Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Tutorial Time: Fall Leaf Potholders & Table Protector Pads



Add some Fall festivity to the table and keep it protected at the same time with some Fall Leaf Potholders.  Combining decor and function, these lovely leaves do a double act: seasonal table decoration AND handy table pads/pot holders thanks to a hearty inner of insulated and cotton battings.  Each of the leaves is fully reversible from a colorful leaf print to a coordinating solid too:



They have a quilted-style contrast color stitch detailing to mimic the veins and dimension of real leaves. The stems double as loops for hanging when not in use.  



Perfect for dinner use - especially for Thanksgiving!

Materials Needed:
- 3 FQs of festive Fall print & coordinating solid cotton fabric
- 1/2 yd cotton batting
- 1/2 yd Insul-Bright
- Sewing notions (iron, shears/rotary cutter, heavy duty needle, pins, disappearing marker)
- Paper & pencil (I like to use the kid's art paper on the roll from Ikea)

With paper & pencil draw up leaves in the shape desired, that are roughly 11 inches high by 10 inches wide.  I did 3 different styles: maple, beech and birch.  Using the paper patterns you've made, for each leaf style cut out two leaves from cotton, two from batting and two from Insul-Bright:


Sandwich the layers so that there is a layer of batting on the bottom, covered by both Insul-Bright layers, then the remaining batting.  Top it with one cotton right side up and cover with remaining cotton piece right side down.  Pin all layers together:



Stitch around the outer edge of each leaf with a 1/4 inch seam allowance leaving a 2 inch gap at the base for turning:


Trim down seam allowance and clip around curves.  Turn right side out, pushing out any corners or tight curves with a knitting needle or pencil.



Now to make the stem that will also double as a loop, make an elongated hexagon that's about 3 inches high and at least 2 inches wide at the middle.  Fold in half with right sides facing and edge stitch along all but one short end:  


Turn stem right side out, press flat and then fold in half.


Insert short end of stem loop into gap of leaf pad.  Folding raw edges of leaf inward, pin and slip stitch or edge stitch gap closed.  



Next, using a disappearing marker, draw lines to represent veins along each leaf.  Using a contrasting color thread, stitch along lines.  This adds detailing and also acts as quilting to keep all the layers from shifting with wear.


Now the pads are ready to help dress up the table 



And keep it (and your hands) safe from those hot-from-the-oven dishes too:




I'm also sharing this with my FAVE LINK PARTIES.
Click HERE to check them out!

11 comments:

  1. I would like to know where the insulator fabric came from. I checked Joann's Fabrics online and they had nothing. I also googled asbestos cloth and came up with companies in China and India. Can anyone help me? Is there another place to buy the insulator fabric for the pot holders?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can find Insul-Bright or similar products in the interfacing or batting section in Jo-Ann stores. Here is where to find it on their site: http://www.joann.com/search?q=Insul-Bright. This is a poly fleece that is needlepunched with mylar, so it is made to keep hot things hot & cold things cold. You definitely don't want anything asbestos-related!

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    2. P.S. It's available loads of other places too. I just Googled Insul-Bright and it's for sale on Amazon, Hobby Lobby, Fabric.com, even HSN sells it and it's on sale right now at a lot of them.

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  2. I think these leaf hot pads are really pretty. What a festive look for the Fall season!

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  3. I found Insul-Bright listed at JoAnn's, on Amazon, and at warmcompany.com!

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  4. Cheryl, I wish you would include an attachment of the leaf patterns for us! I just love the size and shape of each of them. I know I'm not going to be able to replicate them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy, I'll see if I can scan them when I get a chance:)

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    2. That would be so awesome! I'll be watching for them...thanks so much!

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  5. This is such a great idea for the Thanksgiving table, much better than the normal ones. Thanks for sharing on the weekend re-Treat link party!

    Britni @ Play. Party. Pin.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh thanks for sharing these with us. They would look lovely on the tables, and for use in this season. I am terrible at drawing. Do you by chance have a pattern I can use. I really love the size of these. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete

Getting your comments brightens my day. I'd love if you left one:)

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