Stitch some oven gloves

1. Lay a 19cm x 82cm piece of lining cotton right side down. Place a piece of wadding the same size on top and add two smaller pieces at either end. These will provide extra protection for your hands. Lay heavyweight cotton of the same size face up on the pile and pin the layers together.

2. Use a drinking glass or saucer to draw curves at all four corners and cut away the excess fabric. Sew tacking stitches around the edge of the layers and remove the pins.

3. Outline the large motifs on the top layer with a small running stitch, then mark out diagonal lines in both directions on the background of the fabric using a chalk pencil. Sew over the top, avoiding the outlined shapes.

4. Pair 19cm x 23cm of heavyweight fabric with lining fabric of the same size and stitch right sides together along the bottom 19cm wide side. Turn out, fold over and press the seam. Secure the fold with a small running stitch. Repeat.

5. Place the rectangles at the ends of the quilted panel with linings facing and the raw edges together. These pieces form the pockets. Pin in place, flip over and cut the corners of the pockets to match the quilted panel. Tack them in place around the raw edges and remove the pins.

6. Pin and stitch bias binding to the top side of the oven gloves with a 5mm seam allowance, stitching through all layers of fabric. Fold the strip over the raw edge, fold the strip under and oversew to the inside of the oven gloves. Remove any visible tacking stitches.

Make a pot holder

1. Cut two 7cm x 15cm strips of lightweight printed cotton, then pin them right sides down on either side of a heavyweight cotton motif panel measuring 10cm x 15cm and stitch. Fold out and press. Sew two 7cm x 21cm strips to the top and bottom of the panel in the same way. Fold out and press to create a fabric frame around the motif.

2. Lay lightweight fabric face down, place 20cm x 25cm wadding on top and add the framed panel to the pile face up. Pin the layers together and use a drinking glass or small saucer to draw curves at each corner.

3. Trim all the fabrics to the same size as the framed panel, including the curved corners. Tack around the edges to hold in place and remove the pins. Quilt the outline of the motif with a small running stitch and add a diamond pattern to the background.

4. Using three strands of embroidery thread, sew a running stitch around the frame. Pin and stitch bias binding to the top edges of the quilted panel. Make a hanging loop from leftover binding, lay flat at the top of the panel and sew the ends to the edge.

5. Fold the strip over the raw edges, fold under, and oversew to the reverse of the pot holder, covering the ends of the hanging loop. Fold the loop up and press. Remove any visible tacking stitches.

Sew a string dispenser

1. Sew leftover strips of lightweight cottons together to make a 20cm x 40cm rectangular panel. Fold under the two short edges and hem. Fold the panel in half, right sides out, and press the fold. Open out.

2. Cut a motif from heavyweight cotton, leaving a 3mm border around the edge of the design. Pin it to the centre of one half of the folded panel, then use three strands of embroidery thread to blanket stitch it in place.

3. Embroider lines of running stitch next to each seam of the panel. Fold in and press 5mm on both long edges. Fold the panel in half along the previously pressed line. Pin the side seams and sew with a running stitch.

4. Make a hanging loop from a strip of cotton and sew to the top left of the bag. Add a coordinating button to cover the stitching. Use a leather punch or knitting needle to make holes across the centre of the bag front, then edge with blanket stitch. Place balls of string or twine inside and poke the loose ends through.