Microwave Bowl Holder Tutorial

Microwave Bowl Holders....I'm sure most of you have seen these around.  They are AWESOME.  My entire family loves using them and even my dear hubby searches until he finds one in the kitchen whenever heating up leftovers.  They sure have saved us from many burned fingers!!!!

Within one weeks time, I had 4 different friends share the directions for making these wonderful little things, so I decided to pass it on to you. Would you like to guess what most of my family and friends will be getting as Christmas gifts this year? :)

NOTE:  Because this item will be used in a Microwave....all supplies MUST BE 100% COTTON!!!!!!!

Supplies Needed For ONE Microwave Bowl Holder:

     Cut TWO - 10" x 10" squares of 100% COTTON fabric
     Cut ONE - 9 1/2" x 9 1/2" square of 100% COTTON batting
     Sew using 100% COTTON thread

1)  Place One - 10" square of fabric RIGHT SIDE DOWN, then place One - 9 1/2" square of cotton batting on top, centered on fabric square....

2)  Fold in half with RIGHT SIDES of fabric facing each other....

3)  Using a pencil or fabric marker, mark 1" up from center fold on RIGHT edge of fabric.....

4)  Repeat and mark 1" up from center fold on LEFT edge of fabric/batting....

5)  Now measure 2 1/2" from RIGHT outside edge toward center and mark on FOLDED edge of batting....

6)  Repeat on the LEFT side.....

7)  Using your ruler, draw a line to connect the two markings you made.....do this to both sides, right and left...

8)  Your project should look something like this.....

9)  Now take your second 10" square of cotton fabric (no batting this time) and fold in half face to face....

10)  REPEAT STEPS 3 - 8 on this single piece of fabric....

11)  Your project should look something like this....

I'll be honest and admit that I decided to make a matching set for my daughter's kitchen so I quickly cut out another set and repeated all the steps so far...now my cutting table looks like this... :) :) :) :)

12)  Easy Step - Machine sew on the drawn lines of each section.....

13)  After sewing, trim the corners approximately 1/4" from seam....

14)  Now FOLD each section in half again.....match the seams previously sewn (now on top, in center).  Pin or clip to hold each section in the folded position....

15)  REPEAT STEPS 3 - 13 on each section.....

MARK.....

SEW.....

TRIM.... They look a little like toddler undies at this point. :) :)

16)  Pick up your section with batting and it should easily and naturally take on the shape of a bowl....batting on bottom, and fabric is facing up.....

17)  Now do the same with the fabric only section, make certain the bowl shape if formed with the WRONG side of fabric facing UP and the RIGHT side of fabric facing the bottom.......

18)  Next, nestle both sections together, with RIGHT sides of fabric FACING each other.....

19)  Match up seams, corners, etc., and pin or clip together......

20)  Choose one side to leave approximately a 3" wide opening......

21)  Now we will sew the two sections together using a 1/2" seam....don't forget to leave the 3" wide opening for turning....

22)  Clip each corner close to the seam.....

23)  Find your 3" opening and start turning your project inside out.....

Be gentle and go slow so you don't accidentally rip out the seams.....

24)  I used my pencil (eraser end of course) to help poke out each corner.  Using your fingers, go around the edge of your project and make sure the folds are nice and neat.....

25)  Find your 3" wide opening and turn down the edges, creating an even edge......clip or pin to hold together.....

26)  Almost done!!!  Now just top stitch around the entire bowl holder using approximately a 1/8" seam allowance........this not only closes the 3"opening but creates a nice "finish" to your project.

TA - DA!!!!!!  

BONUS:  If you'd like to make them large enough for serving bowls, cut fabric 15" square and batting 14 1/2" square.  Darts should be marked 1" up from center fold and 3" from each side edge.

For holders a tad bit larger than the ones in the tutorial....cut fabric 12" square and batting 11 1/2" square. Darts should be marked 1" up from center fold and 2 1/2" from each side edge.

I took this photo just to show you how they look with different styles of bowls.  Even with the wider bowl, there is still enough of the bowl holder to use when picking up a hot bowl from the microwave.

NOTE:
Wouldn't you know, after I made this set for my daughter I remembered that she really didn't have any round bowls.  (Her set of dishes are square.  She is unhappy with her square bowls because they won't hold soups, chilies, or even cereal in the mornings!)

So what would any good mother do?  Make a trip to Wal-Mart and purchase two adorable while bowls to go with her daughter's white square set of dishes!!!!!  Now admit it....you would do the same thing!!!! :) :)

In case you had any doubts...let me assure you that my daughter was tickled pink with her unexpected gift of two bowls and two Microwave Bowl Holders!

I'd love to hear from anyone that decides to make their own.  Let me know if you feel this tutorial is helpful, clear and easy to follow.

Keep sewing!!