Quick and simple gifts ideas are always handy, whether they're for Christmas, birthdays or any other occasion.
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Everybody has to eat, so everybody has to cook - a pot holder is perfect because we all use them, or oven gloves, or something to get hot pans off the stove or out of the oven!
I used the 2.5" square die to make simple 9 patch blocks from scraps. I then used my scissors to cut out squares a little larger than the patchwork block from cotton wadding, an insulating wadding such as bosal poly-therm fleece (you need both a cotton wadding and an insulating wadding to make sure you don't burn your hands), and backing fabric.
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They're layered up like so;
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Backing fabric right side facing down, insulating fabric with shiny side facing down (towards where the heat will be), cotton wadding and then the patchwork block on top - with the right side facing up.
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Pin baste and quilt (I just quilted simply in a grid following the lines of the seams in the block. The layers are quite bulky so make sure you use a walking foot when you quilt)
Trim off the excess backing fabric and wadding, bind (you can find a binding tutorial here), and it's ready to gift!
If you want to add a hanging loop, use a grommet kit. A quick internet search will bring these up for you, or you can find them at haberdashery or craft shops. They're inexpensive and very easy to use. You just need a hammer and to follow the directions that come with the kit. Make sure the grommet is metal and not plastic - you don't want it to melt!
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And there you have it - a quick and easy gift that is useful and inexpensive.
I'll have another quick Christmas gift idea next week.
Quick and simple gifts ideas are always handy, whether they're for Christmas, birthdays or any other occasion.
Everybody has to eat, so everybody has to cook - a pot holder is perfect because we all use them, or oven gloves, or something to get hot pans off the stove or out of the oven!
I used the 2.5" square die to make simple 9 patch blocks from scraps. I then used my scissors to cut out squares a little larger than the patchwork block from cotton wadding, an insulating wadding such as bosal poly-therm fleece (you need both a cotton wadding and an insulating wadding to make sure you don't burn your hands), and backing fabric.
They're layered up like so;
Backing fabric right side facing down, insulating fabric with shiny side facing down (towards where the heat will be), cotton wadding and then the patchwork block on top - with the right side facing up.
Pin baste and quilt (I just quilted simply in a grid following the lines of the seams in the block. The layers are quite bulky so make sure you use a walking foot when you quilt)
Trim off the excess backing fabric and wadding, bind (you can find a binding tutorial here), and it's ready to gift!
If you want to add a hanging loop, use a grommet kit. A quick internet search will bring these up for you, or you can find them at haberdashery or craft shops. They're inexpensive and very easy to use. You just need a hammer and to follow the directions that come with the kit. Make sure the grommet is metal and not plastic - you don't want it to melt!
And there you have it - a quick and easy gift that is useful and inexpensive.
I'll have another quick Christmas gift idea next week.