Pellon Power: 3 Beginner Projects That Show Off the Right Batting

Insulated Potholders & Trivet • Quilted Market Tote • Lightweight Crib Quilt

Meta title: Easy Quilting Projects with Pellon Batting: Potholders, Tote & Crib Quilt (Beginner)
Meta description: Make insulated potholders, a structured market tote, and a lightweight crib quilt while learning which Pellon batting to choose. Materials, steps, sizes, pro tips, FAQs, and a quick Pellon guide.

Why these three?

They teach core skills and highlight what different Pellon products do best:

Heat management with insulated layers (potholders/trivet)
Soft structure with fusible fleece (market tote)
Breathable comfort & drape for everyday quilts (crib)

You’ll practice layering, quilting, binding, and basic bag construction—and come away knowing which Pellon works where.

Project 1: Insulated Potholders & Trivet

Skill: Beginner • Time: ~60–90 min • Sizes: Potholders 8″ × 8″ (2); Trivet 10″ round (1)

Materials

100% cotton fabric (outer + lining)
Insulation: Pellon® 975 Insul-Fleece™ (reflects heat/cold), plus 1–2 layers of cotton batting between Insul-Fleece and the hot surface side (recommended by Pellon) pellonprojects.com
Thread, walking foot (helpful), binding (2″ strips for potholders; bias for round trivet)
Cotton hanging loops (optional)

Steps

Cut outer, lining, Insul-Fleece, and cotton batting to size (add ½″ all around, trim after quilting).
Stack for each potholder: outer (RS up) + cotton batting + Insul-Fleece + lining (RS down). For the hot-contact side, keep cotton batting closest to the heat (per Pellon guidance). pellonprojects.com
Quilt straight lines or a simple grid.
Trim square/round; add a loop if desired.
Bind (straight-grain for squares, bias for round).

Safety notes

Insul-Fleece is not heat-proof or fire-resistant; add cotton batting layers and use caution with hot items. pellonprojects.com
Do not use Insul-Fleece in the microwave. Online Fabric Store
Don’t iron directly on the aluminized scrim. pellonprojects.com

Project 2: Quilted Market Tote (Soft Structure)

Skill: Beginner • Time: 2–3 hours • Size: ~15″ W × 14″ H × 4″ D

Materials

Exterior + lining fabrics (quilting cotton or canvas)
Structure: Pellon® 987F Thermolam® Fusible Fleece (low-loft, fusible, 45″ wide) for body without stiffness pellonprojects.com
Straps (webbing or fabric), magnetic snap (optional), thread

Steps

Cut two exterior and two lining rectangles to 18″ × 16″; box corners at 2″ (for 4″ depth).
Fuse 987F Thermolam to the wrong side of exterior pieces per instructions. pellonprojects.com
Quilt simple vertical lines through the fused exterior for a clean, modern look.
Sew exterior side/bottom seams; repeat for lining (leave a 5″ turning gap). Box corners.
Insert straps; attach to exterior.
Join exterior + lining at the top, turn through the gap, close gap, topstitch ⅛″.

Pro tips

Fuse from the fabric side with a press cloth; test a scrap first. pellonprojects.comOnline Fabric Store
987F adds cushion and shape—perfect for totes, pouches, and placemats. Hobby Lobby

Project 3: Lightweight Crib Quilt (Everyday Cozy)

Skill: Confident beginner • Time: Weekend+ (piecing) • Size: ~40″ × 52″

Materials

4–6 coordinating quilting cottons
Batting: One of these Legacy™ by Pellon® options:
- 80/20 Cotton/Poly (needle-punched with scrim): soft feel, durable, easy care; wide goods available. Pellon Projects
- Bamboo/Cotton 50/50 (with scrim): lightweight, breathable, beautiful drape (approx. 1.6 mm loft; 2–3% shrinkage). Create with Legacy
Backing to size, binding strips (2½″), thread

Steps

Cut 6½″ squares (arrange 6 × 8 for ~36″ × 48″ finished before borders).
Piece with a ¼″ seam; press. Add borders as desired to reach size.
Layer backing (RS down) + batting + top (RS up); baste.
Quilt a straight-line grid or gentle waves (walking foot recommended).
Trim square; bind by machine or hand.

Pro tips

Legacy 80/20 allows wider quilting distances (often up to ~8–10″, check packaging) and has balanced drape for kid quilts. Always In Stitches
Legacy Bamboo feels airy and soft—great for warm climates and snuggly throws. Create with Legacy

Quick Pellon Guide (what to choose & why)

975 Insul-Fleece™: Polyester with aluminized scrim that helps reflect heat/cold; not heat-proof; add cotton batting layers for potholders/trivets; no microwave. pellonprojects.comOnline Fabric Store
987F Thermolam® Fusible Fleece: Low-loft, fusible, machine-washable; ideal for totes, pouches, placemats, and soft-structure accessories. pellonprojects.com
Legacy™ by Pellon® 80/20: Cotton/poly blend with scrim; versatile, durable, widely available in 96″/120″ widths. Pellon Projects
Legacy™ Bamboo/Cotton 50/50: Lightweight, breathable, soft drape; ~1.6 mm loft; 2–3% shrinkage. Create with Legacy
Nature’s Touch® 100% Cotton (no scrim): Breathable, drapeable, easy to stitch by hand or machine. pellonprojects.com

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Is Insul-Fleece heat-proof?
No. It reflects heat/cold but isn’t heat-proof or fire-resistant; add cotton batting layers and use caution. pellonprojects.com

Microwave-safe?
Do not use Insul-Fleece in the microwave. Online Fabric Store

Do I need to prewash Pellon batting?
Generally no; check each product’s packaging. Bamboo blends may have 2–3% shrinkage; plan your finished size accordingly. Create with Legacy

How far apart can I quilt 80/20?
Always check the roll/pack label. Many 80/20 batts allow relatively wide spacing (often up to ~8–10″). Always In Stitches

What needle/thread should I use?

50 wt cotton or 40–50 wt poly with an 80/12 needle for most piecing/quilting.
For dense or decorative stitching, adjust needle size and test tension on a sandwich first.

Supplies Checklist (copy & save)

100% cotton fabric • Backing • Pellon 975 Insul-Fleece • Pellon 987F Thermolam • Legacy 80/20 or Legacy Bamboo batting • Thread • Rotary cutter & mat • Quilting ruler • Pins/clips • Iron • Walking foot (optional) • Bias/straight-grain binding

Callouts to Feature (great for social captions)

“Learn which Pellon to use: insulated layers, fusible structure, or cozy drape.”
“Potholders in an hour, a tote in an afternoon, and a weekend crib quilt.”
“Safety first: Insul-Fleece is not heat-proof or microwave-safe.”

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Long-Tail Phrases

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