A Hot Gift Quilt Project - Christmas Hot Pad

Oh, Christmas Gifts, O Christmas Gifts, Where am I Going to Find You?

Need some quick, impressive, small gifts for neighbors, teachers, and/or friends?

Try some hot pads. The one we’re doing today is really easy, fast, and inexpensive. The colors can be varied so that you can make several and they won’t be alike.

Other than fabric and thread, you will need a special kind of batting. The one I used is Insul-Bright Needled Insulated Lining. It contains a special material that keeps the heat from the hands. Or table.

TIP: Use the glue stick!

My backing and lining are cut to 7 1/2 inches. Begin by layering backing, Insul-Bright, a background fabric and a focus print. This can be anything at all, even another solid color. There are many whimsical Christmas prints available and they make cute hot pads.

As you can see in this photo, the background is bright green. My focus print is a nutcracker.

The corner triangles come from 5-inch squares folded on the diagonal. Choose four squares of complimentary colors; these could be all the same, or all different.

Here are the triangles laid out on the square. The folded side goes to the middle and they overlap on each side. After placing them, pick up the top one and put it over the corner of the last one.

Once you are satisfied with the placement, stitch a line very close to the folded edge on all four triangles. Remember that glue stick. I am not a pinner, I’m a gluer!

Now, sew one or more lines echoing that first sewn line. You can add as many as you want; it’s all up to you. I only added two more lines of stitching.

TIP: I used the edge of the walking foot for a stitching guide.

Trim Insul-Bright and backing, leaving about 1/8 inch outside top edges. This gives a little to fill the binding. Sew binding strip to edges in the usual manner. Finish by hand or machine.

TIP: After the binding strip is sewn down, press the strip away from the quilted top and over to the back. It likely won’t stay that way, but it will help a lot when it’s time to do the final stitching.

Now we need to put a little hanger on. At this time of year, when I might be making several hot pads, oven mitts, Christmas ornaments, etc., I make a long double fold strip. (1-inch strip, fold both edges to center, fold again, press and sew down open side.) That way, I have them handy for whatever comes along.

I love to use buttons to secure the hangers. It’s easier than sewing the hangers in, and the buttons can add a decorate touch.

Do consider sewing the button on by machine, using the zig-zag stitch. Turn the wheel by hand at first to be sure the needle and buttonholes are lined up. It’s easy to break a needle doing this. Ask me how I know!

Here’s the finished product. I think anyone would be glad to get one of these, don’t you?

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