Condo Blues: How to Make Doctor Who Dalek Potholders

Friday, November 30, 2012

How to Make Doctor Who Dalek Potholders

Husband is a great guy. He puts up with living with DIY projects in process more than he likes (note: he hates it,) while also encouraging me by bringing home odd things for me to “do something with” because “you are creative” and “they were just going to throw it out. You can make it useful again.”

If there is anyone on my gift list who deserves a homemade Christmas gift it is Husband.


 Save this tutorial to your Pinterest boards for later! Share it with your friends!



My guy likes to cook. He likes Doctor Who (because he has excellent taste in science fiction). He also likes to keep his fingers from burning off around the stove. Homemade Dalek potholders? Perfect!


Well that and a healthy dose of OMG! OMG! OMG! Dalek fabric! Must-have-Dalek-fabric-must-make-something-from-Dalek-fabric-yikes-it-is-pricey-I’m-not-making-a-dress-ah ha!-I-will-make-potholders-as-a-stocking-stuffer-instead!

Ahem.

Let’s do this

How to Make Dalek Potholders




For each potholder you will need:

  • 1 fat quarter (actually less) of Dalek fabric.  I bought the smallest amount of Dalek fabric I could for from Spoonflower. Unfortunately it is discontinued. You can find similar Doctor Who faabric here. 


  • Coordinating plain cotton fabric for the back of your potholder. I used what I had in my fabric stash, although you could make your potholders double sided Daleked if you want.

  • Paper rectangle pattern in the size you desire plus one inch for a seam allowance on all sides to make sure you cut the three layers for each potholder the same.

  • Fabric scissors - one of my fellow costumers got me hooked on these Gingher 8-Inch Knife Edge Dressmaker's Shears. She raved that they are the only scissors she's ever had to buy and loved them so much some of my other friends bought them, raved about them, and so on that I had to treat myself and try them. She's right!

  • Straight pins or consider using these fabric clips. They are fantastic for holding thick layers of fabric.

  • Thread

  • Sewing machine

  
Make it:

1. Use the paper pattern to cut 1 layer of Dalek fabric, 1 layer of the insulated layer (my bath towel is thin so I cut two layers of it), and 1 layer of coordinating backing fabric.

2. Make a layer sandwich. Put the Dalek fabric right side (the Exterminaty side) down on top of the middle layer (the towel.) Now put the coordinating fabric on the top of the not pretty design part of the Dalek fabric.



3. Pin all sides of the potholder layers in place except for a small gap on one of the straight sides. You will use this gap/hole/probably-some-professional-sewing-term-I-don’t know to turn the layers right side out in Step 5.




4. Sew the layers together. Remember mind the gap! (or have a seam ripper handy if you don’t.)


5. Turn the layers right side out through the gap in the fabric. 
  
6. Turn the raw edges of the gap into the hole and pin into place.

7. Top stitch around the outside of the potholder. This will sew the turning gap closed, keep the layers from shifting, and looks mighty pretty and a wee bit more professional.




8. Exterminate those kitchen burns with a Dalek potholder!

If you'd rather buy than DIY, check out the following options - and more! - below!


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10 comments :

Mary said...

So cool!

Joselyn @ The DIY Spot said...

Nice to hear you have a supportive husband. I have one too. So great you gifted him in the very way he supports you.

Katie @ Horrific Knits said...

Oh those are awesome!

Anne Birdsong said...

Hi Lisa, I’m Anne from Life on the Funny Farm (http://annesfunnyfarm.blogspot.com), and I’m visiting from Make It Pretty Monday.

How awseome is this? Great job. And I love the graphics on your tutorial. Well done!

Anyway, thanks for posting this. If you’ve never visited yet, I hope you can pop by my blog sometime to say hi…

Unknown said...

What fun potholders! Thanks for sharing on the homemade holiday party.

Marilyn
4you-withlove.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Just found your blog via the Share it Link Party. Yours was the first I clicked on because well, it's awesome! I'm happy to find a fellow geeky crafter!! I have a few geeky crafts (mainly Star Wars) that I did on my blog. A new flower now, I am (as Yoda would say) and I'll be checking out the rest of your blog. Great stuff!!

~Aubrey
Project Lovegood

Unknown said...

<3 i love nerd projects. i've eyed that fabric before too, but yeah, I need a plan before I spoonflower something, pricey. looks like fun though!

The Busy Bee's said...

Great tutorial.
Thanks for linking up at the Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
Adorned From Above,
Debi.
The Busy Bee's,
Myrna and Joye.

Adorned From Above said...

These are great pot holders. I love the fabric. Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/12/7-recipes-and-wednesdays-adorned-from.html
Debi @ Adorned From Above
Joye and Myrna @ The Busy Bee's
Linda @ With A Blast

Weaveron Textile said...

This is very amazing Potholders...

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