How to Sew Large Hot Pads for Casserole Dishes
It occurred to me that I needed to make a big, casserole-sized hot pad for myself when I kept using our quilted birthday placemat to place larger hot dishes on the table! It then occurred to me that pretty much everyone could use an oversized hot pad and I can’t figure out why they’re not more of a thing! So extra large hot pads are one of the gifts I’m sewing for my family members this year and I knew I had to share the sewing tutorial with you while I was at it.
I created a video tutorial of this project for you, in which you’ll learn how to cut and quilt the large hot pads, plus my favorite technique for quilt binding small projects like this by machine, with no hand sewing!
If you would like a printable version of this tutorial, you can click here to purchase that for a few dollars. It’s a more convenient way to follow the instructions and use it again and again without having to refer back to the video.
At the end of this post, I’m including the printable gift tags I created to go with these hot pads when giving them as gifts! The gift tags are also included with the purchase of the printable version.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that while I am not paid to promote certain items, I will earn a small commission should you purchase items through these links. For more info, see my disclosure policy.
Let’s get to it!
First I’ll share the video, then below that, I’ll link to the supplies I mentioned that you’ll need to complete this project, along with some basic instructions (you know, for the pros who don’t really need my instructions ;), then below that, the printable gift tags.
How to Sew Large, Casserole Size Hot Pads
What you need:
1/2 yard cuts of fabrics. I did a contrasting back.
Fabric for the binding.
Cotton batting. Don’t use polyester because it can melt. I bought the crib size Warm and White and used a coupon. Insul-bright is another option.
A Walking foot for the quilting (this is a must have, non-optional. See my post about must-have quilting tools for the reasons why.)
Rotary cutter and mat set. Here is the video where I teach you how to use them.
Most of my cute novelty fabric came from Joann and the binding fabrics were both from Hobby Lobby, along with the vintage kitchen print. I know I trash talk Joann for their ridiculous prices on garment fabrics and their dumb coupon games, but they do have great sales on their novelty cottons and lots of choose from.
For those of you who are pros and don’t need no stinking tutorial, here are the basics steps for sewing these jumbo hot pads!
First, cut your front piece 13” x 18” and make your quilt sandwich, but use TWO layers of the cotton batting, since this is a hot pad and you want it a bit thicker.
Next, you’re going to quilt lines however you’d like. I made horizontal lines one inch apart. Smooth out the layers and place pins or quilting pins all over it, then use your walking foot to quilt it. If you need this process in more detail, you can see my recent post on the quilted throw pillow. That post gives a beginner-friendly tutorial of the process!
After you have it all quilted, trim the edges with your rotary cutter and ruler. You may notice the quilting distorted the shape a little bit, so remake it into a perfect rectangle — it’s okay if you have to lose a 1/2” or so of the size.
Now for the binding!
For my binding, since I wanted the check to be cut on the bias, I bias cut my strips. I always cut quilt binding strips 2.25” wide. For this project, I used the machine stitched method of binding, which I detailed in my video tutorial for quilted coasters. Although, on two of them, I forgot what I was doing and sewed the binding on the front and had to finish them by hand anyway, ha! For that method, see my post on quilt binding.
I had so much fun making these and they were actually super fast once I’d made one! I think I made the last one in just 30 minutes. I made several and rolled them up to gift. I tied them with ribbon and made a gift tag to label them (I always do this, ever since I made a knitted dish cloth for my aunt and she commented that it made a sorry hot pad with all those holes, hahaha).
If you make these as gifts and would like to print my little tags, you can just right click on these and save to your computer. Make sure you print them at 100% scale.
I intend to gift these hot pads with a few of our favorite food goodies like Rachael Ray’s Balsamic glaze (so good on pizza, avo toast, sandwiches, salads, eggs, literally everything), Mike’s Hot Honey, Sriracha Seasoning, and Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend (also one I put on pretty much everything!)
Are you sewing any gifts this year? I’d love to see! And if you use this idea, I’d love to see what you made. If you need more ideas, keep in mind my quilted coasters tutorial, or infinity scarves, or the reusable coffee sleeves that my husband absolutely loves!
If you like this tutorial and would like a printable copy, don’t forget to grab that from my shop! I so appreciate your support :)
