If you think this looks like an oversized ‘Glass Slipper’ (see earlier blog article), you would be right. Score one for yourself. But, due to the stitching required to ‘jazz up’ the edges, there is no opening for the base of a gigantic wine glass or brandy snifter. Using the same construction technique as that of the glass slipper, we add a layer of batting – preferably with thermal properties, and ‘presto-mako’ we have a hot pad with a decorative twist – sorry, decorative swirl.

Materials:
six – 9” squares of fabric – all of one fabric, or all different fabrics, or some combination
one – 8” square Insul-Bright from The Warm Company
one – 2” square of fabric to peek out between the swirls (optional)

Instructions:

1. Fold a ‘swirl’ fabric square in half to form a triangle, wrong-sides together. Press. Repeat for the other three ‘swirl’ pieces.
2. Place one of the remaining fabric squares wrong-side up on table. This is the fabric that will show in the center of the swirls (unless your put in a special insert).
3. Center Insul-Bright on top of fabric square. The shiny side of your Insul-Bright should face the hot or cold item allowing it to reflect the energy back to its source. If you intend to use your hot (cold) pad with the swirls up, the shiny side of the Insul-Bright should be down in this step.

4. Place the remaining fabric square right-side up on the batting. This fabric will become the ‘back’ of the hot pad.
5. As the fabric pieces in the photos are difficult to identify, the graphic above shows the sequential placement of the folded fabric triangles. For the sample with two triangles of each fabric, the odd numbered pieces are from one fabric and the even numbered pieces are from the other fabric. Lay the first three pieces down in order, rotating the pieces as illustrated. Slide the fourth piece under the exposed half of piece number one as indicated by the arrow.

6. Align all the raw edges and pin as needed.
7. Sew a 1/2” seam allowance around the square.
8. You will get a sharper corner if, at each corner, you don’t stitch right into the corner. Instead, stop sewing before getting right into the corner, turn the fabric 45 degrees and take two stitches to get to the ½ “ seam line, then turn the fabric another 45 degrees to line up with the fabric edge and resume sewing parallel to the fabric edge.
9. Continue sewing around the square until you are back where you started.
10. Trim off the corners.

11. Turn the hot pad right side out. Press.
12. To add the swirls, fold back the folded edge of each of the triangle shapes approximately 3/8” and pin.

13. This will create an opening in the center. If you want a different piece of fabric showing, insert a small square of fabric. It will be held in place when you stitch the swirls.
14. Edge stitch the swirls.

15. Edge stitch around the outer edge of  the hot pad.
16. Back view.

Though this project is referred to as a hot (cold) pad, you may be inclined to use it as a pot holder.  If so, be careful to avoid really hot items.  This is not a hot mitt type construction with very thick insulation sufficient to protect your hand.