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.
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 cutter, ruler, and mat
- Iron and ironing board
- Pins or clips
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.
- 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”
- 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”.
Step 2: Assemble the Hot Pad
- 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.
- 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”.
Step 3: Add the Hanging Tab
- 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.
- 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.
Step 4: Bind the Hot Pad
- 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.
- Finish up:
- Give your hot pad a final press, and it’s ready to use!
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!
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