Christmas Applique Potholder

Hello!!!!!!!!!!  I have so much to share I don't even know where to start!!!  My college students are all done with school until January SO that means its time to catch up on my blog! yippeee!!!  I have been sewing, and I even went on a quilt retreat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was my very first quilt retreat and it was with all of my new friends at the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild!!!!

I've decided that the first project I'm going to share is my lovely potholder!

I was super duper excited when I heard that "Mr. T" (known to common folk as Miss Ebony's Studio Die Cutter) would be making an appearance at our retreat.  I had some precious time with him and cut out some FABULOUS shapes (!) including the snowflake applique on this potholder!  Yep, I bet you thought I lovingly cut out the intricate shape... nope, not even close.

I die cut the snowflake along with the fusible web and then ironed it on!  I did a tiny zig zag stitch around the edging to finish it off.  That was a bit tedious for my liking and without a walking foot or anything I was turning corners constantly.  If you don't look too close it looks great! ha!

After consulting with the many intelligent quilters in the room, I decided that my potholder would have one thickness of Insulbright (heat resistant batting) and one thickness of Warm & White.  I wanted my potholder to work!!!!

So I got my two insides and put them on top of (right sides together) my front and back.  I stitched all the way around leaving a 2 inch (or so) section for turning.

Then I trimmed and turned it inside out and top stitched about and 1/8" from the edge.  Then I quilted it a bit... a vertical line, a horizontal line and some inside the star.  You can see it in the picture below of the back.  I just love that red fabric!!!!  I definitely 'puckered' things a bit because of my lack of a foot that walks... teehee.  (side note: I just got my Gram's Janome Jem and it HAS A WALKING FOOT!  The rest of my potholders will not pucker!)

I cut these fun holiday shapes with Mr. T... and many more that aren't pictured!

This is a gift for someone for Christmas... not sure who yet, maybe me!?!?!  

Have a Happy Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!