Tropical Crush Pot Holder

I have a stonking huge crush on all things tropical at the moment - not alone either I believe. Millions of people who should know much better are running around with flamingo images and pineapples on everything. Toucans have began a resurgence and you cannot go anywhere at all without seeing a banana leaf on something. Bliss!

Well I was nosing around on Amazon the other day (as you do) and I found this fabric....tell me that it isn't the fabbest thing...

I made something special for my monthly column in Pretty Patches magazine but I was still in the mood for the tropics with added pink.

A bit time poor at the moment with a new book due at the publishers last Friday (I made it), I thought that a pot holder was just the things and of course this delicious fabric might just be calling out for watermelon applique.

So let's get on with it then shall we. What do we need?

-about a fat quarter of fabric
- about a fat quarter of wadding. I am using #279 80/20 cotton mix wadding by Vlieseline. This is a great project for all of those saved off cuts.
-bias binding enough to go around the pot holder
-scraps of pink, green and white fabrics - here again, get that scrap basket out and go diving.
-coordinating threads for quilting and applique
-glue stick, removable marker and your usual sewing needs including a darning for for free motion embroidery (FME)

TIP: you could use wool felt for the applique motif too.

Righto, firstly, cut two squares from your fabric about 23 cm x 23 cm (9" sq.).
Lay them onto a piece of wadding and quilt both with a random wavy pattern like this....

Trim the wadding back to the size of the original squares and then round the corners (easier to bind with no mitring to be done on the corners. You're welcome)....

Put one aside for the back and then using the template, cut a piece of watermelon from your scraps....

Cut a big piece of pink first and glue it on at a rakish angle...
This is just a wonky half circle. I was going to make a template but I thought, nah, we can do this freehand!

Then add the white....

Use the pink half to make a template for the other two pieces. And then the green rind.....

Now embroider them with appropriate colours....

Add some pips too. Draw them with water soluble marker first and then go around them a couple of times with with some black thread....

Neaten all of the thread ends and then pin the two squares wadding to wadding and join them by zig zagging around the edge....

Bind the edge. 

You can add a hanging loop if you want to as well.

Well off now to make cool drinks with flamingo ice cube stirrers in them, gaze at my pot holder and pretend that I am in Mauritius. I need to get out more....maybe Mauritius....... 
Lol not going to happen with the mountain of work on my desk.

Break over, thank you for stopping by and I will see you next time.
Debs
xxx

PS: if any of you wanted to be extra helpful, you could go and lay on a beach for me and tell me what it was like? I am sure that would be almost as good as going myself.