How To Sew A Pot Pincher with Bias Tape (free pattern)
A pot pincher is sort of a cross between a potholder and an oven mitt. With two pockets, they allow you to grip a hot dish.
This sewing project is a little more advanced due to the multiple layers of batting and bias tape.
Sew a set of these or try my two other patterns for a potholder and tea towel to make a gift set:
Materials
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- Cotton or linen fabric (avoid synthetic materials)
- Thermal/heat-resistant batting (Insul-Bright or something similar) (this has “heat-reflective” properties)
- 100% cotton batting (this adds extra insulation)
- 1/2” double-folded bias tape (is 1/2” wide when double-folded) (here’s how to make your own so it matches your material)
Thread
- Tools
- Sewing machine
- Walking foot (I purchased this universal one) (required for sewing through multiple layers of batting without your fabric puckering)
- Iron
- Scissors
- Pins or clips
Step 1
Download the free pattern and print. Cut out your fabric, batting, and bias tape as indicated on the pattern.
Step 2
Layer your main pieces with the bottom fabric wrong side up, thermal batting, cotton batting, then your top fabric right side up.
Use a quilting stitch and your walking foot to sew all layers together.
Your layers will shift during sewing, so retrace your pattern piece and cut off any excess batting/fabric.
Step 3
Sew your 5-3/4″ pieces of bias tape to the front side and top edge of both your pockets
Flip the bias tape to the other side of the pocket, clip in place, then from the side that the bias tape has already been sewn on, topstitch about 1/8″ away from the inside edge of the bias tape.
Step 4
Clip your pockets into place then use a basting stitch to sew from the top of the pocket down. Repeat this at the top edge of each pocket. (I don’t sew around the curve and back up because I find it shifts my pockets).
Trim any excess off your pockets to ensure the edges of them follow the same line as the body of the pot pincher.
Step 5
Sew the first side of your bias tape to the pot pincher.
Sew the end of your bias tape right up to where you started stitching the start of your bias tape on, without going over.
Flip the end of your bias tape open, then fold your potholder in half so you can place the starting end of your bias tape on top of the end piece, at a 90-degree angle. Pin into place.
You’ll sew diagonally across your bias tape from where the two edges of the bias tape intersect, up to your stitching.
Check that your bias tape seam sits flat, then cut off the excess ends.
Step 6
Before clipping the second side of the bias tape into place, it helps to use the tip of your iron to press the edge of the pot pincher down to compresses the batting a bit and flatten the fabric so it’s easier to wrap the bias tape around. I only press down with the tip of the iron (I don’t let the iron sit on the potholder).
Clip the second side of the bias tape into place.
The other step I take to help the bias tape sit flat and make it easier to sew is to run the iron over it before sewing. This step does need to be completed after clipping and by just undoing a clip or two at a time, ironing, then clipping again.
You can see how the bias tape sits nice and flat around the curved edge after ironing:
Step 7
From the first side (that you already stitched the bias tape on), sew about 1/8″ in from the inside edge of the bias tape, checking as you go to be sure you’re catching the other side of your bias tape.
