I love taking casserole dishes to our get-togethers–be it a potluck or a BBQ at a friend’s. It’s just so fun to bring a hot dish. Today, I’m going to show you How To Make A Casserole Carrier! It is the perfect way to get my hot plate to the party and back! Plus, it’s perfect for keeping the hot food inside a little more insulated, and acting as a hot pad when I get to my destination so I don’t have to worry about finding one. This simple sewing project is so handy. You can make it to fit whatever casserole dishes you have. I used an 8” round casserole dish, but you could make this to fit a variety of shapes. I’ve included a free printable pattern below to help you cut out your fabric. If you have a different size dish and need to make your own, I show you how to do so below. Seriously–I love this little casserole carrier, and the fact that it’s got a little flower on top for a button to hold the straps together makes me love it more. I used nice woven cotton fabric, but if you are just starting out I wouldn’t recommend it as it can be more difficult to work with than others.
If you love simple sewing projects, this is one of the easiest ways to make a really useful item that you will love for years. So, if you’re ready to make a casserole dish carrier for spring, let’s get started!
What You’ll Need:
- 1/2 Yard Of Woven or Regular Cotton Fabric
- 1/4 Yard Of Craft Felt
- Matching Thread
- Free Pattern
- Iron
- Pins
- Scissors
- Optional Rotary Cutter & Mat
- Measuring tape
- Thread nippers
- Sewing machine
- Fabric marker
- Elastic
- Button
To give the spring casserole dish carrier the best heat-protection properties available, I like to add a center section of felt. It’s a thick, durable material that you can rely on to stay in place throughout use. So, if you want to do the same, you’ll also want to grab about ¼ yard of craft felt. I used white, but because this is going to be between two pieces of your spring fabric, it doesn’t really matter what color–just as long as it doesn’t show through.
If your casserole dish is a round 8-inch casserole dish, you can use the pattern that I made. But if you have a casserole dish that is a different size, you can still make a casserole dish carrier by simply making your own pattern by tracing the shape of your casserole dish bottom onto paper and adding a ½-inch hem allowance. Then just make a pattern of your sides in the same way and straps, using the lid. Ok. Now that you have a pattern in mind, let’s actually make this thing.
How To Make A Casserole Dish Carrier
Start by cutting out your pattern from the paper. I started with my base piece. I laid the base pattern piece onto the spring fabric, placing the fold as noted on the pattern, and cut out the base piece of fabric. I did this twice so that I have two base circles.
To make the inner felt piece, I took the same base paper pattern, laid it on the felt, placing the fold as noted on the pattern, and cut out the felt base piece. I just needed one of the felt, so I discarded my pattern piece for the base.
Next, I worked on the sides of my casserole dish carrier. The pattern is easy enough to cut out, but to fit the pattern onto the page, I had to make it have two folds. Fold the fabric over twice, then make the cuts. And repeat so that you have 2 long rectangles. Then repeat again once for a piece of felt.
Finally, I cut four of the smaller rectangle shapes on the pattern for the handles.
To assemble the casserole dish carrier, pin two of the four handle pieces together front-to-front, then the other set.
Next, sew the two handle pieces along 3 of the four sides, leaving one of the shorter sides open.
Then pin the longer rectangle pieces to the circles, front-to-front. This may be a little tricky, but this can be done, just be patient and use a lot of pins.
Then sew along the edge of the circle/rectangle joint.
Turn one of the base pieces right side out and open the other wrong side out.
Place the felt circle base piece inside the bottom of the spring fabric base.
Place the long rectangle felt piece against the sides.
Then fit the wrong-side-out base piece inside the felt-lined bowl you just made. Fold the open edges together and pin in place, creating a pinned hem. Carefully hem this all the way around, leaving two sections unsewn on opposite sides of the bowl that are wide enough for the handles.
Pin the handles in place inside the bowl shape. I put one of them open-end inside the bowl hem. But the other, I put the open end of the handle out, for use in the next step.
Sew the handles in place and complete the hem on the bowl shape.
Pin the elastic piece in a loop inside the open end of the one handle, then pin the hem closed and sew in place.
Pin the button on the other handle end and sew in place. And then you’re done! Seriously, this is a cool project with really useful results. I love having a spring casserole dish carrier available with a built-in hot pad. So handy. And you don’t just have to use it for a casserole dish, you can use it as a basket for vegetables or serving bread. Because it’s made of cloth and fairly durable, you can machine wash it. Which is so awesome.
If you liked learning how to make a casserole carrier, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!
How To Make A Casserole Carrier
This cozy casserole carrier keeps your food nice and warm when on the go. Perfect for picnics and potlucks.
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Start by cutting out your pattern from the paper. I started with my base piece. I laid the base pattern piece onto the spring fabric, placing the fold as noted on the pattern, and cut out the base piece of fabric. I did this twice so that I have two base circles.
- To make the inner felt piece, I took the same base paper pattern, laid it on the felt, placing the fold as noted on the pattern, and cut out the felt base piece.
- The pattern for the sides is easy enough to cut out, but to fit the pattern onto the page, I had to make it have two folds. Fold the fabric over twice, then make the cuts. And repeat so that you have 2 long rectangles. Then repeat again once for a piece of felt.
- Finally, I cut four of the smaller rectangle shapes on the pattern for the handles.
- To assemble the casserole dish carrier, pin two of the four handle pieces together front-to-front, then the other set.
- Next, sew the two handle pieces along 3 of the four sides, leaving one of the shorter sides open.
- Then pin the longer rectangle pieces to the circles, front-to-front. This may be a little tricky, but this can be done, just be patient and use a lot of pins.
- Then sew along the edge of the circle/rectangle joint.
- Turn one of the base pieces right side out and open the other wrong side out.
- Place the felt circle base piece inside the bottom of the spring fabric base.
- Place the long rectangle felt piece against the sides.
- Then fit the wrong-side-out base piece inside the felt-lined bowl you just made.
- Fold the open edges together and pin in place, creating a pinned hem.
- Carefully hem this all the way around, leaving two sections unsewn on opposite sides of the bowl that are wide enough for the handles.
- Pin the handles in place inside the bowl shape. I put one of them open-end inside the bowl hem. But the other, I put the open end of the handle out, for use in the next step.
- Sew the handles in place and complete the hem on the bowl shape.
- Pin the elastic piece in a loop inside the open end of the one handle, then pin the hem closed and sew in place.
- Pin the button on the other handle end and sew in place. And then you’re done!
Being a newbie to sewing I wish when teaching you could use plain no pattern material and contrast thread. I could follow along better. Thanks for listening