Handmade in Minnesota
Quilted Potholders, Handmade in Minnesota
Colorful, useful kitchen pieces made from carefully chosen fabric and sewn one at a time by Susan.
Useful by design
Made for the busy part of dinner.
A potholder earns its place in the kitchen. It needs to feel comfortable when you reach for a skillet, keep its shape through regular use, and be easy to spot when the oven timer goes off. Susan makes her quilted potholders with that simple purpose in mind. Each piece is meant to be used, then hung up where its color can make the room a little happier.
The construction starts with quilt-weight cotton on the outside and two layers of Insul-Bright inside. The layers are quilted together to help keep the piece stable and give it the soft, substantial feel of a handmade kitchen textile. These are not factory-made basics pulled from a shelf. They are useful little works of fabric art, sewn carefully in a Minnesota home studio.
Fabric first
Every piece begins with a print worth looking at.
Susan has spent more than 20 years selling fabric online, and that long eye for print is part of what makes ThePotholderGirl different. Vintage florals, cheerful fruit, scrappy color, state pride, seasonal scenes, and unexpected novelty prints all get a turn. Some designs feel like a small piece of kitchen decor. Others make an especially good gift because they quietly nod to a favorite place, pastime, or color.
Because the fabric is cut and sewn by hand, each potholder has its own personality. Print placement can vary, and that is part of the appeal. A pair is coordinated, not stamped out. A single piece can be a bright accent beside the stove. Either way, you get a finished item that feels considered from the front fabric to the backing.
The handmade difference
Layered, quilted, and finished for everyday use.
Thoughtful layers
Two layers of Insul-Bright sit inside every standard potholder, behind the quilt-weight cotton. The layers add the protection and structure that a kitchen piece needs, while the fabric keeps the look warm and personal.
Quilting that holds together
Quilting secures the fabric and inner layers so the piece feels finished instead of floppy. It also gives the surface texture and a little more character, whether the print is bold, delicate, retro, or downright playful.
A real maker behind it
Susan makes every piece in her home studio. That means a small-batch selection that changes as new fabrics call her name, not a page full of copies with different product numbers.
Quilted potholders ready for a new kitchen.
Choose a print that feels like you, then follow the listing to Etsy to see the current details and purchase.
Fall Pinecone fabric Scrappy potholders, 8” homemade quilted Pair (2)
$12.00
Pair (2) Minnesota theme potholders 8.25” homemade quilted gift
$15.00
Kitchen Foodie Chef homemade gift Pair of milk cap potholders, 8.25” quilted
$12.00
Pair of Vintage Fruit Label potholders, 8.25” homemade quilted
$14.00
Single flamingo potholder, 8” homemade quilted
$7.00
Pair Fig potholders 8.25” homemade quilted gift
$12.00
Finding your favorite
Choose a potholder you will reach for.
Start with the way the piece will live in the kitchen. A bright print can be the color that wakes up a neutral room. A familiar food, flower, state, or seasonal image can make the gift feel more personal before it is even opened. If you like a softer look, a small-scale floral or vintage-style print is easy to leave out on a hook. If you want something with more spark, look for fruit, animals, travel, or a lively scrappy mix.
Then decide whether you want one potholder or a pair. A single is handy for lifting a saucepan lid, grabbing a skillet handle, or keeping close to the toaster oven. A pair is a practical choice for casserole dishes, roasting pans, and two-handed jobs. It also makes a more complete housewarming or host gift. The current collection includes both, and each product page shows the actual piece so you can see the fabric, shape, and price before you choose.
There is no need to make it too serious. The best handmade kitchen pieces are useful, but they should also make you happy when you see them. Choose the print that makes you pause, the color that fits the room, or the design that reminds you of someone you love. That is the advantage of a small-batch collection. Your potholder can do its practical work without looking like everybody else's.
Before you choose
See the actual piece before it comes home.
Every product page begins with the exact potholder or pair available now. You can look closely at the fabric, read the listing description, see whether it is a single piece or a pair, and confirm the price before moving to Etsy. That is especially helpful with handmade work, where the small differences are the point. The print you choose is the print you receive.
The current selection moves with Susan's fabric finds and sewing table, so a design that catches your eye may not be around forever. Browse by collection when you want a particular mood, such as vintage style, fruit and food, or places that feel like home. Browse the full shop when you want to see the widest mix of colors and themes in one place.
When you find the right piece, Etsy handles the checkout. Susan's longtime fabric business is also on Etsy, where shoppers can see her established selling history. The result is the best of both worlds: a small maker's personal fabric selection and a familiar place to finish your purchase.
Choose your own story
A small gift that does not feel generic.
A handmade potholder is an easy answer when you want to give something useful without giving something forgettable. It works for a housewarming, a host gift, a birthday, a holiday, or the person who already has the usual kitchen gadgets. A coordinated pair looks right at home in a new kitchen, while a single piece can be a cheerful companion to a favorite casserole dish or cast-iron skillet.
Start with the fabric story. Look for a garden print for someone who loves flowers, a fruit or food design for a home cook, a travel or state theme for a faraway friend, or a playful pattern that simply makes them smile. Each listing shows the actual piece, so you can choose the print and scale that feels right instead of guessing from a generic product photo.
For a more personal idea, Susan also welcomes custom requests. Bring a color, occasion, favorite subject, or kitchen theme, and she will let you know what she can make. A custom piece is a good way to turn a specific memory or fabric preference into something that will be seen and used every day.
Explore custom quilted potholdersCare and safety
Enjoy the color, use good kitchen sense.
These potholders are made for handling hot cookware, not for use in a running microwave. Insul-Bright contains metal, so keep these pieces out of the microwave and away from open flame or a live burner. For washing, check the individual Etsy listing for the details of your piece. Many listings recommend machine washing in cold water, then drying on low or air drying.
A well-loved potholder deserves the same quick check you would give any kitchen textile. Look over the seams now and then, especially after washing. If a piece becomes scorched, thin, or damaged, replace it. Taking a moment with the care guidance helps your handmade piece stay useful and lets you enjoy the fabric for years to come.
Read care and safety guidanceFrequently asked questions
What are the potholders made from?
Each piece is made with quilt-weight cotton and two layers of Insul-Bright, then quilted in Susan's Minnesota home studio. Individual listings include the details for that specific piece.
Are these sold individually or in pairs?
Both are available. Some designs are sold as a single potholder, while others are made as coordinating pairs. The listing title and photos make the quantity clear before you head to Etsy.
Can I use a quilted potholder in the microwave?
No. These pieces use Insul-Bright, which contains metal. Keep them for handling hot cookware and do not place them in a running microwave.
Can Susan make a custom quilted potholder?
Yes. If you have a color, theme, gift, or favorite subject in mind, send Susan a message through Etsy. She will let you know what is possible.
Find a quilted potholder that feels like home.
Browse the current selection, then choose your favorite through Etsy.
Shop on Etsy