It is seriously cold outside. We’ve even gotten into the single digits here in Nashville. If you’re planning on doing any entertaining at all in temps like these, there better be warm food on the table. Today, I’m sharing a beginner-level sewing tutorial to update your grandma’s hot pads – a necessary table accessory for all those warm dishes. – Mandy of Fabric Paper Glue

Materials

1 yard – white cotton canvas
1/2 yard – insulating material*
black fabric paint
wide paint brush
1 package – black double-fold bias tape
scissors
sewing machine

*Insulating material is specifically made to be used as a lining in projects like pot holders and oven mitts. It is generally available at the fabric store in the interfacing and stabilizer section.

Step One: The first (and most fun) step is to paint messy, imperfect brushstrokes onto about a half yard of white canvas.  Remember to place something under your fabric to protect your work surface from paint. Because the canvas is absorbent, you shouldn’t have any problems getting the dry brush look.  You can’t really mess this step up, so just have fun. Depending on your paint’s instructions, you may need to heat set it with an iron once it has dried.

Step Two: Trace something large and circular like a platter or a pan top onto the painted canvas and cut-out.

Step Three: Cut out circles of equal size from both some unpainted canvas and the insulating material.

Step Four: Layer the three circles together with the unpainted canvas on the bottom, the insulated material in the middle, and the painted canvas on top facing out.  Use your sewing machine to topstitch about 1/4″ from the edge all the way around.

Step Five: Sandwich the unfinished stitched edge between the black double-fold bias tape. Pin and then topstitch into place. The materials listed above are enough to make several, so repeat to your heart’s content in whatever sizes you like or need!

Photo Credits: Mandy Pellegrin for Oh So Beautiful Paper