Step One

HOLLY LEAF

This holly leaf trivet is about the size of a large Pyrex dish, 18.5″ x 13.5″. My holly leaf is stylized in design, but you can make a more realistic one if desired. That requires harder pattern drafting though.

Step Two

1st, you have to draft the pattern. You can make it larger or smaller, but my measurement instructions are based on the one I created. On a large sheet of paper, use the ruler to draw out an even rectangle of 19″ x 14″. Cut out the rectangle.

Tip: Your pattern should be about 1/2″ – 1″ larger than your finished trivet. This is for seam allowance all around. I sew 1/4″ from the edge, so I keep my seam allowance to equal that all around, totalling 1/2″ larger overall.

Step Three

Fold the paper in half both length and height wise.

Step Four

About 5 inches in from each end, draw vertical lines. These are to mark the points on the top and bottom.

Step Five

Draw diagonal lines from the top and bottom points to their coordinating end points. This helped me determine the angle of the curved lines I drew next.

Step Six

Draw gentle curves  under each diagonal and horizontal line, connecting them to the points. These make the curves of a holly leaf.

Step Seven

Cut out your paper pattern. Use the pattern, scissors, and straight pins to cut it out twice in green cotton fabric, twice in batting, and once in the solarize interlining.

Step Eight

With the fabric right sides facing, stitch around the holly leaf about 1/4″ from the edge, leaving about a 5″ section of one side open.

Step Nine

Using the scissors, cut off the corners, making sure not to cut through the stitching. This helps with the corners being sharp when you turn it. Turn the leaf inside out and push the corners out. I used a chopstick to help me with this.

Step Ten

Sandwich the solarize in between the batting layers. Fold this stack and insert it into the opening of the leaf. Adjust the layers inside, so they are flat. Use the chopstick to help if needed.

Step Eleven

Fold the edges of the opening inward, to matching the stitching seam allowance. Use straight pins to secure the opening. Topstitch around the edge of the leaf, starting with the opening to close it.

Step Twelve

Carefully topstitch down the long center. This is a bit tricky, as you are compressing the layers. You can do this by hand if desired.

Step Thirteen

Carefully topstitch the diagonal veins of the leaf. Again, you can do this by hand if desired.

Step Fourteen

HOLLY BERRY

This berry trivet is slightly bigger than the bottom diameter of my largest bowl, at about 7″.

Step Fifteen

Set your compass to be about 4″. You can check this against your ruler. This is the radius of your circle (half the diameter/width).

Step Sixteen

Poke the compass point through your paper and carefully turn the compass to draw your circle. The circle should equal 8″ across, or at least be close to it.

Step Seventeen

Using the pattern, scissors, and straight pins, cut out the pattern twice in red cotton, twice in batting, and once in solarize interlining.

Step Eighteen

Stitch around the circle about 1/4″ from the edge, leaving a 4″ opening.

Step Nineteen

Using scissors, carefully make cuts about 1/2″ away from each other, in towards the stitching but not through it. This will help with keeping the curved shape.

Step Twenty

Turn the berry inside out. Use the chopstick to help curve the seam.

Step Twenty-one

Sandwich the solarize in between the batting layers. Fold the stack and insert it into the berry opening. Smooth it out inside, using the chopstick to help if needed.

Step Twenty-two

Turn in the opening edges to match the seam allowance. Close with straight pins.

Step Twenty-three

Topstitch around the circle, starting with closing the opening.

Step Twenty-four

In the center, topstitch an +. This will help secure the layers better than just stitching around the edge.