Leaf-shaped kitchen potholder

It is customary to tidy up the house for the New Year. I suggest updating your kitchen potholders. You get a double benefit: you use up fabric scraps and refresh useful items.

I sewed a leaf-shaped potholder because I had many green-toned scraps on hand.

In addition to scraps, you will need batting with a density of 150-200 g/sq. m and ready-made bias tape that matches the color of your scraps.

All scraps should be pre-soaked and ironed.

Make a pattern in any shape you like. Cut all scraps into strips of equal width (mine are 4 cm) with the ends cut at a 45-degree angle. Lay out the strips in the order you intend to sew them.

Sew the strips together with a 1 cm seam allowance, starting the stitching from the angled corners.

Once the pieced fabric is large enough to cover your pattern, stop sewing.

Press all seams, folding the seam allowances in one direction.

Trace half of the potholder using your pattern and cut it out. Make the second half in the same way.

Sew the halves together, ensuring the strips align.

Press the center seam allowances open.

Place batting under the sewn piece and pin it in place. Quilt it by stitching along all the seams and the outer contour.

Trim the excess batting. Cut out a piece for the back of the potholder. It can be one solid piece or pieced together from scraps, depending on your preference.

Pin the bottom piece to the top piece. Insert a small ribbon loop at the top between them, along with a small piece of bias tape to hide the raw edges of the binding later.

Finish the edges of the potholder with bias tape around the perimeter. First, stitch it to the wrong side into the crease of the tape. Then, wrap the tape over the edges and baste it to the right side. Stitch the tape along the edge and remove the basting threads.

Neatly tuck in the ends of the bias tape and sew on a small bow.