Quilted Metal Hot Pad

Do you like to recycle? Then I think this is a perfect project for you. All you need is: soda cans, fat quarters of yellow and green cotton fabric, scrap of cotton batting, fusible web, press cloth and basic sewing supplies

Note: Use heavy-duty craft scissors for metal--not your sewing scissors! I also recommend wearing protective gloves when cutting metal.

Carefully cut apart three soda cans, removing the top and bottom sections. Press fusible web to the back of the metal pieces using a press cloth to protect the painted surface of the soda can.

Cut nine 2 inch squares from the fused metal. Remove the paper backing from the fusible web and center the metal pieces right side up on top of an 8-inch square of cotton fabric. Press using a press cloth to protect the painted surface.

Cut four 1 1/2 x 8-inch strips of green fabric. Turn under 3/8 inch along both edges and press down the entire 8-length. Lay two of the strips across the width of the fabric square, covering the edges of the metal squares. Pin the fabric strip to the fabric backing. Stitch down either side of the fabric strip through all layers of fabric and the metal squares. Repeat, stitching the remaining two strips vertically. Note: Be careful to not pin through the metal squares.

Cut four 1 1/2 x 10-inch strips of yellow fabric. With right sides together, stitch two of the strips of fabric to the sides of the metal fabric layer (hot-pad top layer) using a 1/4-inch seam. Press the fabric strip out from the edges of the hot pad top. Trim the strips even with the hot-pad top. Repeat stitching the remaining two strips to the opposite sides of the hot-pad top.

Cut four 1 1/2 x 10-inch strips of lime green fabric. With right sides together, stitch two of the strips of fabric to the sides of the hot pad using a 1/4-inch seam. Press the fabric strip out from the edges of the hot-pad top. Trim the strips even with the hot-pad top. Repeat stitching the remaining two strips to the opposite sides of the hot-pad top.

Measure the hot-pad top and cut two squares, one from the yellow fabric and the other from cotton batting. Lay the yellow square of fabric right side up on a flat surface; place the metal fabric layer on top, right sides down. Top with the cotton batting square. Pin together, being careful not to pin through the metal squares. Stitch around all sides using a 1/4-inch seam and leaving a 3-inch opening along one side. Turn right side out and hand-stitch the opening closed.

Quilt the layers together by stitching around the borders and down the centers of the green strips of fabric. Remove any stray threads and press the hot pad using a press cloth.

I want to make this as soon as I read what is high availability about.