Thursday, December 17, 2015

Last minute hostess gift- HOT pad

Years ago there was a trend of this design ( sons batting) to serve as a coaster. For some time I have used this design as a large hot pad or even pot holder, filling it with 2 layers of batting.
It's nice to give a pair as a gift... I've done many in Christmas fabrics too....

 It does require 2 complimentary fabrics. A half yard each of 2 complimentary fabrics can make up to 4 9" hot pads ( or pot holders for those that still cook) ;-D
So...  here's the required supplies to make 1 heavy duty hot pad :
5  9" squares of fabric compliments.. I used 2 of each fabric ( Black and Black/Green Batik) for the top, and 1 black for the back.  I have an appx. 4 x 6  optional scrap (black/ green) that I will explain later... and 2  9" squares of cotton batting... ( I had some black scraps so am using  that but the neutral color is fine as batting is not seen but perhaps sightly where 4 double fold triangles come together in the center  top side of the finished piece.  (example bottom right of pic below.)



Begin by matching up (right side out) opposite corners of 4  9" squares ( 2 of each compliment fabric) , ending up with 4 right side out triangles. IRON the triangle! 
Set the 4 triangles aside while prepping the next part. 


Stack 2 layers of batting on top of which I placed the 4 x 6 scrap of batik.( This piece of scrap will eventually ( when all is complete) be directly beneath the 4 doubled over triangles that will add shortly.
Stitch the scrap to the batting by sewing 1/4" around all four sides.

Flip over batting to batik side down in prep for next step.



You'l now begin placing the right side up pieces of fabric. First place  atop the batting... the right side  up of backing fabric square.
Now we will begin the layered  'weave' of the 4 right side out traingles.
First one with raw edge point matched to the top left  outside corner.
Then  working clockwise a compliment fabric to the right top corner.

Now the match to bottom right.

Then to Bottom left. 
Carefully 'release the top half of the hidden batik from below the black corner at the left. 

Lay in carefully atop the fourth added black triangle and you'll be ready to sew the thing together.
Before sewing all layers together... you will need to lower the amount of pressure on your pressure foot. Read on!
 
 Remember that there's alot of layers on this piece. ... Essentially four layers of fabric on top, 1 full square layer beneath the four triangles, and 2 layers of batting!  EEK!   All thats left to do is secure these several layers together ( next step) and then turn things inside out. 
As your sew around the outside edges, make certain the corner points stay lined up.  Pin if needed.
All sewing done and we are ready to turn this inside out though  to make the end result a bit less bulky at the finished corners, you may find it helpful to snip away a wee bit of the four corners of batting and triangle tips 
Turned right side out now... press with the iron and prepare to give away. 
This looks a bit more complicated than it is....  I can easily cut, stack, sew, iron,  thus finish 2 in less than an hour. Happy holidays all. 


1 comment:

Robbie said...

Thanks for sharing! Looks quite nice when finished. hope I remember this when I need a hostess gift this winter!!! Again, thanks for showing us 'the way'.