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Raw-edge appliqués add dimension and interest to a quilted project. Practice the technique by creating a set of hot pads. Because the batting is quite thin, these hot pads are more decorative than useful. For the appliqués, draw patterns freehand or find simple clip art shapes. Because the edges will not be finished in any way, avoid any long narrow extensions or small details that could ravel away entirely. The edges of the appliqués can be frayed with a stiff brush. For minimal fraying, use a tightly woven fabric for the appliqué. If you would like a more natural frayed look, machine wash and tumble dry the hot pads. The finished hot pad is about 9" (23 cm) square.
Raw-Edge Appliqué Hot Pad (Quilt Pattern for Beginners)
Step 1
Materials
3/8 yd. (0.35 m) background fabric, for the hot pad
1/4 yd. (0.25 m) contrasting fabric, for the appliqué and binding
Low-loft batting, about 13" (33 cm) square
Rotary cutter and mat
Quilting ruler
Thread to match or blend with the fabrics
Glue stick
Decorative ring
Skills
Raw-edge appliqué
Channel quilting
Step 2
Straighten the cut ends of the fabric, and trim off the selvages.
Cut a 9" (23 cm) square of background fabric for the hot pad front.
Cut a 13" (33 cm) square of background fabric for the back.
Cut a 13" (33 cm) square of batting.
Cut four 3" × 11" (7.5 × 28 cm) strips of contrasting fabric for the binding.
Cut an appliqué from the contrasting fabric, about 6" (15 cm) wide.
Step 3
Glue-baste the appliqué, right side up, to the right side of the hot pad front.
Position the appliqué as desired in the center of the square.
Step 4
Layer and baste the hot pad. Remove the layers from the work surface.
Attach a walking foot to your sewing machine, if you have one.
Set your stitch length at 12 stitches per inch, which equals 2.5 mm.
Begin stitching in the upper right corner of the pad, about 1" (2.5 cm) from the cut edge of the top layer.
Step 5
Stitch from top to bottom, stopping with the needle down in the fabric.
Lift the presser foot, pivot the hot pad 90°, and lower the presser foot. Stitch about 1" (2.5 cm).
Stopping with the needle down, lift the presser foot, and pivot the hot pad another 90° to begin a new row of stitching.
Tip: Relax! The rows of channel quilting don’t need to be perfectly parallel. In fact, some variation is desirable to give it handmade charm.
Step 6
Repeat this process until the entire hot pad is channel-quilted, catching the appliqué in the stitching. If you basted the hot pad with safety pins, remove them as you come to them.
Step 7
Bind the edges of the hot pad and Hand-stitch a small decorative ring to one corner, for hanging, if desired.
Step 8
GLUE-BASTE.
Using a fabric glue stick, apply dots of glue to the wrong side of the appliqué. This will hold it temporarily in place until you catch it permanently to the hot pad with quilting stitches.
STOPPING WITH THE NEEDLE DOWN IN THE FABRIC.
Stop running the machine with the foot pedal. Turn the handwheel on your machine manually until the needle is all the way down into the fabric.
Step 9
This pattern is excerpted with permission from "First Time Quilting: The Absolute Beginner's Guide" by the Editors of Creative Publishing International.
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