Stove top potholders and a Barbie duvet

Last week I saw some potholders here from Alder and Co.  I liked the looks of them and the little leather hanging loop, but most of my potholders are of the cheap affordable Target variety, or I make them myself (even cheaper), but the Alder pot holders were $28.  Each.  That's a lot of fabricyarnbooks I could be buying, instead of one potholder.

So I made some.

The gingham ones are made with Linen purchased at the Fabrics Store.  They have a lovely linen selection if you're into that sort of thing, and the fabric is beautiful. The dark blue one was from a piece of fabric in a Bits and Pieces Grab Bag I ordered from Pink Chalk fabrics.  You never know what you're going to get in those grab bags and it's always a nice surprise.  Only problem is, I really like the fabric but I don't know what it's called and I wouldn't mind getting more.  I think it's Robert Kaufman Indigo Chambray.  If you recognize it, let me know so I can go spend some more money.  Anyway, these potholders were super easy, and if you would like to make some, here's what I did.

Supplies
Two 6.5"x8.5" pieces of fabric for the outside
Two 6.5"x8.5" pieces of muslin or other cotton for lining
Two 6"x8" pieces of batting (Yes they are cut smaller.)
water soluble marker, embroidery floss to decorate the front

Now layer your pieces in this order

batting
muslin
outer fabric (right side up)
outer fabric (right side down facing the other outer fabric piece)
muslin
batting

The batting is cut smaller than your fabric pieces on purpose.  Try and keep it centered on the muslin, so there is about 1/4" all the way around.  This way you are just sewing through the fabric thickness, and not all the batting. If you do run over onto the batting it's okay.  Later when you embroider, it will hold everything in place.
At this point, if you want to add a loop for hanging or just for general cuteness, get it in there now.

Pin and sew all the way around, ( I used my walking foot) leaving a 4" opening on one side for turning.  Clip corners, turn and sew the opening closed by hand.

 I marked the fabric at one inch intervals with a disappearing marker, then used 3 strands of embroidery floss and embroidered little X's on one side.  Don't fuss over getting all those little X's lined up or the same size.  This is a pot holder not a prom dress.  It's going to look great.

Aaaaand we are done.....

I guess you could top stitch all the way around, but I like the way they look just like this.  Kind of like a mini duvet cover.  For Barbie.

Yep she's all mine.  Sits on the bookshelf in my sewing room.  And it only took me 40 years to get her.  I know most of you probably played with Barbies at one point in your life, so maybe you can relate to this.
A few summers ago, my mom and two sisters were over here swimming.  We bobbed in the pool in a circle, just our heads and shoulders above the water, talking about when we were little kids.  I told my mom how disappointed I was the year I did NOT get a Barbie for Christmas.  You see, that year, my sister and I each asked Santa to bring us a Barbie. This was back in the days when there was only one kind of Barbie doll.  There was no such thing as Malibu Barbie, Holiday Barbie, or Astronaut Barbie.  You had one doll,(they all looked the same) and then bought extra clothes and accessories.
Well Santa brought my sister Jill a Barbie.  But I got a Midge.
 What. The. Hell.
 Jill's Barbie had long blond hair.  Midge (Barbie's friend) had short curly brown hair.  The dolls were identical from the neck down. Perky bosom, insanely skinny waist, mile long legs, and dainty high arched feet.  I always wondered about her feet.  Without any shoes, Barbie always had to walk around on her tip toes. (Secretly though, I wished for a new Barbie head, so I could pop off Midge's head and replace it.)  Every time I took that doll out to play with her it bugged me.  Every time.  And we played Barbies a lot.  I think my parents were probably trying to get us each something different anticipating arguments over the same doll (Jill and I are only 13 months apart. That says it all).  Anyway I said my Thank You's, sucked it up and made do, but I never told them how I felt. Until now.
 My mom apologized, saying she never realized, and why didn't I say something, blah blah. My sisters laughed, and said they would chip in so I could get some counseling (kidding).
Two months after the Barbie pool confession, my Mom gave me a Barbie for my birthday.  It was a complete surprise, and I actually got tears in my eyes.  I think I'm over it now. (ha ha Midge)