Get Your Craft On! Reversible Quickie Coaster Tutorial.

Okay, so along with the free cross stitch chart from my last post, how about a tutorial too?  This is perfect to make as a last minute gift .... some coasters!  These coasters are meant to be reversible, and are great for using up scraps of fabric. 

 I know, I know ... coasters are really easy to make as it is ... how can I make them even easier?

Let's find out.  The secret to these coasters are 3 things: fabric charm squares, a 4.5" square ruler (I think I found mine at Walmart!), and fusible fleece ... these items make these coasters go together in no time flat.

So here is what you need:

* 8 fabric charm squares

* Small amount of fusible fleece

* 4.5" square ruler

* Rotary Cutter

* and of course ... sewing machine, thread, needle, iron,  etc.....

Okay, if you do not have what I mentioned above, that is okay too .... the process will just not be as speedy.  Here is the no frills, non-speedy list of needed tools/materials:

* 8 x 5" squares quilting weight cotton

* ruler

* rotary cutter or scissors

* fusible fleece 

Directions:

1. Cut out 4 squares of fusible fleece using your 4.5" square ruler. 

(If you do not have a cool 4.5" square ruler ... go get one, they are great for measuring small stuff too!  Anyhow, I digress... if you do not have this cool ruler, then just use a ruler and scissors.)

2. Center the bumpy (adhesive side) of your fleece onto the back (wrong side) of your fabric charm.

3. Flip over the fleece/fabric and iron from the right side.  If you iron directly over the fleece (depending on the fiber type) you could melt it.  Repeat steps 2 and 3 for your remaining 3 cut pieces of fleece.

4. Place one of your fleece backed charm squares right sides together with a charm square without fleece.  Stitch these two pieces together using a 1/4" seam.  Pivot at corners, and leave a 2" opening for turning along one of the sides. 

5. Clip the corners ... carefully.  You want to leave at least 1/8" of fabric at the corner.  If you have a tendency to clip too close to seams, then just skip this step ... it is a bummer when you are turning the corners out to poke right through the corner because you clipped it too close!  After you do this, press all of your seams from the non-fleece side to set your stitches.

 6. Turn right side out.  Using some type of a tool, push the corners out. 

7. Tuck in the fabric around the opening into the inside of the coaster, and press your coaster.  Now is a good time to reshape it if you need to, to make it a nice and neat little square.  I like to spray water on this coaster, and tug it a bit, then press flat. You can also use a light body spray starch such as "Magic Sizing".

8. Now the fun part -- the top stitching.  This part is totally up to you, but the first thing I suggest doing is top stitching around all 4 sides (starting just before the opening left for turning) using a 1/8 " seam.  This will close the opening for you, and if you like, you can be done now, and just call it a day.  But, what I like to do is to go around the coaster several times for a sort of sketchy look.

9.  Repeat for your remaining coasters, tie them up with a ribbon, and give them as a gift!

Here is another set I made.  This time, after I went around all 4 edges with a 1/8" seam, I went around again with a wide zig-zag stitch.  Then I stitched on some squares as well to half of the set for a quilted look.  This fabric is "Sugar Pop" by Urban Chicks for Moda.

 

The "reverse" side from the "It's a hoot" set.

The "reverse" side from the "Sugar Pop" set

 

Feel free to make as many of these as you want, and to direct others here to use this tutorial as well. This tutorial is meant for personal use only: please do not re-post , copy, or sell this tutorial, or make items to sell from this tutorial.  As always, please share your creations in the Split Stitch flickr group!  If you would like to sell coasters made from this tutorial, please contact me (thesplitstitch [at] live [dot] com) to purchase a .pdf version of this tutorial with revised terms of use.

 UPDATE: A PDF version of this tutorial is now available, and includes this full tutorial, additional hints/tips/ideas/photos, terms of use allowing the sale of finished coasters, full size pattern pieces and metric conversions for only $3USD, get it HERE or in my Etsy shop.