Alaskan Pot Holder

Alaskan Pot Holder: A cool little oven mitt for your cast iron pan handles. I call it the Alaskan Pot Holder. The handles on cast iron pans can get very hot! Wearing an oven mitt while cooking gets in the way. The Alaskan Pot Holder is the solution.

I made my first version many years ago, but after years of abuse and several washings, these little pan handle covers needed replacement. Time for Version 2, also I had forgotten how I made version one.

This is a great project to use up scrap materials. It's also perfect for beginners and makes an excellent gift.

Cotton Fabric: Make sure to check with your partner first! Don't use the quilt squares they cut out 7 years ago and just haven't gotten around to stitching together yet. NOTE: Don't use polys or nylons or any plastic based fabrics - THEY WILL MELT!

Thermal Batting: Used for making oven mitts and potholders. You could probably take apart old potholders and salvage the batting.

Thread: Keep it together!

Sewing implement: Again, probably best to check with your partner and not use their expensive embroidery machine for this. I recommend getting a cool retro machine of your own from market place, cleaning and oiling it and then using it once every 6 years or so. Or you can use a needle and thread and sew by hand like a cave man, pioneer, LARPer and practice your hand sewing skills for the apocalypse.

Cutting tools: scissors, rolling cutter and mat, utility knife, etc.

Measuring tool (optional): This might help make things the right size the first time.

Seam ripper (optional): You only really need this if you make mistakes a lot. For example, if all of your sewing machine skills come from one after school club in grade 7 and that was more decades ago than you care to admit, you might want one.

Iron (optional): Magic device that makes fabrics less wrinkly. Only useable sorcerer or mage, level 4 and above.

Chopstick, spoon, spatula, knitting needle, toothbrush: Anything that is at least 6 or 7 inches long and has a blunt end.

Cut a piece of fabric roughly 5" by 12", or a little more than twice as wide and twice as long as you want the end result to be. Alternately you can use two smaller pieces of fabric and stitch them together before continuing.

Cut a piece of thermal batting roughly 5" by 6", or use up scraps. Be aware that smaller pieces may result in thin areas, which could create "hot spots". Use your better judgement and be careful with hot things!

Fold the 5x12 fabric in half lengthwise - right side out.

Insert your batting (or pieces) between the layers.

Stitch along the fold about 1/4" to 1/2" away.

Fold the assembly width wise. (It should now be roughly 2.5"x6").

Stitch in a "L" pattern along the open edges.

Trim any excess fabric along the stitch (not too close or the stitch won't hold).

Turn the assembly inside out. Use the chopstick or other tool to gently push the fabric until its completely inverted, paying special attention to the corners at the end.

Admire your handy work and install them on your cast iron pans!

You can give these as a gift!

You can clean up after you're done.

You can comment below about how you improved on them, how much you love them or what you don't like about them how much you love them!

Thanks!