Potholder binding question
 

I've decided to make potholders for everyone I know this year! I have a question about binding. For a 9.5 inch square potholder, what's a reasonable width binding, not too narrow to put on easily, but not too wide so it looks bad. I have some precut strips (2 1/2") but I think that would be awfully wide as a binding. Thoughts?

Hi Sarah,
If you fold the strips in half, back sides together and sew on ( raw edges to raw edge) it will be half that amount and perfect for a pot holder binding. Don't you think? I think they call this french binding. It is how I bind my things. That would be 3/4 of an inch on either side when you turn it to the back.

I cut mine 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 for potholders, too.

Same here........I use the 2 1/2 inch strips folded.

If you get the binding to narrow it will come off in the wash. Just a thought

You guys are so smart! I will trust you and forge ahead.

I'm afraid I cheat and purchase double-fold bias binding in a coordinating color. Yes, perhaps that's the lazy way, but I am perpetually slow. If your potholders have curves, though, I do have a suggestion: I machine baste in the fold so that when applying the binding, I can pull the thread and ease the binding around the curves. Also, when I machine stitch the binding to the top, it really helps to make a pretty top-stitched binding, without struggling to make all the curves!

Jeanette Frantz

I just have to add this. I found this youtube tutorial on how to make a potholder without binding. It's fun and very quick. Here's the link to the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sipzCAflJQ8