Learn how to sew these simple and easy DIY pot holders, perfect for the beginner new to sewing. A kitchen essential, these pot holders make for both a beautiful and functional handmade gift.

easy beginner pot holders next to an antique white enamel cast iron dutch oven on a reclaimed wood farmhouse table

As the days grow cooler, I find myself in the warm kitchen more with little hands eager to help whip up a delectable breakfast or tasty afternoon treat. For every hot skillet and loaf pan coming out of the oven, I need some good pot holders to protect those little hands.

So when my grandma asked for some new pot holders for her birthday, I decided to go ahead and make us a fresh set for our kitchen as well. Hers have been well loved and we could use some more now that I have two sous chefs in the kitchen.

I had recently purchased some cotton fabric that coincidentally was just right for this project, but it can also be a great way to use up those leftover fabric scraps! Pair them with some wool trivets and your kitchen is ready for all the cozy holiday cooking!

These DIY square pot holders are comfortable, flexible, and do not have any of the bulk around the edges that make your sewing machine want to quit on you. Plus they can be completed in under an hour and make for great gifts!

This ended up being such a fun and easy project, I decided to make some more and place them in baskets with homemade banana bread, beeswax candles, and tea towels for handmade gift baskets!

einkorn pumpkin bread in a cast iron loaf pan being placed on a farmhouse table with handmade pot holders

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Helpful Tips on How to Make DIY Pot Holders:

Before turning the pot holder right side out, trim the corners at a 45 degree angle to reduce the bulk.
Trim any excess batting or insulation material to reduce bulk around the edge of the pot holder to make for easier top stitching and flexibility when in use.
To prevent any of the batting from bunching after use and washings, sew the fabric and the insulation pieces together with a few lines of stitches across the front of the pot holder.
- These stitches can be done in any pattern and can be as minimal as a simple cross or an intricate quilting design – your choice!

close up of corners cut at 45 degree angles and cotton quilt batting trimmed close to the seam with half inch fabric edges exposed

What fabric is best to use for pot holders?

You must use durable natural materials such as cotton, wool, or linen fabric. Synthetic fabrics like polyester cannot withstand the heat and can actually melt – a tip I learned from my grandma and another reason I choose to use natural materials for my insulation fabric.

Thick fabrics would be preferred due to increased heat resistance, but semi lightweight fabric can be used – cotton canvas/duck, wool, linen, grain sack, or drop cloth are my favorite fabrics.

green and white handmade potholders next to an antique white enamel cast iron dutch oven on a farmouse table

What is the best insulation fabric or batting for making pot holders?

Insul-Bright is probably the most popular choice, but since I like to stick to natural materials, I recommend cotton quilt batting, wool, flannel, old towels, denim, or drop cloth.

Wool is naturally flame resistant and absorbs heat even more efficiently than cotton, making it a great option for a heat resistant batting.

Personally, I choose to use two to three layers of cotton batting and sometimes add a layer of cotton drop cloth between.

einkorn pumpkin bread in a cast iron loaf pan sitting on diy pot holders on top of a farmhouse table

How do I make handmade pot holders heat resistant?

Test it out! Be careful of course. Try your preferred combination of the fabrics mentioned above, heat up a cast iron skillet on the stove top, and put it to the test. Experiment with fabrics and number of layers to create your favorite combination.

Check out this incredibly helpful blog post from The Questioning Quilter to see the heat resistance of different fabric and thermal batting options.

Variations on How to Sew DIY Pot Holders:

Quilt the pot holders and add bias tape around the edge.
Use cotton twill ribbon instead of making a matching fabric strap.
Turn it into a pocket potholder by adding a pocket piece on one side to slide your hand into for easier gripping.
Sew the hanging loop in the corner or centered along the top of the pot holder.

green and white simple cotton pot holders next to an antique white enamel cast iron dutch oven on a reclaimed farmhouse table

Sewing Supplies:

Fabric – cotton, linen, canvas/duck, drop cloth, etc.
Insulation material – cotton batting, wool, flannel, old towels, Insul-Brite, etc.
Thread
Sewing machine
Sewing shears
Pins
Soft measuring tape, yard stick, or acrylic ruler

How to Make a DIY Pot Holder Tutorial:

The first step is to measure and cut the following pieces of fabric:

Fabric
- two 9″ squares
- 2″ x 5″ piece to be used for the loop
Insulation material
- three 9″ squares cotton batting – refer above for material choices and combinations.

All measurements account for a half inch seam allowance. The finished size is 8″ x 8″.

closeup of fabric cuts needed to sew simple pot holders. two 9 inch squares of fabric, three 9 inch squares of cotton batting, and one 2" by 5" piece of fabric

To Make the Loop

Fold the 2″ x 5″ piece of fabric in half lengthwise with wrong sides facing out. Sew 1/2″ seam down the long side. Forward and back stitch at start and finish of the stitch line.

small strip of fabric folded in half lengthwise with wrong sides facing out and a half inch seam

Attach a safety pin to one of the small ends and pull through the inside of the loop to turn it right side out.

Finger press or iron the loop piece. You can choose to top stitch along the seam for a more finished look, or leave as is.

small strip of fabric turned right side out to create finished potholder loop

To Make the Pot Holder

Stack two of the insulation layers on the table.

Place the two 9″ squares of fabric with right sides facing together on top.

two square pieces of cotton quilt batting stacked with a square piece of fabric on top. left top corner folded down to show the layers

Fold the loop piece in half and place in the corner sandwiched between the two pieces of fabric, with raw edges aligned.

Stack the last insulation layer on top.

stacked squares of fabric with right sides facing together and a square piece of cotton quilt batting on top. left top corner folded down to show the fabric layers and folded loop placed in corner

By placing the insulation layers on both the top and the bottom, I find it to help prevent the two fabric pieces in between from shifting and getting misaligned as the presser foot makes its way across the layers of materials. A walking foot should prevent this as well.

Secure the loop and all layers with pins.

square insulation and fabric pieces stacked and sewn together with a half inch seam allowance and four inch opening along the bottom of the potholder

Sew 1/2″ seam around, leaving a 4″ opening along the bottom.

Forward and back stitch at start and finish of every stitching line. I also choose to do so at the loop to reinforce the stitches in this area.

Trim the corners and excess batting to reduce the bulk around the edges, keeping the 1/2″ fabric edges.

sewn together stacked layers with mitered corners and cotton quilt batting trimmed close to the seam with half inch fabric edges exposed

Turn the potholder right side out and push the corners out fully.

Tuck in the fabric edges of the opening, hiding the insulation materials, and pin the opening closed. Top stitch 1/4″ seam around to create a nice finished edge.

potholder turned right side out with a 1/4 inch top stitch around and the opening sewn closed

To prevent bunching of the batting, secure the batting layers by top stitching across the potholder at no more than 4″ apart, ideally 2-3” evenly spaced. A simple cross or grid pattern works great.

easy diy pot holders made with cotton duck fabric on a farmhouse table

Enjoy your new handmade pot holders!

Printable tutorial available below!