How to Sew Last Minute Potholders (from UFO quilt blocks!)

You can use your leftover or orphan (aka UFO) quilt blocks to make cute potholders! It’s a great last minute gift, housewarming present, or even teacher gift. See how I used some unfinished quilt blocks to make handmade patchwork potholders in practically no time at all.

I must confess, I have not had good luck giving handmade gifts to my mother in law. Let’s not even talk about the failures of Christmases past: she and I just do not think on the same wavelength. Where we were this year was a few days before Christmas, nothing made for her so far, and me with zero ideas. I was ready to tell my husband to go buy her a Bass Pro Shops gift card (better than nothing). Then she was at my house visiting and she absolutely swooned over my Patchwork Potholders. Really? I never would have guessed.

Well, okay – that’s one problem solved. Now I knew something that she wanted at least. But it was a few days before Christmas and I still had so many other projects to finish! Then I had an idea… over in my pile of UFO quilt blocks there had to be some that would make a cute potholder. Actually, they would all make cute potholders. But I guessed that my mother in law would like these. They are my Dutchman’s Puzzle blocks from our Classic Blocks sewalong in 2014, lol. I’m guessing it might be a few more years before I got around to making a quilt with them – if ever! So potholders it would be.

And dang cute potholders too! I love the pockets for your hands on the back. I was able to make great use of 2 quilt blocks for each potholder. Of course, I didn’t need to use patchwork pieces for the back (or the front for that matter), but I figured what the heck – I’m never making that quilt, right? The patchwork adds a really sweet handmade touch.

So grab all your UFO quilt blocks that will never be made into quilts and make potholders with my free patchwork potholder pattern. 🙂

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