2 1/2” squares and 1 to cover (4) of the 1” circles so a 2 1/2” square or so
From the background fabric I cut (4) 7 1/2” squares and then some leftover scraps 2 1/2” wide for hanging straps, maybe around 5” or so long, it really doesn’t matter.
The 5” circle is for wings, I cut (2) in yellow, the 2” is for the eyeballs, I cut (4) in white (after I added the steam a seam to the back of everything)
then I cut (4) 3” circles in blue and the (4) 1” in black, I also hand cut out 2 beaks in yellow, it’s up to you how pointy you want them to be
the 2 5” circles I cut in half
then ironed them to the sides of the blue background squares, about 3/4” from the bottom, after the first one is added I overlap with another background block and just leave a bit showing from the block with the wing piece on it already so I can line up another one
Then I line up two of them next to each other and one with already have a wing attached so it’s easy to line up the other one too
I folded the block in half a bit and ironed just to mark a crease at the top, then I lined up the blue eyes and have them overlap a bit and inserted the beak underneath too and ironed it flat
then added the white eyeballs
and lastly the pupils, it’s up to you how you want them to look, I like to have it close to the edge, one is looking down right and another down left
I also ironed the hanging straps, I’ve shown it before how I iron in half then open up and fold in the raw edges to the middle and iron again, then fold in half on the original fold
Then I appliqued everything in blue thread, pivoting around the circles when the needle is down makes it easier to get smooth curves
then I added batting and insulbright (I’ve shown that before too) and stitched them together right sides together first with an opening at the bottom, then turned right side out and I whip stitched them closed.
It really took me less than 2hrs!
They are so stinking cute!! I should make a pair for my DIL who loves owls too!
How cute is that!!!!! I just might have to make one.
Such a cute idea for a potholder…love it!
so cute
Cute owls!
They are so cute! Thank you.
Bea, These potholders are cute, cute. cute and can be made in any color. I have a friend who will not use anything in her kitchen that is not RED. I wa showing a scarf that I was knitting and she remarked, "It's not my color!" I'm not knitting it for anyhow, but she's like that. Things have to be certain colors. She wears navy and black and that's basically it. At widows' meeting Monday, she actually had on a royal blue blouse and white capris. Boy she looked nice and we really heaped on the compliments. Anyhow, I can make her at least red around the eyes for her – lol. I just downloaded the pattern from McCalls. Thanks – I have a GO and have very, very few die. Since I'm retired, I find them expensive for no more than I use them. I know you are a spokesperson for them and for me they are out of my bracket right now and I enjoy seeing what you do with them. Thanks for the fun post and especially for something I can easily do within a special tool. Susan
These potholders are adorable, Bea! My granddaughter loves owls. Would make a cute pillow too!