Tutorial: Upcycled sweater hot pads or trivets

Jane fromMaiden Jane shows how you can make a trivet or hot pad out of a sweater. I love this idea!! They’d make great Christmas gifts, or even a thoughtful hostess gift for Thanksgiving celebrations. The number of hot pads you can make from one sweater will depend on the size of the sweater and the size you cut the squares to make the hot pads. I’m thinking you could get 1-2 from each sleeve, plus 2-4 each from the front and back of your sweater. That’s a lot of hot pads from one sweater!! If you want to add extra insulation against heat, you can add a layer of Insul-Brite between the sweater knit and the cotton backing. Go to Maiden Jane to get the tutorial.

[photo from Maiden Jane]

Potholders, hot pads also known as Heat pads are perfect little weeknight projects. Perfect for scrap fabrics and small handmade gifts that will actually be used in the kitchen. If you love hot pads as much as I do, then you may want to check out some of our favorite designs for sewing patterns we found on Etsy.

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Christmas is one of those holidays that you just can decorate too much for. There’s no limit to the amount of holiday cheer you can bring into you home! There’s no such thing as too many Christmas decorations. You can bring Christmas décor into any room of the house – including the kitchen! Which is kind of fitting given how many Christmas activities and gifts are made in the kitchen. We’ve rounded up 13 Christmas kitchen accessories you can sew for your home or to give as gifts.

The list includes holiday themed hot pads, potholders ,aprons, and more that you can sew and decorate your kitchen all season long. Most are things you can make in an evening or less. These would also make wonderful hostess gifts for any holiday parties or gatherings you’re attending. Read on for the kitchen sewing ideas!