I recently obtained* my first cast iron skillet with a lid.  I cleaned it up, seasoned it and am so far happy with the cooking results.  However, it has rapidly become obvious that I need some kind of handle cover, as juggling oven mitts and towels is not really cutting it.  I see that covers are generally made out of one of:   leather fabric (like oven mitts) silicone   Which of these materials is best for everyday cooking?  Unsurprisingly, leather seems to be the most expensive.  I also like the look best, though that's not a deal breaker.  Does leather justify its higher price here?    *My neighbor was moving and was about to throw the skillet in a dumpster! 
I found a potential solution to this problem. There is a type of gas heat diffuser called a "reducer ring" that is useful for protecting small pots from big burners. It looks like this:    It is also possible to use a full size diffuser, that operates like a hot plate on top of the burner. 