Okay, ladies, this is really simple! Just cutting, pinning, and straight-line sewing. There are probably *better* ways to sew up a hotpad, but this has got to be the easiest.
You're going to need your hotpad fabric and some batting, nothing fancy:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GQBTWRcUH65rtWv6uwdLktR13YpB9miUyTcqF8t32sjo4NO8PRjKEbjCvlVVo-AC0sk94QGE_pUL-145fPbzIOlMCiKSACPI4NsZ1NXbm-Vdjt8T869SnK_mCYNVq2Ev6gmcYg/s320/hotpaddemo-2-1.jpg)
Now, cut out your fabric squares, about 10 inches square. Then cut out batting about 1 1/2 inchessmaller on each side (maybe 8 1/2" square) . I used two layers of batting and simply cut a rectangle and folded it over double.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedtBbJS0Kar2yvCb8KXhy9I4DvfjgQqraiwlsrEciQnj8vx5lvJQVht7n93Nk6bvZcFsboaIR9to6y5lvaK-mAx9cZghwdmyzpX6LouYnJApCvqdNSvPgcP6GS85N8adzuGg9xg/s320/hotpaddemo-1.jpg)
Now press your fabric nicely (don't press the batting!), then take each square and press under a seam allowance. Some steam in your iron or a water spray bottle will help it press nicely and hold its shape:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mYZ4Ui5ZCjxQBke7WC1lLUMKFZeyOOShvTuKyWBru9FWyBgKJrptMYP8jVmV5LBoaIb3b1oRoU20ldB5u4UJQuAXl3TZrjaGEDwK2pPHlcydQSwKehdr0R0vZ96KzPmj8f1O1A/s320/hotpaddemo-4-1.jpg)
Now just sandwich your layers together. You're hoping that your fabric edges come out just a smidgen farther than the batting. If the batting's sticking out, just poke it in--it doesn't matter if it bunches up a little bit. Pin everything together securely. Maybe your corners will match up better than mine! I always end up tweaking mine right as they are going under the needle. In sewing, whatever works is fine, and a hotpad is no place for perfectionism!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcP35GfBavQwfIW17bnTe2p4Q0sgaSCO7PhBOOpgEksr4jupaKYKwkSkWZjupGAKxohWQcPKbCrSr1ozZsqehNhcVhQpUDsMbPLKrT9GK-XSHxN734itna6oeaqGwTrR4Er3RCYQ/s320/hotpaddemo-5-1.jpg)
Stich all the way around the four sides, as close to the edge as possible without going off. Now get brave and zip the hotpad through again a few times in some random lines--maybe a smaller concentric square, or an X, or three diagonals. The only thing I would caution you about is making more than two lines meet at any given point--the batting gets too compressed to give you good protection from a hot pan. Feel free to work an asymmetrical pattern--that's part of the "homespun charm" you're going for.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPMfHhDzho7NKeoSKmM54GqrgCtWi_vbt2Vy4gLALAXpZaIWVh7Cd3M0k_LVNzqO6rIInXG_LzhjYEmCJIbH3Qn_usRVXx96HdOPnfJ5_gbhOAoI-WFjkJ9pOYKCTY1rXFUT-Jg/s320/hotpaddemo-6-1.jpg)
You may find that the top layer wants to bunch up a tiny bit as you run the hotpad through, making a tiny "bump" or gather as you meet up with a stitching line. My attitude is, who cares? Because it's a really cute hotpad and it's going to get used and stained, and a little bump is no big deal!
Have fun!