DIY Fabric Tortilla Warmers are inexpensive and easy to make, and can be sewn - start to finish - in less than an hour! To use, just slip warm tortillas into the pocket, where they stay warm until you're ready to eat! (Or microwave tortillas right in the warmer!) Makes a thoughtful hostess gift, too!
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Do you have an indispensable gadget in your kitchen that you didn’t know you needed until you got it? A unique item or weird kitchen utensil that you can't imagine life without now?
For me, one answer is my fabric tortilla warmer. I discovered these little wonders at Portland’s Saturday Market a few years ago, and have used one nearly every day since.
It nearly goes without saying that my tortilla warmer is an essential part of the process when I make homemade flour tortillas. I stack them in, fresh and hot right out of the pan, and the heat and steam softens them perfectly by the time we are ready to eat.
Fabric Tortilla Warmers - Not Just for Tortillas!
These insulated fabric warmers aren't just for heating tortillas, though! Microwave potatoes turn out fluffy and delicious, and they will accommodate a lunch-size bowl of veggies for steaming. They work as an emergency pot holder too! It seems like every week I find a new use for mine. (NOTE: My kids have been known to make quesadillas in ours: I do not recommend this. Not at all.)
You may be able to find fabric tortilla warmers at your local farmers market, but if you have a sewing machine and about an hour, you can easily make one for yourself.
Fabric Tortilla Warmers Make Great Gifts!
A fabric tortilla warmer makes make an excellent, inexpensive gift, too! Wrap one around a bottle of salsa for a great hostess gift, add one to a festive gift basket, or pack one with warm tortillas for your next picnic.
Post Updated November 17, 2019 (Originally published August 5, 2014)
How to Make a Fabric Tortilla Warmer
DIY Fabric Tortilla Warmer {Tutorial}
These easy-to-make DIY Fabric Tortilla Warmers can be made from scrap fabric, and ready to go in just 30 minutes! To use, just slip tortillas into the pocket, microwave for a few seconds, and your tortillas are ready to go! (Works great for bread and baked potatoes, too!)
Materials
- ⅓ yard patterned 100% cotton fabric
- ⅓ yard plain 100% cotton fabric (or muslin)
- 2 – 12×12-inch pieces Pellon Wrap-N-Zap (100% cotton batting)
- 2 – 16-inch lengths of extra-wide cotton double-fold bias tape
- 1 – 25-inch length of extra-wide 100% cotton double-fold bias tape (See note)
- Cotton thread
Tools
- Sewing Machine
- Sewing pins
- Scissors
- Large Bowl (see directions)
Instructions
Since this is not a project that requires meticulous cutting precision, I cut all the fabric and batting pieces at once. (I’m a quilter and a bit of a perfectionist to boot, so if you lean that way too, trust me – everything will be OK.)
Using a compass or the rim of a large serving bowl, draw an 11-inch circle on one piece of the batting. This is your pattern. 
- With the batting pattern on top, stack two layers of patterned fabric, two layers of muslin and both pieces of cotton batting.
- Cut out all the pieces so that you have two patterned fabric circles, two muslin circles and two batting circles.
- Next, make the two fabric-circle sandwiches. For each sandwich, stack one of each – muslin, batting, and patterned fabric. (Right sides out!)
- Sew a ¼” seam around the edge.
- Attached one 16” piece of bias tape to the edge of each fabric sandwich. (To clarify, each fabric sandwich is still separate at this time.) I use a straight stitch, but I’ve seen tortilla warmers sewn with a zigzag stitch too. It’s just a matter of personal preference.
- Now it’s time to sew the two fabric sandwiches together. Pin the two circles together, right-sides out, with the bias taped edges aligned. Trim any bits of overhanging, mismatched edge fabric on the raw “unbiased” edges. This will all get covered up, but having them even makes attaching the final piece of bias tape much easier.
- Attached the 25-inch piece of bias tape to both circles at the same time. Be sure to turn under ½” of each end of the bias tape.
NOTE: I could tell you that I pin these together carefully before I sew, but that would be a lie. I just pin the turned-under end in place, and then snug the bias tape onto the edge as I go around. I think this makes for a smoother bias-tape application.
That’s all there is to it!
Notes
You really only need two 12-inch squares of each patterned fabric and muslin, so scraps work just fine.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT use any batting with metal! It needs to be microwave-safe.
Regarding Bias Tape: When I first started making these, I used cotton/poly bias tape (Wright's) with no problems: one of those is still going store for four years. (I do wonder if it makes a difference that this particular warmer is used exclusively for warming tortillas: it never gets that hot.) That being said, I do now make all of my own bias tape for these, and use 100% cotton to do so.
If you want to make your own bias tape, it is very easy to do! (Check out this great tutorial for making your own bias tape from The Seasoned Homemaker.)
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MK says
got fabric to make these! ( i have one that was gifted to me, that was from one of those fancy kitchen supply places but its not large enough to fit the tortillas we buy! ) i am going to gamble on the store bought bias tape- not dedicated enough to make my own!
Renée says
I always love starting a new project, too - Have fun! 🍀
Charlene says
This is such a great idea for a gift! So simple yet so useful!
Courtney says
Wow!!! I definitely need one of these in my life. Such a great idea!
Paula @ I'm Busy Being Awesome says
Such a fun DIY, I'll have to give it a go!
Renée ♥ says
You should! It's a fast and easy one!
Reese Woods says
My grandmother made something similar for Christmas one year, potato bags! They really are awesome!
Renée ♥ says
I have a potato bag as well - very handy to have around!
Angella says
This is a cute idea for the seamstress & tortilla lovers! How creative! Love the patterns too!
Renée ♥ says
Thank you, Angella! (You really don't need to be a seamstress to make it, though. Just super-basic sewing machine skills.)
Linda Schneider says
I'm making some tortilla warmers for gifts. I"m very enthused about them , but how in the world do you do step 8 (sewing the 25 in. bias tape on all layers ) and make it look neat ??? I'm having major stress ...on the bobbin side with the stitch not catching the tape!!!! I've tried all kinds of ways, only to rip again. It looked ok on top but turn over and wow!! maybe you will have to give some good pointers. when just sewing the short pieces on..... goes great...i know my family is going to LOVE them, we are all big on fiestas!!! thanks a million.. Linda Schneider...
Renée ♥ says
Hi Linda - Bias tape can definitely be tricky. One technique to make applying bias tape easier is to sew it down one side at a time. Do this by opening up the bias tape, pin it to all the tortilla warmer layers all the way around, and sew it all the way around on that side only. Once it's secure on one side, fold it over, pin it down, and sew the other side down. The stitching will show up on one edge-side as two lines of sewing, but if you sew it with a matching thread color, you won't notice it. Hope this helps.
Courtney says
Hello,
This is such a great gift idea! I was actually working on making one for myself first. I was able to do everything just fine until I got to the final step. My sewing machine seems to have trouble getting the needle through all the layers of fabric. I'm fairly new to sewing. Could you give me some advice?
Thanks!
Renée ♥ says
Good question, Courtney. The first thing you want to check is the size of your needle. For sewing through many layers, you may want a heavy duty or denim needle, size 90 or 100. Also, you may need to adjust the tension - if it's too tight, it will cause the thread to break.
Stephanie says
How do you wash the tortilla warmer? Do you throw it in the dryer or let it air dry? I'm worried that because there is no quilting on the circles that the batting will bunch when it is washed.
Renée ♥ says
As a quilter, I understand your concern; however,I've been using the one I have now for more than five years. I've washed it about ten times, and it's a little faded, but otherwise just fine.
Stephanie says
Do you just throw it in the dryer?
Arleen Frost says
The bias tape I found is 60 percent polyester and 40 percent cotton. Can this be used on the tortilla warmer and put in the microwave? Or is there bias tape 100 percent cotton?
Renée ♥ says
I've used the 60/40 with no problems, but I also never heat it more than about a minute or two in the microwave. I don't know how it stands up to longer exposure. I also often make my own bias tape: it's pretty easy to do.
Wendy says
Hi!
I know I'm late to the party (as usual), but I'd swear I see 4 layers in picture 3.... I'm a little tired today, but I thought each half was 1 layer print fabric, one layer of Wrap and Zap and one layer of muslin?
Whanks!
Wendy
Renée ♥ says
Picture 3 is illustrating the Cutting step. I cut the Wrap-n-Zap circles at the same time. Image 4 illustrates how they are layered to sew. Hope this helps. Get some rest, Wendy 😉
Marie says
I bought one about 10 years ago and I love it!
Mine has a crinkly layer, too. Like maybe a plastic????
That keeps everything piping hot--
I must tell you that I use it for holding pancakes
Til they're all done and ready to serve. Perfection!
Keeps the pancakes hot without drying out like the oven would do.