Random, and Not-So-Random, Fabrics, Dishmats, and Potholders

I've been wanting to make some dishmats for awhile. Rather than using a dishdrainer/tray which takes up space and gets slimy, I use dishtowels to set my freshly-washed dishes on to dry (dishwasher has been broken for years...). I've seen several great ideas around BlogLand, so a couple days ago I decided to just go for it.

My biggest problem is selecting fabric. Not because I can't choose colors/prints. No...I just get this dialogue going in my head every time I think about sewing:  "No, I can't use THAT because if I do, I won't have THAT anymore!"  I can't use THIS because it goes with THAT and I don't want to use THAT right now!"  "THESE are just enough for an apron swap package, so I can't use THESE!" Ugh...I have so much fabric it wouldn't matter if I used THAT, THIS, and THESE because there are plenty more of THEM to take THEIR place, LOL!

So I literally closed my eyes...and grabbed a pile o' fat quarters! I convinced myself I would use whatever I found in a fistful, and that was that! No wavering, no saving, no cringing - just use it, and use it NOW! (I'm not perfect...I DID have to go back to the pile and select one additional larger chunk for binding. Uh..and when I say "the pile" I mean the one particular pile I drew the FQs from...there are piles EVERYwhere - living room, dining room, sewing room, laundry room, bedrooms, hallway, basement, old house 250' up the driveway...).

After cutting THEM into random strips, piecing, and quilting to an old hand towel, this is what I came up with, and I love it!

You can see the towel I used for the backing here:

So, after practicing on one for myself, I forged on to make one for my son's GF. But this time, I used a Jelly Roll. Yep - another problem for me...whacking into those Jelly Rolls, Honey Buns, Layer Cakes, and Bali Pops. For some reason, I don't seem to have a problem using Charm Packs, but the others just give me the shiverin' fits - see above regarding THIS, THAT, and THESE. But I made myself choose one in colors I thought she would like and just Go For It! I used Moda's Origins by Basic Grey. I chopped off varying-length chunks from each strip and pieced them.

I threw in a smidge of white-with-tiny-black-dots also. I used a new, white bar mop towel for backing.



Out of the leftovers, I made two matching potholders. I thought they turned out very pretty, and I somehow survived the trauma of chopping up a Jelly Roll.

I used a yellow dot for the backing.

 

I added hanging loops for all three, and I think it made a very nice gift! Mebbe now I can cut into some others in my factory-cut stash!