July 4th weekend is here! Are you entertaining? Maybe it is a BBQ with friends and family. Inevitably you will be serving something cold. In just an hour, you can make this easy trivet to keep things cool while your BBQ is heating up.
Thank you to Fairfield Processing for graciously donating the Solarize Liner Fabric and sponsoring this blog post. While they provided the impetus, all the opinions, comments and designs are mine. They did not influence me.
Solarize Liner Fabric was totally new to me, but I am in love with this product. It is fantastic for entertaining. I plan on making several of this project for when I entertain over the winter holidays.
The unique part of this project is that the cold trivet has five tunnels and the tunnels are filled with frozen freezer pops – the long plastic kind that children love to eat. The Solarize Liner Fabric is under the freezer pops so the properties of the fabric allow the cold to rise. I used thin linen so the coldness would radiate through the fabric on the top.
My family thought I was a little crazy, but I conducted my own unscientific experiment to see how well Solarize Liner Fabric really worked. Here is how I conducted the experiment:
· 11:15 AM - At the same time, I placed 10 ice cubes in a glass container and put them on the table with another 10 ice cubes in the same style glass container, but this one I put on top of the cold trivet that was lined with Solarize Liner Fabric and filled with five freezer pops. I also placed a freezer pop in the center because I wanted to see when it melted compared to the ones inside the cold trivet.
· 11:30 AM - After 15 minutes the ice cubes without the trivet were already starting to melt and the ice cubes on the trivet were still whole. The freezer pop is still whole.
· 1:01 PM – It has been an hour and 46 minutes since I started the experiment and the ice cubes without the trivet are almost completely melted. The freezer pop in the middle is completely melted compared to the freezer pop on the right which I pulled out of the trivet. The ice cubes on the cold trivet are halfway melted and the freezer pops inside are starting to melt a little.
This experiment proved that this simple cold trivet lined with Solarize Liner Fabric and filled with five freezer pops, could keep food longer for at least two hours. I will definitely be using this for all my entertaining whether indoor or outdoor.
DISCLAIMER: While this test showed that the ice cubes stayed frozen longer, it does not mean that all foods would be safe for extended periods of time. For example, if it is a large bowl of potato salad, the salad on the top may not be cold enough, so please always be food-safe and follow the USDA Basics for Handling Food Safely.
The good part is that the trivet can be used for anything cold. Originally, I had a bowl of potato salad in mind, but then I realized it was great for cold drinks, salad dressings, condiments, and dips – anything that you would want to keep cold while you are entertaining. Also, it can be used for hot items as a trivet. Keep it handy in a drawer by your stovetop and when you need to pull that pan off, grab it to put in under the pan. It will keep the pan warm. Double duty!
INSTRUCTIONS
MATERIALS:
12” piece of Solarize Liner Fabric
1/3 yard of fabric (I used linen)
Frixion Earsable Pen by Pilot (or some other temporary marking pen)
5 freezer pops
Coordinating good quality thread
SUPPLIES:
Sewing machine and related supplies
Rotary cutter and mat are helpful, but not necessary
Shears & Trimming Scissors
Ruler
Wonder Clips® are preferred, but pins are acceptable
Point turner or some other blunt, but pointed object
STEP ONE
NOTE:
- This project uses ½” seam allowances.
- Use a pressing cloth and test all fabrics before pressing.
Please read the instructions below before beginning. Gather the materials and supplies. Pre-wash the main fabric and press. Do not wash the Solarize Liner Fabric.
STEP TWO
Cut the fabrics as follows:
· Cut one piece of Solarize Liner Fabric to measure 12.25” by 11”
· Cut one piece of the main fabric to measure 12.25” by 11” (this is the bottom)
· Cut one piece of the main fabric to measure 12.25” by 13.5” (this is the top)
STEP THREE
Place the top fabric (12.25” by 13.5” ) face up on a flat surface with 12.5” on the sides and the 13.5” is on the top and bottom. Draw the following lines with the Frixion Earsable Pen: (see the picture below for a guideline)
· a vertical line ½” from the right side
· a vertical line 2” from the ½” line
· a horizontal line ½” from the top that runs from the left side to the last vertical line
· a horizontal line ½” from the bottom that runs from the left side to the last vertical line
· space four horizontal lines 2.25” from the last horizontal line that runs from the left side to the last vertical line (these are the tunnels for the freezer pops)
If you are hand or machine embroidering this trivet, please do it now; otherwise, any other type of embellishment can be done at the end. Please note that the horizontal lines are where it will be sewn and this could affect the embroidery.
Machine embroidery Design: Delft Blue Floral Medallion I (F8541) by Embroidery Library
Built-in Font on the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold
Place this fabric aside and do not iron until the project is complete or you will lose the markings.
STEP FOUR
Find the long side of the back piece of the main fabric (12.25”). With right sides together, sew the Solarize Liner Fabric to the back piece of the main fabric at one of the long sides. Turn right side out. Press. Topstitch.
STEP FIVE
Baste the other 3 sides of the back piece and Solarize Liner Fabric.
Solarize Liner fabric topstitched at the top and basted on the 3 sides with linen on the other side
STEP SIX
Fold the front fabric along the ½” mark that runs vertically on the right. Now fold it under ¼” towards the wrong side. This will be a ¼” hem on the opening. Stitch along the edge.
STEP SEVEN
Fold the flap back along the 2” horizontal line. It will be right side against right side. Pin the flap in place.
Machine embroidery Design: Delft Blue Floral Border (D7039)) by Embroidery Library
Built-in Font on the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold
STEP EIGHT
With right sides together and using Wonder Clips®, clip the front piece to the back piece. The flap will be on the inside facing the right side of the back.
STEP NINE
Sew the three sides with a straight stitch. Do not sew the flap. Clip the 2 inside corners only. Then finish the edges with a zig zag stitch.
STEP TEN
Turn right side out and push the corners out with a pointer. Do not press with an iron (or you will lose the markings). Finger press. Make sure the flap is still on the same side as the front.
Machine embroidery Design: Delft Blue Floral Border (D7039) by Embroidery Library
Built-in Font on the Baby Lock Ellisimo Gold
STEP ELEVEN
Starting at the bottom of the trivet sew along the horizontal lines with a straight stitch. When you reach the end of the drawn line stop and backstitch three times. Sew all four lines.
STEP TWELVE
Press to remove the markings. Insert freezer pops and flip the flap to close the opening. A small Velcro dot could be added if this is needed. Add any decorative embellishments.
Please do not put Solarize Fabric Liner in the washing machine, please wash by hand and do not crinkle, keep flat while washing and storing.
By the way, they do sell tubular ice sticks on Amazon if you are interested in those instead. This is just a short version.
Here is a BBQ recipe from our favorite Dutch cookbook.
Enjoy your holidays and travel safe!
