Fun and Easy Coasters – A Tutorial

I really love how the bookmarks came out that I made just a couple days ago, and it occurred to me that I could use the same technique to make coasters.  So, here it is (the pattern makes up six at a time):

Supplies:

• 16 different fabrics: 3" by 4 1/2"
• Backing fabric: 8 1/2" by 12 1/4"
• Light weight fabric cut 8 1/2" by 12 1/4" (I used batiste, but a lightweight muslin would also work)
• Steam-a-Seam 2 Lite: 16 pieces cut 3" by 4 1/2"
• Fast2Fuse (a stiff double-sided fusible interfacing: 8 1/4" by 12"
• Decorative thread

Directions:

1. Fuse the Steam-a-Seam onto the backs of the sixteen fabric rectangles.
2. Peel off the paper and slice the rectangle into little pieces. (Tip: I used my rotary cutter and did them one by one with the fusible side up).
3. When you have a pile of little pieces, begin to randomly position them, fusible side facing down, on the lightweight 8 1/2"  by 12 1/4"  fabric.
4. Keep going until the entire underlying fabric is covered. Tip: Hold it up in front of a light source to find "holes" you may have missed.
5. Press.
6. Using a decorative thread, stitch the fused pieces down using random swirling stitch lines.
7. Iron both the fused section and the backing fabric onto the Fast2Fuse. (It's okay if the front and back fabrics slightly overlap the interfacing).
8. Trim to 7 1/2" by 11 1/4".
9. Slice in half to create two 3 3/4” by 11 1/4” rectangles.
10. Cut three 3 3/4” squares from each of the rectangles.
11. I use a quarter to slightly round off the corners.
12. Satin stitch the edges.  (Tip: Using an overlock foot – a #2 for my Bernina 1530 – creates a nice, clean edge).

And that’s it!  All done!  I’m afraid I had a terrible time with color in these photos (the actual colors are yellow, orange, and a deep pink/fuchsia – no purple), and I have to say, they look much cooler in person.

Meanwhile, I’m loving the effect I’m getting with this technique – and Christmas is coming up.  I think my next take using this technique will be to make a trivet.