Quilted Coaster Tutorial

As I shared last week, quilted coasters and pot holders, have turned my favorite hostess gift.  

Here are the ones that I will be tucking into my suitcase next week to take with me on on my trips.  

You can also get a little creative with them ...

So here's what you will need to make your own:

Top -- 4 - 5"x5" pieces of cut fabric for the top
Bottom -- 4 - 5"x5" pieces of cut fabric for the bottom
Insulbrite -- 4.5" x 20" piece
Thread -- coordinating or contrasting, depending on your mood.

Step 1:

Cut your fabric.  You can use the same fabric for the top and bottom, two different fabrics, or for that matter 8 different fabrics if you choose.  Up to you.  But you will need 8 pieces of 5" x 5" fabric cuts for the top and bottom of your coasters. 

Step 2:  

Cut 4 pieces of InsulBrite.  Here you are going to use a slightly different dimensions.  The InsulBrite pieces will be 5" x 4.5" (that is not a typo ... leave 1/2" off of one of the sides).

I use InsulBrite instead of batting as I feel it provides a bit more heat protection for furniture when used with hot mugs.  But this may be personal opinion rather than fact, so if you have scraps of batting you would like to use up, this may be a good project for them instead of InsulBrite.  
Note:  For those of you who aren't familiar with Insulbrite, it is a mylar-based fabric that reflects heat.  Think of those thin metal like blankets that are used in emergencies with some fiber on either side.  

Step 3:

Lay a square of the top fabric face down and lay a piece of InsulBrite on top of it.  It doesn't matter which side of the InsulBrite is facing the fabric as the coasters are reversible.  Remember, the fabric is 5" square and the InsulBrite is 5" x 4.5", so you will have extra fabric.  Fold the excess fabric over the InsulBrite and press it with your iron.

Step 4:

Lay the bottom piece of fabric next to the top piece and fold the fabric back on the bottom piece to match the fabric on the top piece.  Then put the top piece (with the InsulBrite) on top of the bottom piece, right sides together.  I like to use clips as opposed to pins to hold them together and not distort this tiny item.

Step 5:

Stitch around 3 sides of the coaster (leaving the part with the fabric folds open).  Make sure that you tack the beginning and end of your stitching so that it doesn't come apart when you turn it right-side-out.  

Step 6:  

Clip the two stitched corners of the coaster.  For the opening, I like to clip it from just outside the stitching and down to the end of the fold.  

Step 7:  

Turn the coaster right-side out.  Using something sharp in the corners to get the points out ... but be careful not to pierce the fabric.

Step 8:

Press the coasters on e they are right-side out at this point.  Top-stitch all the way around the outside of the coaster.  I top stitch 1/8" from the edge, or as close as you are comfortable.

At this point, you can choose what ever stitching you want to complete the coaster.  I am a linear kind of girl, so I simply stitch two boxes in the center of the coaster.  As can best be seen in the following photo.

Step 9:

Bundle 4 coasters together with a bit of ribbon, and you have a perfect hostess gift.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

All the best,

Lisa