Monday, June 10, 2013

DIY Heart Pot Holder

Okay so it's been a while since my last post and even longer since my last DIY.  I suppose my craftiness has it's ups and downs as with everything else.  Lately I've been making googly-eyes at some new fabric but I've been reluctant to buy since I'm already hoarding quite a bit of fabric already.  So instead I'm trying to come up with some small projects to use up some the existing fabric...to make room for bigger, better fabrics :)

Anyway, I've been toying with the idea of making a pot holder for a while now, mostly because I don't have one already and I really dislike using the whole oven glove thing...seems like overkill to me...then again I'm sure I won't be thinking that the next time I burn my hand trying to get something out of the oven.  But until then...I made this little heart-shaped pot holder out of some leftover fabric and batting.


Materials:
-fabric (1-3 different types)
-batting (heat resistant recommended)

Start by making a heart-shape pattern for your oven mitt.  You will need to cut 2 hearts out of your batting and 4 out of your fabric (1 front, 1 back, 2 for the 'pockets').

Cut the 2 hearts that will form the pockets in half (sad I know).  With the right sides together, sew along the edge that you just cut.  Flip right side out and press.  You can add batting to these pieces if you want some extra projection, I didn't use any and I think mine work just fine and it reduces the bulk a little bit.

Next baste a piece of batting to the heart shape that will form the 'back' of the mitt, or the part that will be covered up by the pockets.  You can also baste the batting to the 'front' of the mitt, the part that will be touching whatever you're picking up, but I decided to get fancy and do some quilted hearts.  Be sure to follow the directions if you are using heat resistant batting.

Next position the 2 pocket pieces on top of the back of the mitt.  I was originally planning on lining them up exactly but I decided to leave a small space to make it easier to use. 


Now you should have completed the front and back pieces of your oven mitt.  With the right sides together, sew all around the edge leaving a small opening on the side.  Flip right side out and press.  Then slip stitch the opening close.  You can also add some top stitching if your mitt isn't too bulky. 


And that's it!   I've been using mine for a couple weeks now and it's been working out pretty good.  The only thing I dislike about it is the fact that the heat resistant batting always has a crinkling sound when I use it. 

I made the heart lobes a bit too long on my mitt so my fingers don't quite reach all the way to the end.  Which can be a bit annoying if you're trying to do anything that requires any sort of finger dexterity.  Also I would make the spacing a bit bigger between the pockets at the top of the heart.  It just makes it a little easier to use.  Sorry I don't have a picture to show the scale but it's about the size of my hand. 

Monday, December 31, 2012

I'm still alive...

Okay, sorry for the incredibly long absence but I'm not dead I swear!  A huge thanks for everyone that responded to my last post about issues with my domicile, unfortunately it's incredibly difficult to find a cheap bunny-friendly place to live in Honolulu so I'm still living there.  Other horror stories have since transpired but it's a roof over my head...

But the real reason I've been gone for so long is...I got a new job!  The commute is slightly longer and I actually work full time so I've been a lot busier ergo less time for craftiness.  Which makes me sad cause I've seen sooo many cute projects lately that I can only fawn over on Pinterest while at the bus stop.  I also am in an office as opposed to on my feet all day so now I feel like I need to make more time for exercise...not that it actually happens...

Anyway, hopefully I can make more time to post tutorials and such in the coming year now that I'm mostly settled with  my new job.  I just bought a crochet hook last week and I have lots of old t-shirts for t-shirt yarn so perhaps some crochet baskets?  I've never crocheted before but I've been madly in love with the giant knit and doily rugs that have been floating around.  They've been around for a while I know but it's just a testament to how much I love them since I'm still obsessed with them.  For example, check out this Rope Rug from Wholly Kao:

Probably not the most practical rug but magnificent nonetheless, no?  I love how thick the rope is that was used, unfortunately its about $40 a box from Joann's the tutorial calls for 3 so...$100+ for something that would probably be torn to shreds by my bun?  Not so much...

And just in case you need something to cheer you up on this fine New Year's Eve:

That's right...Title of Nobility is an option.


So does anyone have any hot plans for New Year's?  New Year's resolutions?

Sunday, August 26, 2012

MIA

Sorry I have been missing for this past week but I may be missing for a while longer.  I am now in the process of finding a new place to live, somewhat unexpectedly unfortunately.  

My apartment is on the top floor of a complex with businesses on the ground floor and last month a new 'arcade' opened up.  Of course, when I say 'arcade' it doesn't sound too bad.  For me it's kinda like okay, now my boyfriend is just going to be downstairs spending quarters playing DDR or some shooting game.  But it's more of an adult arcade.  And by that I mean it's how people get around the fact that gambling is illegal in Hawaii.  So you can play games, and instead of winning money you win prizes which you can then trade in for money.  For example, you could win a $10 phone card which you can then trade in for $10 cash.  

So now there's a bunch of weird creepy guys hanging around the bottom floor who smoke/drink/eat/whatever else, and of course since they stay and smoke right at the entrance (which is illegal) all the smoke blows directly up into our apartment.  And now there are a bunch of kids who smoke and deal marijuana downstairs too.  And apparently my boyfriend has even seen a 'lady of the evening' down there haggling on prices...so yeah.  Apparently the neighborhood is really going downhill.  

What's really awesome is my boyfriend called the police last night because our neighbor was smoking so much marijuana that our entire apartment was filled with smoke (we don't have AC so if we close all the windows it becomes unbearably hot and stuffy).  So the police officer asked him if he was burning, he said yeah just a small joint, and the officer was like 'okay' and let him go.  No warning, nothing.  Just let him get in a car and leave.  So not only possession of an illegal substance but driving under the influence?  Really??  Yeah that happened.  

So we are now looking for a new place to live.  Which is sad because our apartment has a really great location but with all the changes that happened in the past month we think it's time to find a new home.  

So I apologize if I don't have too much to post for the next few weeks.  I do have one tutorial in the works but after that it may be a while.  

Michelle

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Get Your Craft On #11

Okay, so I switched my party day to Wednesday because I thought somehow it would work better with my posting schedule...well it weirds me out.  It just felt wrong having a party in the middle of the week so I'm moving it back to Mondays.  Hope I'm not throwing anyone off by switching it up again!

Also, don't forget for the rest of the month all ad spaces on my blog are 1/2 off!  Read more about how to advertise for as low as $2 here.

So for this week's party:
-only post projects that you have done yourself-preferably a tutorial (although recipes are welcome too)
-post my button somewhere on your blog or post
-follow my blog on one of the following: GFC, Bloglovin', FB, Pinterest, etc 
-check out other posts and leave comments!!  


the gilded hare