How to Make a Jar Opener

Back in the day, businesses used to give out free jar openers as a way to advertise, so everyone had one tucked in a kitchen drawer. That isn’t the case anymore. If you don’t have a jar opener to help you open difficult lids, this one is easy to make. We’re talking 15 minutes tops. You can even use fabric scraps to make it. Here are the easy peasy instructions.

How to Make a Jar Opener

What You’ll Need:

Cotton fabric (enough to cut two 7.5″ x 7.5″ squares)
Rubber shelf liner
Thread
Scissors
A sewing machine (This is the machine that I have)
Sewing pins
Ribbon (optional)

This jar opener uses rubber shelf liner for the “grippy” part. You can buy it at the dollar store. One five-foot roll is enough to make nine jar openers, so you may even want to make some for gifts.

What You Do:

Cut out two 7.5″ x 7.5″ squares from your fabric, and another 7.5″ x 7.5″ square from the rubber shelf liner. Also cut a 4.5″ piece of ribbon, if you’d like to give your jar opener a loop for hanging.

Stack the pieces of fabric right sides facing together, with the shelf liner sandwiched between them. Pin the ribbon loop to one of the corners, if using. Then, pin all the layers together.

Sew a 1/4″ seam around three sides.

Then, flip your jar opener right side out; tuck in the open seam; and pin.

Place your needle, 1/8″ from the edge of your jar opener, and stitch all the way around. Then, move the needle in further, and sew around a second time. I experimented with positioning the needle 1/4″ in and 1/2″ in, and found I preferred 1/2″ (it makes a later step easier).

Since the shelf liner will be facing down for this step, it’ll grip your sewing machine and prevent the fabric from moving, when you try to sew. To eliminate this problem, just stick a piece of paper between the shelf liner and the machine. You’ll end up sewing the paper to your jar opener, but it’s easy enough to remove later.

Draw an “X” in the center of your jar opener. Then, sew along the lines. This will help to secure the shelf liner to the other layers.

When you’re done, peel the paper off the back. The needle will have perforated the paper, so it’ll be easy to remove.

For the record: I prefer sewing 1/8″ and 1/2″ seams around the outside of the jar opener because it makes it easier to remove the paper.

Here’s what your jar opener should look like when it’s done.

To use, just grip the fabric side in your hand, and use the “grippy” side to grab ahold of a lid and turn.

Store your jar opener in a kitchen drawer, or hang it by its loop, so it’ll be easy to find.

Not to be all captain obvious here, but these jar openers shouldn’t be used as pot holders. If the rubber shelf liner comes into contact with a hot surface, it will melt. And there aren’t any insulated layers to protect your hand from a hot dish. Just sayin’