Christmas Hot Pot Pads

  Yes, I've been working on Christmas in May. Because of  my bucket list items, I have made some long term plans, one being getting Christmas projects done in the spring and summer.  I've never been able to get  these projects done early, because I couldn't get in the mood to be creative. When Jen asked recently for volunteers to try out her appliques, I thought this was my chance to get 2 things done at once: Help out Jen & get some Christmas projects finished early.  We were asked to come up with ideas and ways to use her applique patterns.  I did some trials on the ball ornament.  Jen has refined the ornament and come up with the best looking pattern.  You can find her patterns published over at  Jen's Faith & Fabric.   Here is how I made those Hot Pot Pads to set my Christmas dishes on.

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*A Tutorial Tuesday*

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While reorganizing and purging, my Christmas fabric box got more full.  

Some of these fabrics came from the 1980s.

A chance to use your heat resistant or cotton batting scraps.

First stitch the applique to one of the fabric squares.

I used my scrap embroidery tear away stabilizer on the back.

Here are my settings for zig-zag applique.

Then place the fabric squares right sides together

 and lay on top of the batting.

Stitch 1/4 inch around the edge except for.....

....leaving an opening which has a length of unstitched thread across the opening. I like the method above when I'm stitching something to turn inside out. The unstitched free thread provides a folding line which helps turn the seam under the right amount to iron and top stitch.

Turn inside out.

I used an Edge Stitching foot
 (Joining Foot or Edge Joining Foot it could be called)
 to top stitch all around.

The top stitching securely closes

 the opening left for turning inside out.

I like the extra quilting motif art resulting on the backside.

 

Another Hot Pot Pad

made experimenting with 
the ornament top 
using the good ole Blanket Stitch.

I also tried straight stitching.  

I wish I could make mine look "folksy" like some do.

 I'm too use to being accurate I guess.

Maybe black thread would have done the "folksy" job?

This is only 1 applique pattern out of 15 that Jen is now offering!

All are sized to fit charm squares. 
Use all of them on a Hot Pot Pad, or
use one of the many other idea suggestions in her packet.

You can find them over at Jen's Faith & Fabric.

Please go check out the rest. 
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