Spicy Hot Pad for under the Tea Pot

Place this spicy hot pad under a warm teapot or hot casserole. The heat releases the aroma of the herbs and spices used inside the hot pad. As an added bonus the quilted fabric will protect your table form the heat of the teapot.

Equipment:

• Scissors
• Sewing machine or needle or thread
• Iron
• Bowl or jar for mixing spices and herbs
• Measuring spoons
• Plastic zip bag
• Two 8” pieces of quilted fabric
• Two 7-1/2” pieces of muslin for lining
• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon sticks, crushed
• 1 Tbsp. rosemary needles, dried
• 1 Tbsp. whole cloves
• 1 Tbsp. allspice berries
• 1 Tbsp. anise seeds
• 1 Tbsp. lemon thyme, dried

Optional ingredients: Dried crushed lemon peel, or orange peels, or make the mixture you like. Try just one of the ingredients such as cinnamon, allspice or cloves to fill the pocket.

I used quilted fabric I purchased from the fabric store, or you can quilt it yourself. To make a quilted piece: Just lay a piece of outer fabric on a low loft batting and pin and mark the fabric in one inch squares. Sew on the lines for your own quilted fabric. Repeat the process for the other piece of fabric.

Quilted Top: Lay the two quilted pieces right side together and sew around leaving an opening for turning. Clip the corners to reduce the bulk. Turn inside out and work a pointed stylus in the corners to pull them out as much as possible. Iron paying attention to the opening and turn under the edges for easier closing.

Pocket: Lay the two muslin pieces together right side together, if they have right sides, and sew repeating the process above. Don’t forget to iron once they have been turn right side out. Top stitch around three sides of the piece before filling, it makes it easier to top stitch the last side after filling.

Filling: Mix the spices and herbs in a glass jar and shake to mix. Cap the jar and allow the filling to intermingle the fragrances.  You will have enough filling to make two spicy hot pads.

Fill the pocket with about 3 Tbsp. of filling.  Before stitching, lay the spicy hot pad flat and check to see if it is too full to allow the tea pot to stay flat. May need to crushed the filling a bit more.  Top stitch the fourth side of the spicy hot pad close. The stitches should be fairly close together to keep the powder the filling may create inside of the pocket.

Place the pocket inside of the quilted pieces and top stitch close on the forth side. I found I need to hand stitch the opening close before top stitching, because of the quilted fabric. Try and catch the pocket inside with the top stitching to keep the pocket from bunching.

Store the spicy hot pad inside of a plastic zip bag to keep the aroma fresh and to show off your work.

To Use: Place a hot tea pot on the spicy hot pad and allow the aroma to be release. Use an aromatic herb tea and the whole room has a wonderful fragrance with a spicy undertone. The spicy hot pad should not be washed. If the pad gets dirty sponge the stain off and allow to dry. You may use a small zipper in the quilted piece to remove the inside pocket to wash the quilted cover.

Enjoy!