DIY Fabric Hot Pad

March 30, 2025

DIY Fabric Hot Pad

Make a Fabric Hot Pad! Looking for a fun and functional sewing project? This DIY fabric hot pad is perfect for protecting your countertops and adding a handmade touch to your kitchen. Featuring a classic log cabin quilt block design, this 8.5” x 8.5” hot pad is beginner-friendly and a great way to use up fabric scraps. Plus, we’ll add a fabric tab for easy hanging!

Let’s dive into the step-by-step tutorial.

hot pad supplies

Materials Needed

To make one 8.5” x 8.5” fabric hot pad, gather the following materials:

  • Cotton fabric scraps (for the log cabin block)
  • 1 piece of backing fabric (8” x 8”)
  • 1 piece of batting (8” x 8”) – cotton or Insul-Bright for extra heat protection
  • 1 extra piece of insul-bright or an extra batting layer (optional for heat resistance)
  • Fabric for the binding (2.5” x 36” strip)
  • 1 small fabric strip (2” x 5”) for the hanging tab
  • Thread to match your fabrics
  • Sewing machine
  • Rotary cutterruler, and mat
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Pins or clips
starting piecing the hot pad
ironing the seams open

Step 1: Make the Log Cabin Block

The log cabin quilt block is built around a central square, with strips added in a circular pattern.

  1. Cut your fabrics:
    • Center square: 2.5” x 2.5”
    • First round of strips: Two 2.5” x 1.5” and two 4” x 1.5”
    • Second round of strips: Two 4” x 1.5” and two 6” x 1.5”
    • Final round of strips: Two 6” x 1.5” and two 7” x 1.5”
  2. Sew the block together:
    • Start by attaching the first 2.5” x 1.5” strip to one side of the center square.
    • Press the seam open, then add the second 2.5” x 1.5” strip.
    • Continue adding strips in the log cabin pattern, pressing seams after each addition.
    • Trim your block to 8” x 8”.
piecing the hot pad
hot pad pieces

Step 2: Assemble the Hot Pad

  1. Layer the pieces:
    • Place the backing fabric right side down.
    • Add the batting (and optional Insul-Bright) on top.
    • Place the log cabin block right side up.
    • Pin or clip everything in place.
  2. Quilt the layers together:
    • Quilt as desired—straight-line quilting or stitch-in-the-ditch along the log cabin seams works well.
    • Trim the quilted piece to exactly 8” x 8”.
hot pad layers

Step 3: Add the Hanging Tab

  1. Prepare the tab:
    • Fold the 2” x 5” fabric strip in half lengthwise and press.
    • Open it up, fold the long edges toward the center, and press again.
    • Fold it in half, enclosing the raw edges, and stitch along the edge.
  2. Attach the tab:
    • Fold the strip in half to make a loop.
    • Place it at one corner of the hot pad, aligning raw edges.
    • Baste it in place.
handle
ironing on the hot pad handle
folding the handle
ironing
ironing the hot pad handle
stitched handle on the hot pad

Step 4: Bind the Hot Pad

  1. Attach the binding:
    • Fold the 2.5” wide binding strip in half lengthwise and press.
    • Sew the binding to the front, aligning raw edges, and mitering the corners.
    • Wrap it around to the back and hand-stitch or machine-stitch it in place.
  2. Finish up:
    • Give your hot pad a final press, and it’s ready to use!
making the hot pad handle
to bind the hotpad
hand sewing binding

Final Thoughts

This DIY log cabin hot pad is a quick and satisfying sewing project that’s perfect for gifts, craft fairs, or adding a handmade touch to your kitchen. Experiment with different fabric combinations to make it uniquely yours!

Ready to give it a try? Let me know in the comments if you made one!

quilted hot pad

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