An enjoyable evening for me is cooking dinner and then sitting down to watch my favorite TV show. These pot holders are a nod to that terrific show. (and my love of Chemistry) Unfortunately, that show has ended and I am left to mourn Walter. Originally, I was going to make all 3 pot holders blue, but I wanted more color in my kitchen. This same technique can be used to applique names, logos or simple shapes. Whatever creative design you can come up with, It's all good man!
The chemical symbol for Iron is Fe, Lithium is Li and Sodium is Na. The atomic number is in the top right hand corner.

Step 1: Supplies

You will need cotton woven fabric, (different colors) about 1/4 yard of each. matching thread, sewing machine, scissors, an iron, fusible webbing. (Wonder Under) you will also need quilt batting or something to place in the middle so it will be thick enough to keep your hands from feeling the heat from the pots and pans. I used an old baby blanket.

Step 2: Cut Out Squares

Begin by making a pattern. Cut out a piece of paper 7". This is your pattern for the potholder. For each potholder you will need to cut out 2 squares.

Step 3: Fusible Webbing

I love this stuff! I have used quite a bit of it over the years, it keeps cut out letters and shapes in place while you sew them down. without it, things tend to shift while you're sewing. The top sections of the potholders are fused to another piece of fabric so that the zig-zag stitching of the letters and numbers goes a lot smoother. I ironed a piece of wonder under about 6" x 6" to the solid color fabric that was used for the letters and numbers. If you were to just iron on the letters and numbers and not sew them down, they would peel off when you washed them, so it is important to secure them with stitching.

Step 4: Cut Out Letters and Numbers

You can draw freehand designs or print out and enlarge (or shrink) letters and shapes from different websites. The letters I cut out were about 4" tall and the numbers were about 1-1/2" tall.

Step 5: Iron on Letters and Numbers

Peel the paper off the back of the letters and numbers. Place letters and numbers where you want them on the front section of the potholder. Press with hot iron.

Step 6: Zig Zag Applique

I used a wide zig-zag stitch around the large letters and a small zig-zag stitch around the numbers. Instead of reversing the presser foot to lock the stitches at the end, I gently pull the top thread to the back and tie it to the bobbin thread. This prevents messy starting and stopping points. After all letters and numbers have been appliqued on, trim any excess fabric so that each square is 7".

Step 7: Cut Out Batting

I used an old baby blanket for the batting, and put 2 layers in between the front and back of the potholders. Cut out using the same 7" square pattern that was used for the front and back of potholder.

Step 8: Pin Layers Together

Place the back of potholder on the table, right side down. Place the batting on top of this. Next, place the front (appliqued) of the potholder, right side up, on top of the batting. Pin all of the layers together.

Step 9: Round 3 Corners

With the scissors, round off 3 of the corners, but leave the top left corner where the loop will be for hanging.

Step 10: Cut and Sew Bias Edging

Cut a 2" wide strip of fabric on the bias (diagonal). Cutting the fabric diagonally will help you sew it around the corners. Pin right sides together. Stitch 1/2" from the edge around all 4 sides, beginning and ending at the corner, leaving 4" at the corner for the loop.Turn the bias trim to the back of the potholder and turn under the raw edge. Pin. Machine stitch to secure.