How to Make Beautiful Butterfly Potholders

Butterfly-shaped potholders are a delightful way to brighten your kitchen or craft room while also being functional and heat-resistant. Whether you’re making them as gifts or adding charm to your home, this Lapis Blue Butterfly Potholder tutorial will guide you through each step using easy-to-follow instructions.

These butterfly potholders aren’t just practical they’re a lovely expression of creativity. With their curved shapes, cheerful fabric choices, and playful details like buttons and yo-yos, they bring a handmade charm to any kitchen. Even better, they’re designed to slip over your hand like a mitt, making them easy to use and perfect for grabbing hot dishes straight from the oven. Whether you’re quilting for fun or creating heartfelt gifts, this project is a joyful way to combine functionality with beauty.

With just a few fat quarters, batting, and some basic sewing skills, you’ll create a quilted butterfly that’s as whimsical as it is useful. Let’s dive into the process and create something beautiful together!

Beautiful Butterfly Potholders

✂️ Materials You’ll Need

To make one butterfly potholder, gather the following:

• 1 fat quarter of plain black solid

• 1 fat quarter of navy or black multicolored dot cotton

🧵 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cut & Prepare the Wings

• Fold the multicolored dot fabric in half, right sides together.

• Trace the butterfly wing template onto one side using the provided pattern (enlarge if needed).

• Layer the traced fabric with muslin backing and cotton batting.

• Sew around the traced lines, then cut ¼ inch outside the stitch line.

• Clip the curves and turn the wings right side out. Press well.

• Quilt the wings as desired and topstitch ¼ inch from the edges.

2. Add Detail to the Wings

• Stitch a decorative oval in each wing section as shown in the template or be creative with your own design.

• Repeat all steps above for a second wing layer if you plan to make a pair.

3. Make the Butterfly Body

• Using the solid black fabric, trace and cut the body shape (you can layer with batting for dimension).

• Topstitch ⅛ inch from the body edge for a polished look.

4. Assemble the Potholder

• Fold a black ribbon or elastic in half and pin to the top center of the wings to form a hanging loop.

• Secure it in place with stitching.

• Place the butterfly body over the center of the wings, covering the loop ends.

• Stitch along both edges of the body, securing it to the wings.

5. Final Touch: Add Antennae

• Stitch or glue two black E beads to the top of the butterfly’s head to mimic antennae.

🧼 Care Instructions

• Machine wash cold, lay flat or tumble dry low.

• Avoid bleach to protect fabric color and stitching.

💡 Tips & Ideas

• Mix and match your fabrics for seasonal themes—think florals for spring or warm tones for fall.

• Add a layer of Insul-Brite if you want more heat protection.

• Turn it into a decorative wall hanging by enlarging the pattern and skipping the batting.

📄 Free PDF Pattern

To make this project even easier, I’ve prepared the Lapis Blue Butterfly Potholder pattern as a printable PDF. Download it, print it at full size, and start creating!

🔽 Download the Free Butterfly Potholder Pattern PDF

With just a few scraps of fabric and a bit of creativity, you can turn your love for quilting into beautiful, handmade butterfly potholders. Have fun stitching, and don’t forget to share your creations!