Making a trivet is a fantastic way to use up old wooden pegs. I was given a large bagful of these many years ago and at the time, I had no idea what I was going to use them for so they ended up in a box in our basement never to be seen again!
Recently, one of our basement rooms was flooded when a valve burst which meant that water had been slowly dripping out overnight. In order to dry out the room, we had to completely empty it and that's when I came across the box where the wooden pegs had been stored together with a few other lovely bits and pieces I'd forgotten I even had!
Table of contents
This time, I thought it was about time I found a use for these wooden pegs and set about searching the internet for ideas.
A few projects caught my eye but the one that spoke to me the most and the one that I thought would be most useful for me, was a lovely trivet that we could use for our dining table.
I'm always looking for wooden coasters and trivets to go underneath plant pots or hot dishes and it's definitely something that will be well used in our house.
How To Make A Wooden Clothespin Trivet
You can make this trivet with any type of wooden pegs, but you will first have to remove the metal clasp which holds the pieces together. To do this, just twist both sides of the peg until the metal clasp pops off on one side and then you can remove it altogether. The clasps on my pegs were already removed so I could skip that stage.
Tools for making a Trivet
If you want to make a trivet like this for yourself, here's what you'll need:
Wooden pegs (Surprise surprise!)
Hot glue gun and glue sticks (Yes, that's all there is to it)
Optional
Instructions for making a Trivet
1. Match up the pieces
After removing the metal clasps, spread the pegs out onto a tabletop or crafting surface. My pegs were all mixed up in the bag and I found that they were of various thicknesses and lengths. If yours are like this too, the first thing you'll need to do is to match up the pieces.
2. Glue the pieces together
Once you have all your pieces matched up, you can start gluing them together. Don't forget to place something underneath your glue gun to catch any drips. Then, take one peg, add a line of glue down the whole length of it with your glue gun and press it together with the second peg as in the photo below. Carry on doing this until you have enough pieces for the size of trivet you want to make.
3. Lay out your Trivet shape
Next, set out all the pieces which you've glued together, into the shape of the trivet you want to build. I wanted to make my trivet large enough to hold large serving dishes because this is what we need most of all.
You can also make smaller round trivets if that's what you need and they would look like the one in the photo above. I think the smaller round ones would be great for slipping underneath a plant pot or for holding a tea/coffee pot.
4. Glue each piece to the next
So next, all you have to do is to glue each piece together in the shape you've decided to make. Take one piece in your hand and using the glue gun, put a small amount of glue onto the tip and press it to the next peg in your 'series'. In my case, I kept doing this until I had a half-circle and then I changed the direction and made another half circle in the other direction to form a kind of 'S' shape. Then, I changed directions again making another half circle in the opposite direction again.
5. Protect your Trivet
If you want to use your trivet outside, I would paint it with a coat of outdoor paint for wood. For indoor use, you could use wood stain or chalk paint to change the color of the wood to match your style of décor. Whatever you decide to do, I would definitely recommend painting with a layer of water-based polyurethane to increase the durability of your trivet and to help prevent staining.
6. Your Trivet is complete!
So there you have it! A really simple craft which in my opinion is a much prettier and more creative option to your average shop-bought trivet. In my case, not only did I find a great use for all those peg halves I was given but I've also gained an accessory for my table which is both beautiful to look at and extremely useful to boot. I think I'm going to be buying more wooden pegs just so I can make more trivets!
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Jen says
I love this idea! I'm always hauling out an old wooden cutting board when I need a trivet. This is sooo much prettier!
Jayne Westerholt says
Yes, they do look pretty on the table. I can't believe I left these in our basement for so long!
Diana howe says
Hi how would you go about hanging on a wall? Should I drill holes first in the clothepeg?
Jayne Westerholt says
I've never hung these on the wall, Diana, I use them as trivets for the table.
Hass says
Super cute! I love the swirl pattern - makes for really decorative and functional pieces!
Jayne Westerholt says
Yes, and you can add more pieces if you need it to be longer 🙂
Jennifer | Mrs G Living Simple says
These are so fun! What a neat idea!
Jayne Westerholt says
Thanks Jennifer, I'm so glad you like them.
Debby Dirk says
So cool! Now I have a new craft. Thanks so much.
Jayne Westerholt says
You're welcome, Debby! I'm so glad it inspired you 🙂
Oralia Rhoden says
I love the trivits also .New project for me to.
Jayne Westerholt says
Glad you like them, Oralia, they are really easy to make and look great on the table!
Candace | Unfolding Beautiful says
I love these! Such a cute idea and a great way to give something new life!
Jayne Westerholt says
Glad you like them, Candace, I love upcycling projects like this too!
Marie says
I love this idea for a unique wooden trivet, especially the swirly pattern! I think this would also make a fabulous farmhouse table runner with more clothespins. Pinned 🙂
Jayne Westerholt says
Hi Marie, yes, I agree that it would make a fabulous farmhouse table runner! Although I think you would have to make it in sections and slide them together on the table because these become a bit fragile if you add too many clothespins. Glad you like it!
Kristin says
This is such a great idea and they look beautiful! Thanks for sharing with Charming Homes & Gardens!
Jayne Westerholt says
Thank you Kristin!
Julie Briones says
Seriously... I want to make a million of these for gifts... all for my family's personal style! Love these clothespin trivets, and I didn't even notice your large one was an "S" shape... so dang cute!
Jayne Westerholt says
Thanks, Julie! Yes, they would make great gifts - something unusual!
Brenda Preston says
If you are setting hot items on the trivet does it not melt the glue holding the clothespins together?
Jayne Westerholt says
Hello Brenda, thanks for dropping by! The glue from the glue gun sets extremely hard and is between the clothespins so it doesn't come in contact with any hot items. The trivet will be warm to the touch when you remove the hot pot or teapot but it won't be hot enough to melt the glue - at least, it's never happened to me and I use these quite often.