Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Hot Pad First Aid Kit

 Tuesday Tutorial: Hot Pad First Aid Kit

I am sure you have seen these around.  I made one at church about a billion years ago, but no longer have it. So, I thought I would recreate one from memory.

Supplies:
*Hot Pad (got a 2 pack at the $1 store for...$1)
*Scrap of decorative fabric
*Button
*Snack size ziploc bags
*twill tape or bias tape

WARNING: This tutorial has about a billion pictures...not because it is hard though. Only because I took a lot hoping that it would be more clear. Sometimes a picture is just easier to follow!
 Take your ziploc bags and lay them on top of each other alternating which side the zipper part is on each time.  Pin them so that they are secure while sewing them.
 Sew them together by just sewing down the middle...just eyeball it! :)
 This is what it should look like now...hopefully your sewing is a little straighter than mine!
Now carefully cut off the excess of each bag. (that would be the bottom part of the bags) Then set the baggies aside for now.
 Get your decorative fabric and pin it to the top of your hot pad. You could iron the edges under and make it more precise, I just happen to be a little lazy when it comes to ironing if my iron is not out.

 Sew around your fabric. 
 This is what it should look like now.

 Flip your hot pad over.
 Put your baggies in the middle of the hot pad.

 I did not use pins. I thought it was easier to just hold it in place while I sewed through the layers of bags and hot pad.  Obviously, I want you to sew the bags to the hot pad now.
 You can skip this step if you want. I just did it to reenforce the seam where the bags are attached.  Fold under one end of the bias or twill tape and line up with the edge of the hot pad and over the seam where you just sewed the baggies on.
 I started by sewing over the edge of the bias/twill tape that I had folded under. Continue to sew until you get about an inch from the other end.

 Fold this end under...it doesn't have to be perfect!!
 This is what it should look like now. Almost done.
 Flip your hot pad over and this is what it looks like now.
 Fold your baggies down like this, so that when you sew your button on you don't sew your baggies to...that would be sad :( !

 Place your button in the middle on the opposite side of the loop.
 Sew the button on.
 This is what it should look like folded in half.
 This is what it looks like all buttoned up!
 These are some of the things I put in the first aid kits I made.
 Opps, how'd my little assistant make his way into my tutorial!? Oh well, I couldn't take him out! (and yes I know he has a wonky eye and he is getting it fixed with surgery in the next month or so)
 These are what my first aid kits look like all filled up with their "goodies".  
I realize I do things a little bit in excess, but I made these for Christmas gifts and I have a big family!!

Let me know if you have any questions. I know I can be as clear as mud sometimes!!