Drunkard's Path Hot Pads

That's right, it's another Curves Class project.  They're pretty much all I've had time to work on lately, but I'm enjoying them and learning so much so that's okay!


This was my first attempt at precise curves, meaning piecing a concave and convex curve together and allowing for the seam allowance in the cutting.

With the first quarter circle I sewed I pinned it.  Then I got brave and did the rest without pinning.  Of course there was some unpicking and resewing, but it went well for the most part!


The funny thing is the most time consuming and frustrating part of this project was not the curves.  It ended up being the binding!  I am usually a stickler for hand stitching the last step of my binding, but I decided for something like hot pads I could break that rule and try something different.  So I tried to finish it off with a zig zag stitch.  My sewing machine had been acting a little funny, but was still working.  However, when it came to a zig zag stitch it completely rebelled!  My zig zag was coming out as a straight stitch.  

After cleaning out my machine and determining that the problem was more than I could fix I borrowed my mom's back-up machine.  It worked great for the first one.  Then when I went to finish the second one the next day it was having problems!  It wouldn't pull the bobbin thread up and my top thread kept breaking.  I re-thread the needle, I re-thread the bobbin, I turned the machine off and on.  Same result.  After pounding my head on the table a few times I set the project aside and began cutting material for another project.


When I had calmed down (I'm a embarrassed to say I got really frustrated) I went back to the hot pads.  Turns out the bobbin casing wasn't quite in right.  Earlier I noticed the plate was loose so I took it off, took out the bobbin casing and dusted things off a bit before putting it all back together.  Apparently I didn't get it put back together right.

Once that was taken care of I cruised!  I turned it over to admire my work only to realize the zig zag completely missed the binding on the back!!  Oh man.  I left the project for the day at that point.  This morning I woke up refreshed, unpicked again, and zig zagged my heart out.  Finally a finish I could be happy with!


I like them both.  The red and black has a bit of a retro look to me, but I think the black/white, black/yellow/grey combo is my favorite.  What fun additions to my kitchen!  I already have plans to whip up a few of these for gifts.


Remember, the name of my blog is Third Time's a Charm, and there's a reason for that. :)  I ofter learn lessons the hard way. 

Check out Rachel at Stitched in Color.  She's the one teaching the Curves Class.  And check out the other projects I've blogged about from the class!

Scallop Bunting

Bibs








Quilt Cards

Rainbow Road Table Runner

Clam Shell Pillow