Santa Claus was quite nice this year. He brought me several new crafting treasures that I'd be longing for. Ok, truth be told, mostly I had to play Santa Clause for myself but hey, I got exactly what I wanted! And I couldn't resist when my local craft store kept giving me fifty percent off coupons every time I'd go in there.
But sweet Santa did slip that potholder book all wrapped up and pretty under the tree and I've been itching to make some fab potholders for over a month! Can you believe that I don't own any potholders? I've been using the towel hanging on the oven door handle to snatch things out of the heat. And those linen towels are sometimes too thin to do an adequate job!
Ok, strictly speaking I guess I do own a pair of potholders. I found them during the great Rummage and Purge of the Winter of '08. They were shoved way down at the bottom of the kitchen linens cupboard and were scrushed and squashed into near oblivion. Those jokers were stiff little balled up roundness that looked more like modern art than a useful kitchen tool. And they had a funky smell. How they got into that condition I'll never know, but to make a long story endless, I knew I wanted to make my own. And not only did I want to make my own but I was obsessed with the idea of edging them with rick rack.
Now, rick rack is not a trim that I'm very familiar with. In fact, the Ginger Girl I made a couple of months ago was the first time I'd ever used it. I've never even bought rick rack. The sweet and generous Karyn sent me some in a yummy box of crafting goodies quite some time back.
So while I was flipping through my delightful new potholder book I spied several designs that included rick rack. I was smitten! Had to have it! But I needed to figure out how to actually make the magic happen and for some reason I was stressing out about sewing on that rick rack. I just kept fretting about it and putting the project off over and over again.
My procrastination was full of excuses like I couldn't find the right fabric. Uh, there are four, six foot tall bookcases in my studio stuffed to the gills with fabric. Clearly, fabric wasn't the real issue here. Somehow I'd built up the fear of the rick rack in my mind until it became this sort of big, dark unseen monster in the closet. Lucky for me this monster wasn't the mean, sharp toothed, snarly kind. It was, in fact, a big overgrown teddy bear who only wanted to be let out and brought to the table for milk and cookies.
So I took that big ol' burly monster fear by the hand and lead him out to the craft table were he sat with me while I searched and found the perfect fabric. This turned out to be a few scraps of a left over pillowcase from which I'd used to make a zipper pouch.
It was pretty and inspirational and just exactly right. And practically right next to it was an old blanket that I cut up and used for the insulating material. So I forged ahead, the monster next to me all the while, as I pinned that rick rack, then basted it, then finally took the plunge and sewed the layers together.
Now all I can say is, wow, I love these potholders. Love them! They are so pretty and so perfect and I love to look at them. For now I have them hanging at my eye level on the refridgerator so that I get a surprise jolt of joy every time I see them there. Eventually they'll migrate over to the stove area but for now I'm just happy to see them there.
And that monster fear? He wasn't ready to move on just yet so he quietly slipped off while I was deep in concentration bent over that beasty sewing machine. I'm pretty sure he moved back into the dark closet but I think he's pretty far back in there so I won't stumble on him when I snatch open the door. But I'm glad to know where I can find him for the next time I want to invite him out for an afternoon snack as I try my hand at something new and scary.
I love your potholders! I just followed your link and then filled out the online form on my own public library's web site to request that my library buy Pretty Little Potholders, too. My library loves me very much, and they've already bought me all the Built by Wendy books, the Sublime Stitching book, the Patchwork Puzzle Balls book, etc. Basically I'm the person in charge of purchasing for their crafts book section.
Rick-rack, not so bad, huh? My personal monster is cording.
Posted by: Pumpkinbear | January 30, 2009 at 08:38 AM
Isn't that strange how new things can be so scary!? I didn't try scrapbooking until 6 months ago because I thought I wouldn't be good at it. Turns out I'm better than the girl who turned me on to it. Muahahahaha!
PS the potholders turned out great!!
Posted by: Tasha | January 30, 2009 at 09:13 AM
they look great and 50% off coupons thats fab!! I would end up spending a fortune :)
Posted by: bagladee | January 30, 2009 at 09:52 AM
They are so cute! did you sew the ric rac into the seams or did you sew it on after? Inquiring minds want to know.
Posted by: bysarah | January 30, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Hi, Felicia! :o) Your potholders are lovely...they have a very shabby chic look, very smart. And love your Christmas goodies...nothing like a bit of rickrack to make a sewing girl's heart go pitter-patter! ;o) Thanks for stopping my by place--nice to see you! And thanks for the sock-knitting encouragement...I need all the peep I can with that--LOL! Happy weekend to you & all the critters. ((HUGS))
Posted by: Tracy | January 30, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Your potholders are fabulous, you did a great job with the rickrack!
Posted by: corry | January 30, 2009 at 06:19 PM
the potholders look wonderful :D I have never used rick rack on anything before, can't think of what I would use it on. Looks nice when used though :)
Posted by: Jennifer Rose | January 30, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Oh, they look really good!
Posted by: Marie | January 30, 2009 at 11:20 PM
They are just delightful!
Posted by: sadira | January 31, 2009 at 10:49 AM
That fabric is wonderful! and the rick rack the perfect touch.
Posted by: stephanie | February 01, 2009 at 12:00 AM
They are the prettiest pot holders ever, its all in the rick rack! Rachaelxo
Posted by: Rachael | February 01, 2009 at 02:10 PM
Funny, I know exactly how you feel about being scared at first. That's how I felt about cooking certain things or my paintings. I will ponder the idea around in my head for about three weeks. Trying to get the courage. Wondering if I can do it without messing it up. I think you did a wonderful job!
Posted by: KnitPastis | February 01, 2009 at 06:08 PM
Oh these are too cute, I love this fabric. Good for you for trying something scary--look how great it turned out!
Posted by: shannon | February 02, 2009 at 12:09 AM
ooohhh Felicia!!! Those have to be the cutest pot holders ever! Look what you've gone and done, I must make some!
Posted by: sewtakeahike | February 02, 2009 at 11:47 PM
They look very pretty. Now I wish I had some like that, too.
Posted by: julia | February 03, 2009 at 02:25 AM
These are wonderful! ♥
Posted by: rein. | February 03, 2009 at 02:06 PM
Inspiring photos, the rick rack turned out great! I have been wanting to make myself some potholders for awhile, too...Thanks for visiting our site!
Posted by: Laura | February 05, 2009 at 03:20 PM
I **love** these! As a knitter I can completely relate to those technical fears that get in your way. Sewing is that fear for me. It is something I want to do so badly but for some reason it's hard for me to have the confidence.
Thanks for the inspiration :)
Posted by: SpiderWomanKnits | February 06, 2009 at 08:18 AM
Those 50% off coupons get me every time! Now this is what rick rack is, not scissors :)
It looks very nice on your pot holders.
Posted by: edith | February 26, 2009 at 12:46 AM