Quilted Bowl Holders - Dart Question
 

Now that it's hot soup weather I've been wanting to make bowl holders like the one in this tutorial - but the part about the darts really confuses me. Can anyone help?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZgv3vwv

in this tutorial you fold the fabric in half and measure 1" down the side and 2" along the fold for a 10" bowl (join the dots and sew to make a dart.) for 15" it is 1 and 3 and for a 12" it is 1 and 2.5. Hope this helps.

The darts go on the sides of the squares, not on the corners. The easiest way is to quilt your square, then center the bowl that you are going to use with (right side of fabric up) it & just pin the excess fabric. Don't make it tight to the bowl, let there be a bit of ease. YOu should be able to gauge the width & depth of the dart. Then just fold the fabric, match the corners of the square & sew on your pinned darts. If you are still not sure, use a really long stitch so you can remove it if you need to adjust. Then turn it right side out & check it with the bowl for fit.

Video does not exist. But I'll go search for one. Thanks.

It just might be one of the patterns that you have to watch being made in person. My best friend sent me one along with instructions but I could not figure it out either. Be sure to tell anyone not to leave it in the microwave longer than 3 minutes and you must use 100% cotton to prevent any fires in the microwave.

I wouldn't actually put it in the microwave, but good to put your bowl of oatmeal or soup or chili in so you can curl up on the couch without burning your hands!

As long as you use cotton thread, and cotton batting with NO scrim. You can put it into the microwave. there are a lot of utube videos....some free patterns some not. I did a search for microwave bowl potholder.

I agree. I wont put the potatoe bags in the microwave either. ( i wont make them, in fact.) I am leery of putting flammables in there.
Sandy

I put my bean bag warmers in the microwave every night all winter, and have been putting the same ones in there for a few years now. Keeps my feet warm so I can get to sleep faster.

The microwave bowls are also good to hold a bowl of cold ice cream. Sometimes I want ice cream, but feel chilled when holding the bowl in my hand while watching TV.

I use them in the microwave all the time. No problems now for over a year, and my microwave is pretty powerful.

What confused me is that how the ruler is laid on the fabric it looks like a dart. I simply drew a sq and used an arrow 1" pointing across the top and an arrow 2 1/4" pointing down. I think I may have my Christmas presents worked out - lol. Now off to find some cool bowls.

bowl holders
 

I hadn't heard that you are to use cotton batting WITH NO SCRIM. Guess my Warm and Natural is out then.
Have any of you successfully and safely used the W&N???

I have used W & N and it works just fine.

A sewing buddy made these and found some scorched and she believes it was the sizing on the fabric so she washes everything before making them now. Just make sure to use cotton fabric, cotton batting and cotton thread. This person also found when she made the darts shorter the bowl holders could hold plates, etc.

You Tube says this video doesn't exist lol

Most battings are fine in the microwave. It's the silver stuff that is metal in the Insul Bright that will make the potholder catch fire. Don't put that stuff in the microwave.
Insul Bright is made for potholders to keep the heat from your hands, not to be put into the microwave.

There is a tutorial on this board, which got me started. http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...s-t144848.html

I make them to sell for fundraisers (Project Linus mostly, and a couple other nonprofits) and expect to hit 400 made by the end of this season (before Thanksgiving)-- that is if I can get my machine fixed quickly, it's suddenly going from stop to fast only--and I've mostly used Warm and Natural in them, or Warm and White, which seems a bit stiffer so is easier to work with. The Warm Tater no-scrim batting is way too expensive for me, and the scrim has presented no problems in the three years I've been making these!

Tips I'll pass on:
1)I cut the batting 3/4" - 1" smaller than the outside fabrics--I mostly use 9 1/2" fabric, 8 1/2" batting, which fits all my single-serving bowls, and also my larger serving bowls;
2) use a little school glue to attach batting to fabric and let dry; so much faster/easier to quilt than pin basted;
3) I like to glue a 4" square of flannel on the center of the batting of just one side for extra bottom-of-the-bowl padding;
4) the darts don't have to be wide or deep to be effective--I use 3/4-1" by 2-2 1/4";
5) I no longer mark the darts, but instead after quilting fold at center, RS tog, insert a long smooth item inside the fold to help make an even crease and push the fabric into the crease, and measure 3/8" in from the fold and 2" or so down the crease, stitch;
6) Using my walking foot I sew a generous 1/4" or even 3/8" seam around the outside, leaving about 2 1/2" opening for turning--I found it stitches straighter and turns more evenly with the wider seam allowance and no batting in the actual seam;
7) Using my walking foot I top-stitch around the finished and turned edge at least 1/4" in to assure the batting is well attached and the bowl keeps its shape.

If u get the zap-it batting you will have no problems in the mw I use mine all the time and love it!

I make these and sell them and directions say to wash your bag before use if u do this u will have no problems.

Thanks so much. Now I understand where the darts go and how big to make them. Your pretty bowls got me thinking ... what if you rounded the corners?

Krystyna, I use mine in the microwave all the time and have not had any problems. Cotton fabric, cotton batting, and cotton thread. Made one each for six friends of mine and there have been no fires!