WAUCONDA WA With the holidays approaching, it’s time to think about gift giving for those we love. Here’s a tutorial for a delightful and useful project for the grown-ups on your list.
EIGHT REVERSIBLE COASTERS
-Cut flat, not fluffy, batting in eight 4" squares.
-Choose the fabric for your coaster tops. Yukata cotton is intriguing because the pattern changes across the yardage.
-Place the batting squares on your feature fabric, leaving at least an inch between each batting square.
-Once you’re satisfied with the batting placement, lightly glue the batting to the wrong side of the fabric. Use an acid-free glue stick such as Elmer’s. Glue one batting piece after another to the fabric, each time placing it back where you just picked it up. (As the yukata fabric is hand-dyed, the pattern shows through completely on the back side.)
-Cut around each piece of batting/fabric to create a generous 5” square.
-Audition fabric for the coaster backs.
-Cut the chosen back fabric into approximately 5" squares.
-Sew the two fabrics (top fabric with glued batting, and back fabric), with right sides together, using the zipper foot along two opposite sides of the batting.
-Trim the stitched side seams to 1/4". Trim the top and bottom flush with the batting.
-Turn the coasters right side out. Press so that they are flat and the seams are perfectly centered on the sides. If the coasters are bumpy, slide a finger between the batting and top fabric to disengage the glue. Press again.
-With coordinating thread, topstitch 1/8" from the edge of the two sewn seams. Then zig-zag stitch the top and bottom edges.
-Cut sixteen 2" bias strips of contrast fabric, at least 6" long, for the final end bindings.
-Press the strips in half lengthwise with a dry iron, and then press the two long sides in to meet the middle fold. Hard press the folds using the steam setting of your iron. (Essentially you have made bias tape and avoided burning your fingers with steam.)
-To add the binding to the two unfinished edges of the coasters, you want to measure each one individually as there will be slight variations in your coaster widths. Trim each binding 3/4" longer than the edge measurement.
-Fold under 3/8" on both ends and hot press across each folded edge. Trim away extra corner fabric by cutting a blunt arrow shape.
-Pin the folded binding to each open end, making sure the edge of the coaster center is tight against the center fold of the binding.
-Baste the binding to the coasters and remove the pins. Give the coasters a quick press to ensure everything is perfectly flat and the binding fits well.
-Sew the bindings to the coasters, starting with a few micro stitches along one side. Turn and stitch across the coaster width. Turn again on the far side, taking a few micro stitches to finish.
Remove basting, steam press to set all the stitching, and admire.
Header photo by Rosanne Olson.
