DIY Hot Pad from Leftover Fabric (circles and squares)

The hot pads made of circles and a square of fabric are a great way to turn those small bits of fabric in your stash into useful items. Everyone needs a hot pad in the house for placing a hot coffee mug, or a steaming bowl of soup, or even holding a pot or pan when you remove it from the stove top.  This is a really easy and attractive pattern, and once you start you will want to make lots of them. Follow our visuals and step-by-step instructions and make hot pads to suit all occasions and sizes.

We have given the instructions for a hot pad with a finished dimension of 5 ½ x 5 ½ inches (14 x 14 cm), but you can adjust the size of the circle and the square that sits within it to make smaller or larger ones, from one suited to a water glass,  a coffee mug or a giant bottle of water – many people like to keep a 2 liter bottle on their desks to remind themselves to keep hydrated.

Below you will find my step by step written tutorial How to Make a Hot Pad with Leftover Fabric with VIDEO instructions for all the visual learners.

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How to make the Hot Pad

Supplies and tools

• Circle pattern cut to 8 inches (20cm) in diameter from thin card – the radius will be 4 inches (10 cm) when using a mathematical compass to draw the circle. Simply adjust the radius to change the size of the finished hot pad.
• 1 piece of fusible batting 5 ½ x 5 ½ inches (14 x 14 cm)
• 1 piece of printed fabric 5 ½ x 5 ½ inches (14 x 14 cm)
• 2 circles of contrasting fabric cut to 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter)
• Hanging tab 1/2 x 2 inches (1.3 x 5 cm) ribbon or tape.

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How to Sew Hot Pad from Scraps

Watch the diy hot pad video first and then follow the written step by step instructions below.
Please enjoy and don’t forget to Like and SUBSCRIBE over on YouTube to be kept up to date with new videos as they come out.

Hot pad out of fabric scraps VIDEO TUTORIAL

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1:

Place fabric right side to right side and over it place the circle pattern you cut and trace the outline. Before cutting, pin the fabric together so it doesn’t move when you cut out the circle.

STEP 2:

Stitch around the circle 3/8 of an inch (1cm) from the edge on the wrong sides. Do not leave a gap.

STEP 3:

Pull up the center of one of the circles you just stitched and make a small nick in the fabric with your scissors then expand the nick by cutting in a cross shape, about ¼ of an inch (6mm) on each side of the nick.

STEP 4

Pull the fabric through the hole to turn it the right way out. Use a turning tool or chopstick to press out the seams of the circle then press flat.

STEP 5:

Place the fusible batting piece of 5 ½ x 5 ½ inches (14 x 14 cm)
on your ironing board, with the sticky side up then over it place the outer fabric right side up. Press the outer fabric rectangle of 5 ½ x 5 ½ inches (14 x 14 cm) to attach to the interfacing.

STEP 6:

Place the circle with the small slit you cut in the middle facing up on your worktop and over it line up the rectangle with the outer fabric face up and carefully clip the edges of the circle over ensuring the corners line up neatly and the fabric and batting are covered by the semi-circles.

STEP 7:

Into one corner tuck the loop of ribbon doubled over to form the hanging tab, under the square central piece but facing outwards from the hot pad, and pin.

STEP 8:

Stitch around the edge of the semi circles, and back tack over the spot where you have the hanging loop 1/8 of an inch (3mm) from the edges. Lift the presser foot at the corners and leave the needle down in the fabric, then swing the fabric to make a neat corner.

STEP 9:

Stitch right around the edge of the hot pad 1/8 of an inch (3mm) from the edge and trim off any excess threads.

Every single household needs a hot pad to protect the surfaces of furniture, whether it’s a hot drink or a cool drink where the condensation can cause rings on your furniture. So, go through your stash of fabrics and put together some delightful prints to make a bunch of these hot pads for your family, or as gifts. They may even become a staple of your market stall! They’re quick, easy, and very attractive.

Keep a few of these handy in the kitchen or gift them in a set of three together so everyone in the family has a hot pad on which to place their steaming cup of coffee in the morning. Here at HelloSewing we love to see the results so please like and subscribe, then leave a photo of your hot pads in the comments section.

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