Quilted Pot Holder Free Pattern (Heat-Safe)

This quilted pot holder brings a bright touch of blue and yellow to the kitchen while keeping your counters safe from hot cast iron. I designed this scrap-friendly project to go together quickly using half-square triangles and simple patchwork squares.

Quick Facts

• Skill level: Confident Beginner
• Finished size: 8 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in (21.5 cm x 21.5 cm)
• Block size: 8 1/2 in (21.5 cm) square
• Fabric: Cotton prints and scraps
• Seam allowance: 1/4 in (0.6 cm)
• Time to make: 2 hours

What Makes This pot holder Special

The star block features a central cluster of half-square triangles pointing inward, framed by cheerful yellow and white floral prints. Two layers of inner padding—one layer of cotton batting and one layer of Insul-Bright thermal fleece—stop the heat from reaching your hands. A sturdy binding finishes the edges and forms a convenient loop for hanging right by the stove.

Finished Size

Item	Block Size	Number of Blocks	Finished Dimensions
Pot Holder	8 1/2 in (21.5 cm)	1 block (4×4 grid of units)	8 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in (21.5 cm x 21.5 cm)

Fabric Requirements

Fabric	Used For	Yards	Metres
Blue Floral Print	Star points and outer corners	1/2 yd	0.5 m
Yellow Floral Print	Background and side squares	1/2 yd	0.5 m
White Print	Star centers and contrast	1 yd	1.0 m
Blue Gingham	Backing fabric	1/2 yd	0.5 m
Blue Binding Print	Binding and hanging loop	2 yd	1.9 m

Note: You will also need one 9 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in (24 cm x 24 cm) square of cotton batting and one 9 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in (24 cm x 24 cm) square of Insul-Bright thermal lining.

Cutting Instructions

• Blue Floral Print: Cut 1 strip 3 3/8 in x WOF (8.6 cm x WOF); subcut into 4 squares 3 3/8 in x 3 3/8 in (8.6 cm x 8.6 cm) for half-square triangles. Cut 2 squares 2 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in (6.4 cm x 6.4 cm).
• Yellow Floral Print: Cut 1 strip 3 3/8 in x WOF (8.6 cm x WOF); subcut into 4 squares 3 3/8 in x 3 3/8 in (8.6 cm x 8.6 cm) for half-square triangles. Cut 2 squares 2 1/2 in x 2 1/2 in (6.4 cm x 6.4 cm).
• White Print: Cut 1 strip 3 3/8 in x WOF (8.6 cm x WOF); subcut into 8 squares 3 3/8 in x 3 3/8 in (8.6 cm x 8.6 cm) for half-square triangles.
• Blue Gingham: Cut 1 square 10 in x 10 in (25.5 cm x 25.5 cm) for the backing.
• Blue Binding Print: Cut 1 strip 2 1/2 in x 40 in (6.4 cm x 101.5 cm) for the binding and loop.

Assembly

Block Assembly

1. Place one blue floral 3 3/8 in (8.6 cm) square and one white print 3 3/8 in (8.6 cm) square right sides together. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the lighter square.
2. Sew a 1/4 in (0.6 cm) seam on each side of the drawn line. Cut apart on the drawn line to yield two half-square triangles. Press seams toward the darker fabric and trim each unit to measure 3 in x 3 in (7.6 cm x 7.6 cm). Repeat with the remaining blue squares and white squares to make 8 blue-and-white half-square triangles.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 using the yellow floral 3 3/8 in (8.6 cm) squares and white print squares to make 8 yellow-and-white half-square triangles, trimmed to 3 in x 3 in (7.6 cm x 7.6 cm).
4. Arrange the half-square triangles and the 2 1/2 in (6.4 cm) squares into four matching quarter-block units, creating the star layout shown in the photo.
5. Sew the units in each quarter-block together, pressing seams open. Then sew the four quarter-blocks together to complete the center star.
   

   ✅ Checkpoint: The unfinished pot holder top should measure 9 in x 9 in (23 cm x 23 cm). Trim it square to 9 in x 9 in (23 cm x 23 cm) if necessary.

Quilt Top Assembly

1. Layer the backing fabric wrong side up, then place the Insul-Bright thermal layer, and top with the cotton batting. Place the quilted pot holder top right side up on very top of this stack.
2. Pin all four layers together securely across the center and edges.
3. Quilt straight lines through all layers in a grid pattern, spacing your lines about 1 in (2.5 cm) apart.

Quilting and Binding

1. Trim the quilted sandwich square so all edges are neat and even.
2. Take the 2 1/2 in x 40 in (6.4 cm x 101.5 cm) binding strip, fold it in half lengthwise with wrong sides together, and press.
3. Cut a 4 in (10 cm) piece from the strip to make the hanging loop; fold its raw edges inward toward the center crease, press, and topstitch down both long sides. Fold the strip in half to form a loop and baste it to one top corner of the pot holder.
4. Sew the remaining binding strip to the front of the pot holder with a 1/4 in (0.6 cm) seam, mitering each corner carefully. Fold the binding over to the back and hand-stitch or machine-stitch it in place to finish.

Size Variations

• Double-Sized Trivet: Cut blocks and lining twice as large to make an 16 in x 16 in (40.5 cm x 40.5 cm) hot pad for large baking dishes.

Care Instructions

Machine wash in cold water on a gentle cycle. Tumble dry on low heat or lay flat to reshape. Do not microwave, as Insul-Bright contains metallic fibers.

FAQ

Can I use regular cotton batting instead of Insul-Bright?

You can use standard cotton batting, but you will need at least three layers to provide enough heat protection for handling hot cast iron pans.

Do I have to pre-wash my fabric scraps?

Since this is a small item that you will wash frequently, pre-washing is optional for scraps, but it helps prevent any unexpected shrinkage later.

How do I make the hanging loop stay straight?

Basting the folded loop securely within the 1/4 in (0.6 cm) seam allowance before attaching the binding keeps it firmly anchored.

Happy Quilting!

• Vera