Chenille Potholders

1. Cut the solid fabric into two pieces 16”x 9” each.  Set the remainder aside to make the bias tape later.

2. Cut your homespun plaid into 4 pieces, each 16”x 9”.

3. Layer the fabrics as follows: 2 layers of solid pink, with 4 layers of plaid homespun on top.  Remember to keep your right sides up on all these fabrics.   (For those who have not read my blog post on dealing with prints when making a chenilled fabric, I suggest checking that post out now: Chenille Baby Blanket.  If you want the plaid to show properly, you need to stack the plaid fabric pieces so the print will match.)

4. Once all fabrics are stacked to your satisfaction, pin the layers in place and using the acrylic ruler, mark your first stitching line for your channels.  For those making their first piece of chenilled fabric, please see these notes below:
     • This first line will be what you will base the rest of your channels on. 
     • Channels need to be stitched on the bias of the fabric as shown in the picture on the right.

5. Make your channel stitches ½” apart for this project.

6. Once all your channels are stitched, select the foot of your chenille cutter that best fits into the channels (not too tightly or loosely) and cut through the top four layers of fabric in each channel.  (In other words, you are only cutting through the four pieces of plaid, not the solid.)

7. Cut after your channels are finished, cut the piece in half – you should now have two small rectangles 8”x 9” each.

8. Using the layer of solid pink that was set aside previously, make a bias-cut seam binding and bind each of the pieces.

9. Finally, wash and dry your projects to allow the chenille to ‘bloom’.