While making all those clothesline hotpads, I couldn’t help but wonder if I could adapt the technique for use in art quilts. What if I wrapped the fabric strips around wire or pipecleaners?
I had to try both. The fabric wrapped pipecleaner is on top, the wire one on the bottom.
I prefer the pipecleaner version. It’s easier to sew and has more substance to it. My pipecleaners were green, and the color shows through the lighter sections of the fabric.
I intended to create branches, stems and vines, but now I can see grass, hair and even spaghetti. I love that I can bend and shape them so they stick out from the background fabric.
I am obsessed lately with adding three-dimensional elements to my quilts. The idea won’t go away. These are perfect. I already know where I’m going to use them.
One block finished.
Another block started.
I’m on a roll!
In response to my post about how I’ve never used Asian fabrics, Wendee sent me some of her unwanted stash.
I love these fabrics! Silly me for never looking at them in the quilt shops. I will post later about how I plan to use them.
I used a quarter yard of fabric for another hotpad to go under my plant in the sewing room.
Total Added YTD: 39.05 yds
Total Busted YTD: 20.25 yds
Net: +18.8 yardsThe days grow shorter. Today we have balmy weather and tomorrow frost. My body craves sleep in response to sunless gray skies.
I look at my paints. I unfold a finished quilt top. I open a box and touch all the UFOs inside. Inspiration lies elsewhere.
With the change of seasons I’m drawn to handwork. I want to sit in my favorite rocking chair and lose myself in the rhythm of needle and thread passing through fabric. I don’t care what I make or how long it takes. I simply need to stitch.
I started prepping another Dresden block because I’m close to finishing the last one. I always remove a spoke or two so the block lies flat. There’s a reason no one finished this quilt in the last 60 years.
I couldn’t find the baggie I use to store the extra pieces. While digging through my project bag, I found these.
I have a vague memory of an Ebay purchase. I didn’t bid for the blocks, I bid for the fabric that came with them. Some of it is feedsack.

I must have put them with the Dresdens to remind myself I bought the fabric to make more spokes. The envelope’s postmark reads 2003. How many years have I been appliquéing these blocks?
I didn’t remember I had the log cabins or the strips. I really need to quit buying things.
So goes another evening in the sewing room. Interesting, yet unproductive in a wandering without a purpose kind of way. Understanding will come and bring movement in a new direction.
Until then, I think I hear my favorite chair calling.
I made what I think is the last of these for now.
I’ve had a few comments from readers interested in making one. The book is called It’s a Wrap: Sewing Fabric Purses, Baskets and Bowls by Susan Breier. The author calls what I am making “plates”. I didn’t buy the book. A friend let me look at hers at retreat a few weeks ago.
If you don’t want to buy the book either, check out this online tutorial to make a bowl. To make the hotpads, just continue around flat instead of turning up the sides.
In making three of these I learned a few things not mentioned in the tutorial.
Batik strips do not work as well as other fabrics. The tight weave makes it harder to get a tight wrap.
If you have problems with the bobbin thread breaking, loosen the top tension one number.
I bought my clothesline at The Dollar Store. Some quilt shops sell it for about twice as much. Friends told me Walmart doesn’t carry it, but I never looked for myself.
One hank of clothesline made three hotpads with some left over. Mine measure 9.5, 9 and 7.5 inches across.
Prints create a more interesting look. I liked the stripes I used in the blue one and the green/white floral I used in the green one. I also preferred a monochromatic color scheme.
The first one took me a couple hours to sew, plus the time to cut strips. The last one took a little over one hour, including the time to cut the strips.
I have some ideas for adapting this technique to fit a project I set aside months ago. More on that later.
Only nine more weeks left this year? The holidays must be just around the corner.
I didn’t buy any fabric this week. I went to the quilt shop and Joann’s, but only walked out with thread.
I used 3/8 yard of fabric making another one of the clothesline hotpads. This one will live in the kitchen. I’ll make one more for the plant in the sewing room, then I think I’m done.
No matter how many scraps I use for theses, the pile never seems to get smaller. They must multiply when I’m not looking.
Total Added YTD: 36.8 yds
Total Busted YTD: 20 yds
Net: +16.8 yardsI finished making the October blocks today. They sewed up much easier than the September blocks.
I finished the September blocks.
To say these gave me a hard time would be an understatement. They both came out a little too big. I didn’t square them because I may remake them. I’m debating if I really want to go there again.
The October blocks are going much better, so far.

