Old Jeans Project #4: Patchwork Quilted Hot Pad

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    Today's project is a simple and useful project!  It is surprising how quickly hot pads and pot holders can get stained and gross looking.  After awhile, you need some new ones.  Repurposing an old pair of jeans is perfect because the heavier fabric adds more protection from hot pans. 
​    When I started working on it, I realized that if I were working with 2 pairs of old jeans in different washes, it would be even more interesting.  To create more texture with my one light washed pair, I changed the direction of the grain of the squares and strips as I put them together.  

    I've created a gallery of instructions for you to follow!  Simple click on the photos and you will see how I crafted this denim hot pad! 

Cut 3 x 3 inch squares from your denim pants. This is a great project for using up small pieces of your old jeans. Sew them together into a square, trim the seams and press the seams open with an iron.

This is the front side of the square. See how I alternated the direction of the grain to add interest? See how nicely my middle matches? That is a miracle. Press this square nice and flat.

Chose a coordinating fabric and cut out strips, 2.5-3 inches wide, that are the same length as the side of the denim square. With right sides together, stitch together. used 1/2 inch seams and trimmed them after sewing.

Press the seams towards the inside and then press everything flat again.

Now measure the same width of strips that are the length of the denim squares and the fabric sides together. Stitch them to the bottom and the top. Press flat again.

Using the same process as you did adding the fabric, add denim sides to the fabric. You can make these strips any width that you would like. You can make your hot pad bigger or smaller by adjusting the size of your squares and strips.

Add your top and bottom strips the same way as you did the fabric strips. Press flat.

Cut a piece of fabric the same size as the top block that you just created. Place it right side down on the right side of the block. Next put a layer of Insul-Brite and then a layer of batting. Stitch all around the edge with a 1/2 inch seam, leaving an opening on one side for turning. Trim the seam and then flip the hot pad right side out, pushing out the corners. I used my sewing machine to quilt the pad together by stitching in the ditch on the seam lines.

I used embroidery floss to stitch an "X" right in the middle of the hot pad.

    Now that you have created this hot pad, you know how to make a simple quilt square!  If you have a few pairs of jeans, you could make an entire quilt top.  The wonderful thing about denim is that just about any print will go with it, so you can personalize this hot pad or a quilt to any taste or décor.  Of course, in a quilt, you won't need to use Insul-Brite.   
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Links to Denim Projects 1-3:

*Cute Denim Basket

*Kindle Pillow

*Tee Shirt and Jeans Pillow