Mary-go to the tutorial section of the boards and do a search for Microwave fabric bowls. In short they are like a bowl shaped pot holder you can actually use in most microwaves right under your bowl. When your microwave stops, you can just reach in and lift your heated bowl with this Microvewave bowl holder. Instead of trying to use a regular pot holder to remove the bowl. Also you just keep the bowl holder under the bowl and it retains the heat longer so whatever is in your bowl stays warm longer.
It is very important you use 100% cotton fabrics, 100% cotton threads, plus the "Potato bag batting" you can buy in specially marked bags, at places such as some Local quilt shops or Joann's Fabrics. The tutorial on how to make them shows you pictures also.
Kat