You may think of Major League Baseball when you hear the phrase “Triple Play”. You might envision a fast play, where three runners are called OUT! on one continuous field hit of the ball. Exciting – Right! After all, this is October and the regular season is ending, just as post season play is gearing up. You might still think I’m talking about the boys of summer and some great defensive action. Well, that’s not exactly right, however, this Triple Play is just as exciting!
In this case, TRIPLE PLAY is referring to THREE seasonal quilts made from one pattern. These three quilts are table toppers, and they are all made from the HOT TODDY pattern that is featured in the Nov./Dec. 2016 issue of McCalls Quilting. This is a design I submitted for consideration last winter after receiving a call for submissions notification. I was very excited when they picked it up for publication.
The Triple Play I’m talking about includes 3 similar, yet different quilts: One for the Fall, which is made for the Island Batik Ambassador challenge – Bountiful Table Toppers, a fun Christmas Quilt using Ho! Ho! Ho! by Deb Strain for Moda, and the piece I made for McCalls Quilting using seasonal prints in the Suite Christmas collection by RJR Fabrics.
As it happens, the release of McCalls Nov/Dec Issue features 14 holiday patterns. The Issue coincided with the new Island Batik Ambassador project called “Bountiful Table Toppers” that ran through the month of September. So I wanted to show you the pattern in an alternate colorway, made just for fall, using the wonderful batik fabrics from Island Batik.
I thought HOT TODDY would be a great project to make with the new fabrics from the Island Batik Fall 2016 Line. These fabrics are beautiful, and showcase the deep, vibrant colors of Autumn and Thanksgiving. The Island Batik fabrics I used for this project are shown below.
The construction methods used for this project are basic and are simple enough for a confident beginner to master easily. It’s simple to make and will go together quick, while giving beginner quilters a smaller project to work on basic machine piecing techniques, it also provides a project small enough to practice free motion quilting skills.
I did a little free motion quilting on this one, using Superior Fantastico Thread, Color No.5161. Fantastico is a #40Wt variegated, trilobal poly, with a beautiful sheen. It runs smooth through a quilt sandwich and comes in over 100 color variations. I LOVE this thread for decorative quilting because it adds just a bit of excitement to the quilt top. This thread is also heat set during processing, so it won’t shrink when you wash the quilt.
This is the finished table topper!
One of the great things about this pattern is the ease you have in creating a table topper that is just the right size for your table. The quilt is made in 4″ units, and you can add some or take away some to suit your needs. This pattern can be downloaded from the McCalls Quilting site or you can pick up the magazine while it is on sale now!
By the way, no one in this Triple Play is OUT! Go Ahead and make a Hot Toddy for yourself – this pattern is a home run in any colorway and works for any season. Thanks for pinch hitting with me!
~Pat
(Other Fabrics used in these projects)
Lemon Tree Snippets 
Comments!
Pat. I couldn’t believe it when i saw your photo in the magazine. I wondered where you were now. You quilted quite a few quilts for me when you were first beginning. Would love to catch up with you again
Hi Genean! Hope all is well.
It is now 2020, and I am planning to make the “Hot Toddy” table runner from McCalls Nov/Dec 2016 issue. BUT … I question the cutting directions. The center row; cut the peppermint candy print in 4.5″ squares. Create square-in-a-squares with 2.5″ half square triangles. Finished block should be 4″ … I think the peppermint blocks are too big!
Re-read the instructions for the Hot Toddy table runner. Using the ‘flip and sew’ technique, the cutting instructions would be correct. BUT they create 64 scrap triangles! I hope future patterns might consider paper foundation for the square-in-a-square centers.