How to Make a Modern Trivet

Hello everyone! I’m here today to show you how to make a modern trivet or better know as a hot pad!

What is a trivet? It’s a small plate placed under a hot servicing dish to protect a table or surface. The one I created isn’t a plate but a padded fabric pad that is thick enough to protect your table.

As an Aurifil Artisan, each month, we are tasked with a project, and this month, we partnered with FreeSpirit Fabrics to create something of our choosing using 5 fat quarters of their Kaffe Fassett Collective Classics.

Let’s take a look at my modern trivet:

Modern Trivet: Finish Product

I can’t help but stare at this trivet all day long. I love how it turned out. I also learned how to do a couple of things that I have never done before.

The first is adding pom-poms in the corner of the sewn piece.

Second, how to do some tufting on this piece!

I learned all of this from Rashida Coleman-Hale of Ruby Star Society. I found her project pattern and knew I wanted to recreate it for myself using this vibrant fabric from FreeSpirit Fabrics called Kaffe Fassett Collective Classics.

Here’s how to create a modern trivet:

Materials:

Aurifil Thread 2460
5 fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett Collective Classics Fabric
Linen scraps
High Loft Polyester Batting
4 Felted Balls
Sewing Needle
Scissors
Rotary Cutter
Cutting Mat
Quilting Ruler

Let’s get to work:

Step One: Cut the fabric

For the front of the trivet:

cut two 2 1/2 inch squares from 4 of the fat quarters
cut 8 2 1/2 inch squares from the linen fabric

Modern Trivet: Cut the fabric

For the back of the trivet:

cut one 8 1/2 inch square out of the 5th fat quarter

Modern Trivet: Cut the fabric

Modern Trivet: Cut the fabric

For the inside of the trivet:

cut two 10 inch squares

Modern Trivet: Cut the fabric

Step two: Prepare the patchwork

Decide on the placement for the 16 squares (8 pattern fabric pieces and 8 linen pieces).

Modern Trivet: Prepare the patchwork

Step three: Stitch the patchwork

Stitch the squares together using a 1/4 seam allowance. You should have 4 rows.

Now stitch each row together using a 1/4 inch seam to create one piece.

Modern Trivet: Stitch the patchwork

Iron the seams to each row in opposite directions.

Step four: Create the sandwich

Modern Trivet: Create the Sandwich

Place the two pieces of batting down first.

Then the patchwork right sides up first.

Last, place the back piece wrong side up on the top.

Modern Trivet: Create the Sandwich

Step Five: Stitch the trivet

Now stitch all around, leaving a 3-inch hole for turning.

Modern Trivet: Stitching the trivet

Step six: Turn and clip the corners

Now turn the piece inside out and push out the corners.

Step seven: Attaching the pom-poms

Decide on the pom-poms that will go with your trivet.

Modern Trivet: Attaching the pom-poms

Thread your needle and tie a knot.

Push the threaded needle through the corner of the trivet.

Modern Trivet: Attaching the pom-poms

Then push the needle into a small portion of the pom-pom, then back down into the corner’s center, making sure the pom-pom is steady in the center. Repeat to make sure the pom-pom does fall off.

Modern Trivet: Attaching the pom-poms

Repeat for all sides.

Once all of the pom-poms are sewn in place, whipstitch the opening closed.

Step eight: Tufting

Modern Trivet:Tufting

Tufting is easy to do.

Thread your needle with your thread of choice and tie a knot.

I wanted the ties to be on the back for this trivet, so I push the needle from the back and back down and tie it on the backside.

Tie a knot and cut the tails short.

Repeat according to your taste.

Modern Trivet:Tufting

Now you’re done!!

How amazing is this!!

Modern Trivet: Finish Product

This is perfect for my hot pot of boiling water to rest on my table.

Modern Trivet: Finish Product

Now it’s your turn to make a trivet. Pull out your scrap fabric stash and get to sewing.

I hope you give this project a try and let me know. I would love to see them.

Supplies used:

Bernina 570QE

Thank you so much for stopping by!

How to Decorate a Pouch using Different Thread Weights

Hello everyone! Today I’m going to show you how to decorate a pouch using different weight threads.

When I first started sewing, I had no clue thread came in different weights. I thought all thread was the same until I was introduced to Aurifil.

What a game-changer!

Let’s look at my decorated pouch:

Decorate Pouch with Different Thread Weights: Finished Product

The flowers sewn onto the pouch are all created by the same color but in different weights.  Yes, the weight makes a difference.

I used four different weights when making this pouch. I used natural white (2021) in the following weights: 28 wt, 12 wt, 40 wt, and 50 wt.

Decorate Pouch with Different Thread Weights: Finished Product

Let’s explore some more:

28 wt (gray spool):

It’s the second heaviest weight thread that Auriful offers and is perfect for projects such as hand applique, blanket stitch, Machine embroidery, and quilting.

12 wt (red spool):

The heaviest weight thread Aurifil offers are perfect for hand embroidery, embellishments, Sashiko, and machine art quilting.

I love how thick this thread is. Perfect for Sashiko stitching which I love.

40 wt (green spool):

Is a slightly thicker weight and is used for sewing bags, garments topstitching, and machine applique. This is slowly becoming my favorite.

50 wt (orange spool):

This is my go thread for everything, which might change. It a strong and thin thread that is flat and leaves crisp seams. It’s used for almost everything, such as EPP, machine embroidery, whole cloth, mico quilting, and needle turn applique. I love how this thread sinks into the material.

After using all of these different weights, I now understand what they look like together and will let out and try them instead of always reaching for the 50 wt.

Decorate Pouch with Different Thread Weights: Finished Product

Stitching the design:

Decorate Pouch with Different Thread Weights: Materials

  1. Thread the top thread with one of the three threads: 12 wt, 28 wt, or 40 wt.
  2. Load the bobbin with the 50 wt thread.
  3. Decide on a decorative stitch that comes with your sewing machine. On the BERNINA 570 QE, I used decorative stitch 1108.
  4. With each new decorative stitch, I switch out the different weight threads.
  5. Once the stitching is completed, make the pouch.

Decorate Pouch with Different Thread Weights: Finished Product

Such an amazing layer of texture from the different thread weights. What is your favorite thread weight? What are you most comfortable using? Is there a weight that you would love to try? I would love to hear all about it.

Supplies used:

There are some compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by,

How to Make a Quilted Travel Roll

Hello everyone!! I’m here today with a super cute quilted travel roll tutorial as a part of the Aurifil Artisan November Challenge – Hand Quilting!

Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. I usually travel at least 3 times a year. I love seeing different places and meeting new people. One of my goals is to visit every country at least once.

COVID-19 has put a halt to my travel plans. I was supposed to take a class in Portland during March, spend my birthday in Aruba in April, and have fun with my sister and our children in Belize and Mexico in August. None of that happened, and I can’t wait till we get to jet-set again.

While we wait for the green light to travel again safely, I am getting ready by making some new cute travel quilted rolls, and I’m going to show you how.

Take a look at my quilted travel roll:

Now I have to say, I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, but when I travel, I want to make sure I have all of the items that I do wear or would like to wear with the outfits in my suitcases. This case stores my jewelry in a safe, scratch-free place.

Quilted Travel Roll: Finished Product

Here’s how I created this quilted travel roll:

 Materials:

2 Coordinating Fat Quarters – Honey Bee Collection
Batting
Aurifil Floss – 2140
Aurifil 12wt – 2140
Pins
Sewing Machine (BERNINA 570 QE)
90/14 Topstitch needle
Quilting Ruler
Cutting Mat
Studio Carta Tight Weave Cotton Ribbon – Marigold
Studio Carta Cotton Ribbon – Marigold
Fabric Pen/Chalk
Scissors
Sashiko Sewing Needle

Quilted Travel Roll: Materials

Let’s begin:

Step 1: Cutting fabric

Cut fabric and batting to 20 inches x 10 inches.

Step 2: Create a quilt sandwich

Lay the bottom fabric (exterior fabric) down first, the wrong side facing up.

Then place the batting on top of that.

Place the top fabric (interior fabric) on top of the batting, right side facing up.

Quilted Travel Roll-Create a quilt sandwich

Pin in place.

Quilted Travel Roll-Create a quilt sandwich

Step 3: Prepare the fabric for hand quilting

Using a quilting ruler, draw a centerline horizontally across the fabric using a fabric pen or chalk if your fabric is dark.

Quilted Travel Roll: Prepare the fabric for hand quilting

Measure 2.5 inches from the short edge and draw a vertical line. Next, measure 5 inches from that line and draw another line. Repeat till the end.

Step 4: Hand quilt

Thread a sashiko sewing needle with Aurifil Floss 2140 and begin hand stitching on all of the drawn lines.

Quilted Travel Roll: Hand Quilt

The rule of thumb is to measure the thread by the length of your arm.

Quilted Travel Roll: Hand Quilt

Step 5: Add binding

I used Studio Carta Marigold Tight Weave Cotton Ribbon for the binding. Place one edge of the ribbon against the raw edge of the quilted fabric and pin.

Go around the entire piece, create a mitered corner at each corner.

Quilted Travel Roll: Add binding

Pin the ribbon on the inside of the binding and in the middle of the roll.

Quilted Travel Roll: Add binding

Step 6: Sew the binding

Sew the binding a quarter inch around the entire piece.

Quilted Travel Roll: Sew the binding

When you finish, change the top and bobbin thread to Aurifil 12wt thread.

I sew with a BERNINA 570 QE sewing machine, and they have a high thread tension bobbin case (golden-yellow bobbin case), which allowed me to add the 12wt thread in the bobbin.

Change the needle to a new 90/14 Topstitch needle.

Quilted Travel Roll: Sew the binding

Fold the binding over to the back and stitch in place.

Quilted Travel Roll: Sew the binding

Step 7: Stitch the ribbon on the inside

 

This step could have taken place when the hand quilting was happening, but I decided to do it now. 

Change out the top thread and the bobbin thread to a microfilament thread so that you can’t see the thread on either side.

Quilted Travel Roll: Stitch the ribbon on the inside

Stitch the two ribbons on the inside.

Complete!

Quilted Travel Roll: Finished Product

Here’s how I use it:

I tie my bracelets with the hanging ribbon and hanging my necklaces from the broad ribbon.

Quilted Travel Roll: Finished Product

 

Quilted Travel Roll: Finished Product

I hook my earing to the broad ribbon.

Quilted Travel Roll: Finished Product

 

Quilted Travel Roll: Finished Product

Super cute and fun!

Quilted Travel Roll: Finished Product

Quilted Travel Roll: Finished Product

So what do you think? I hope this inspires you to try and make your own quilted travel roll.

Supplies used:

There are some compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. 

 

Bernina 570QE
Thank you so much for stopping by!