Monday, November 23, 2009

sweet sugar swirls tutorial



back when i showed a sneak peek... a few people guessed this was a tree skirt... and it could be... but mine is a hot pad topper...


my inspiration came from this print in the figgy pudding line of fabric by basic grey for moda
i loved it and wanted a big sugar swirl!


Supplies
Easy Dresden Ruler
1/2 yd white print
10 scraps of other colors
5/8yd backing fabric
batting {at least 19" square}
silver teflon fabric {at least 19" square}
scrap of fusible web


1. use the easy dresden ruler to cut 10 white wedges and 10 assorted wedges from scraps. Cut them at the full 8" size.

2. piece them into a circle making sure you place a white wedge in between each color. press to the dark fabrics.

3. find a scrap of batting that is large enough...

4. and trim around leaving about 1/2" or so.

5. repeat with backing fabric.

6. and lastly with the silver teflon fabric... it feels more like plastic and is available at most shops & chain stores.. it is often used to make ironing board covers and pot holders.

7. now its time to layer. start with the silver teflon fabric shiny side down, then batting, then backing fabric right side up... and lastly your sugar swirl right side down.

8. put lots of pins in... and sew a giant circle all the way around about 1/4" in from the edge of your sugar swirl. since the ends of your dresden template are straight you'll need to sew a gentle curve or you'll end up with 20 straight little sides instead of a circle. {i looked it up and its a called an Icosagon}

9. anyway back to the project... trim all around your sugar swirl removing excess batting, backing and teflon.

10. now for the magic... use the opening in the center to turn your sugar swirl right side out.. voila!

11. press your sugar swirl into a neat circle and put pins in the dark sections. using a walking foot quilt straight lines from one end to another in the middle of the white areas. {do this a total of 5 times}

12. this should be your result.

13. now we need to cover up the hole in the middle... i used a CD as my template and traced it on a piece of fusible web. iron it on the white fabric and cut it out.

14. place it in the center on top of the silver teflon fabric and iron in place.

15. sew a zig zag stitch around the entire circle. I did a wide zig zag that was close together... but not as tight as a satin stitch. {my machine was at 4 for a width and 1.5 for a length}

16. you should end up with it looking like this.

and your done!!!

notes:
1. this also works as a candle mat... with or without the silver teflon fabric
2. if you are going to use this for really hot things... it can't hurt to use 2 layers of silver teflon fabric and 2 layers of batting.
3. to make this a mini tree shirt... sew all the wedges together except for the last seam. trim 1/2" off of each of these pieces. {where the seam would have been} repeat remainder of steps... but in step 8 sew around the outside.. down one straight wedge.. around the inner ring and back up the other straight side.. leaving an opening to turn somewhere.... you won't need to make a center because that is where the tree will be!


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enjoy!!


© 2009-2022 Julie R. Herman. All rights reserved.
No part of this tutorial or pattern may be reproduced without written consent of Jaybird Quilts. 
Items from this pattern may not be produced for commercial resale. 

24 comments:

karen @ badlandsquilts said...

Very cute!

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Oh that is cute! It does remind me of peppermints. :-)

Needled Mom said...

Very sweet and I do love that fabric line.

Unknown said...

Great tutorial and very cute topper!!

Rosa said...

Great tutorial

amylouwhosews said...

adorable! I really need to get my hands on some of that figgy pudding! It's so cute!

Angela Nash said...

AHHHH - I love it! Those candy swirls are my favorites, too. And I have a great selection of Figgy Pudding left ot make one of these. I alwasy seem to need just-one-more thing to put a hot dish on. Thanks!

(Oooh, just thought - this could make a really cute charger for a table setting. Already thinking about next year.....)

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

OH! OH! THANK YOU! I need a grab bag item and I think this is IT! I will make up mine to be a candle mat.

Off to Joann's for the ruler I go... :)

Natalia from Piece N Quilt said...

Very cute! It would make a darling tree skirt too! :)

Anne at Film and Thread said...

So cute and I love how you turn it right side out through the center! Thank you!

Laura said...

Thank you so much for posting this tutorial! I can't wait to try it!

Micki said...

I made the exact style and it is in my living room. I love it! yours is great!
Micki

Barb said...

Thanks for the tutorial!!

Carol T said...

Wow, this is so cute. I think I will make it for my Aunt for Christmas. Thanks for the project.

Rose said...

Wow, that is so clever!!

Beth said...

Oh, this is great -- I don't have any decorative trivets! And I already have some of that Insul-bright stuff from making oven mitts!

rachel griffith said...

very cute.

Little Lady Patchwork said...

What an awesome idea!.....and I love that fabric line!

Thanks for sharing.

karenshopes said...

Great idea, only wish I was that clever.
Karen

What Comes Next? said...

very cute! Thanks!

Thimbleanna said...

It's adorable Julie! I LOVE that figgy pudding!!!

Kellie said...

I love it! Fabulous choice of fabrics as well.

Nancy Page said...

Thank you for this great tutorial! Love the table mat!

Have a super great day!

Marcia said...

Thank you for the terrific tutorial. It'a adorable, and can be used with different fabrics to celebrate different times of the year.