There is a site called www.youcanmakethis.com/free.htm and it has free instructions. Hope this gets you started.

Hi Suzette, here is the direct link to "you can make this" - Hugs Yvonne

I have many potholders in my kitchen. Have taken some apart to see what was inside. Don't think you can make any mistakes. A pot holder is a pad or thick piece of cloth for handling hot pots. Some of mine are woven on a loom, have quilted ones with bias binding, and thick terry cloth. None of mine have the "insulbrite" in them. Natural fibers like cotton don't melt so I would not use any thing that is man made like polyester. If you want to use something like the "insulbrite" and not able to find it or buy it on the internet some people have used the silver/blue Silicone ironing board covers.
These should be fun to make and a good way to use some of your scrap fabric.

Why would we laugh? I am sure many of us have made them. You already have good advice, so have fun making them and let us know how you did.

No laughing involved here.... I still haven't made one and I've been sewing for over 40 yrs. hehehe.... You can make it is a great place to go for that and someone has given you the website. Here is another website. Not sure if it is easier or not. Just have fun with it, and be sure to send pics in projects. :) Hugs, Terre

Here is the link for Emblibrary hotpad video
I use prequilted fabric for mine,
doubled up for an oven mitt so the quilted fabric is inside the mitt too.
Also bias binding/tape it is 4 yds for less than $2 it is the lazy way for me hahaha
hope this helps somewhat

Suzette, no laughing here. I have also been unsure about hot pads. Always wonder what all has to go in them. Thank you for your question, many of us also learn something new when question are ask and answered. H&*

I see you have answers for Ideas and Patterns.
The biggest job is always at the start "To Begin"
The thicker batting will do fine for Oven Pads.
A few pins will hold everything in place for you to sew them, remove them just before you get close with the needle. You could also do embroidery before you put the backing and batting. Then do some simple quilting rows.
Everyone forgets or thinks it is too much trouble to hand baste the binding on before stiching with the sewing machine, Do this and soon your binding will be perfect.
Have fun stitching!
From Bev

I test if some fabric is cotton or not in a rough way - I iron very hot - if it is not melting I can use it. The iron I clean after this test with a rubber - a special one with some fat in it.
I tried the insulbrite, I bought it in UK, and used the patterns from emblibrary - it works out great! Also the printable instructions are so helpful for "beginner" in making pottholders. I found they are a bit small - I enlarged them as I had a bigger hoop. Also the ironcover works, it is not so stiff. The price I found is equal but the way of buying is not.

Here for anyone is interested a link which gives a good overloook about the use of it, they take also one layer of cotton batting inbetween.
In Germany I can't find insulbright only in USA and UK - but it needs to search for.

Good luck!

We all have to try things to see what we like and what we don't like. Been sewing for over 50 years and have made so many of these-way before insul-brite. Made first ones using old blue jeans for the padding and only 2 thicknesses of regular cotton fabrics to keep jeans from showing through. I still have 2 or 3 and just keep recovering them. I still use blue jeans as they seem to never wear out. They really absorb the heat.(Use 3-4 layers cut from old jeans) They are a little stiff, but are great hot pads.
Drew around my daughters hand when she was 2, embroidered print on outside, by hand, dated it along with her name and gave as gifts for Christmas. They were much appreciated by all. (just got back a set from a g-grandma - never used-after her death last year.) Try any batting you have and whatever heavy cottons you have as they will work. Put emb. motifs on first.
Have fun and whatever you make will be great.