Hi, I’m Susan from Sewfeet.com and in today’s post, I want to share a sewing project that is useful for family get-togethers, buffet dinners, and holiday parties. A tabletop trivet is actually a narrow quilted table runner but in addition to batting, it has an insulation barrier that is heat resistant. Place this quilted strip of fabric down the center of your table to protect the surface from hot or cold dishes. This simple project is quick to sew, and you can easily make one for each holiday or season. Since Spring is just around the corner, I chose fabrics with pretty flowers and springtime colors. The finished size of my trivet is 8” x 28” but it can be any size to suit your table. Just adjust the width and length of the rectangles listed below.
Supplies
Two rectangles of quilting cotton fabric, 9” x 29” each
One rectangle of RNK Hot N Cold Barrier Fleece, 9” x 29”
One rectangle of low-loft batting, 9” x 29”
Floriani 40 wt. embroidery thread for quilting and construction
2 ¼” yards of double fold bias tape in a coordinating color
Presser Feet
Walking Foot - This foot walks across the surface of your quilt layers, keeping the layers from shifting as you stitch.
Overlock Foot - Overcasts the edges of the trivet to make attaching the binding easier.
Open Embroidery Foot – Great visibility when attaching binding – you can exactly where you are stitching.
Fabric Preparation
Make a 4-layer quilt sandwich with the fabrics right side out and the batting and barrier fleece between them. RNK Hot N Cold Barrier Fleece is made of polyester and mylar and is a heat resistant insulation barrier that protects your table from hot dishes. You can also use it for lunch bags, curling Iron cases, and casserole carriers. Note: RNK Hot N Cold Barrier Fleece is heat resistant, not heat-or fire-proof. Adding a layer of cotton batting provides a bit more protection from the heat.
Free Fuse
I used Free Fuse to hold the layers together. Free Fuse is a Quilters Select product that is a powder that you shake onto the layers of the quilt sandwich and then, use the iron to melt the powder, fusing the layers together. Use parchment paper or an appliqué pressing sheet for fusing.
Stacking the Layers
This is such as easy way to fuse. I fused one layer at a time. I stacked the fabrics, batting, and barrier fleece as shown in the photo. First the backing and then the cotton batting. Next came the barrier fleece, and lastly the outer trivet fabric.
Fusing the Layers
After I stacked the layers, I started with the backing side up. I folded half of the backing fabric back to expose the cotton batting. I sprinkled Free Fuse over the surface of the batting. Unfold the backing and smooth it in place. Lay an appliqué pressing sheet or parchment paper over the fabric and press, holding the iron in place for 4-5 seconds. Once you have fused the area that you sprinkled, do the same thing for the other end of the backing. Repeat this process until all four layers are fused together.
Sprinkle Free Fuse powder on the batting.
Press for 4-5 Seconds to fuse the two layers together.
Quilting
Quilt the layers together with your choice of quilting style. I did an easy style of quilting that I call Criss Cross quilting. You start at one edge anywhere on the fabric and sew a line of straight stitching in any direction and any angle. Stitch to the opposite edge, then pivot and repeat. Continue stitching this way until you have a series of crisscrossed lines on the trivet. You decide when you have enough stitching, and then you trim the quilted fabric to 8″x 28”. The barrier fleece gives great definition as you quilt, and it has a nice hefty feel to the finished quilted piece.
Rounding the Corners
Using a cup or bowl, mark a curve at each corner. Trim the corners to eliminate the sharp corners, leaving them rounded.
Preparation for Binding
Because of the thickness of the batting and barrier fleece. It is best to seal (with stitches) the edges of the trivet before adding the binding. It compresses the edge and makes it easier to wrap the binding around the trivet for stitching. I do this with an overlock stitch and an overlock foot that holds the edge flat as you stitch. An alternative to this is to use an all-purpose foot with a zigzag stitch.
Attaching the Binding
Attach the open embroidery foot to the machine. Starting anywhere on the trivet, place the edge of the trivet into the fold of the binding and use pins or clips to hold it in place. Position the inner edge of the binding along the inside toe of the embroidery foot. Select a running or serpentine stitch and sew on the binding, keeping the edge aligned with the foot. Use a stiletto to help keep the binding in place for stitching.
A stiletto is also useful when binding the curved corners, keeping the bias tape flat, letting you ease the tape around the curve as you stitch.
Thanks for letting me share this simple project with you. If you want to learn more about presser feet and how you can use them, visit me at Sewfeet.com.