Made: Quilted coasters

The other day I had a crafternoon date with myself.  I hadn't had one in a very long time, and I was due.  I knew that I wanted to make something to replace the quick and dirty coasters I made for our desk before.  I also knew I wanted to use some of my lovely fabric I bought at Needlework.  I was itching to do a little quilting, so I made these cute birdie coasters!  Don't they lovely under my mixed berry iced tea?

If you have a little bit of fabric that you want to turn into some cute coasters, I took a few notes to help you on your way.  Its okay if you have never quilted before, this is quilting-light.

Materials for making 2 coasters:
- 5 square inches of corresponding (or not, the pie's the limit) cotton fabrics
- 2 4 1/2 square inches squares of cotton batting for the center of each of your coasters
- thread
- rotary cutter and ruler (scissors work, but the rotary cutter is so helpful.)
- cutting mat/ cutting surface
- iron and board
- pins
- sewing machine (makes things go a lot faster)

Before you do anything, iron your fabrics.  It makes cutting the pieces so much easier.  Ask me how I know...

Step 1: Assemble your materials and choose the fabrics you are going to use.  I only had these fabrics in fat quarters.  You only need 5 square inches of each fabric.

I chose these pretty pieces.

Step 2: Cut out your pieces.  You will need 5 1 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch strips of fabric, one 4 1/2 square inch piece of cotton batting and one 4 1/2 square inch for each coaster.

Step 3: Once you have all the strips cut out, decide the order you want to use for the coaster.  Take 2 strips and face them right side of the fabric together.  Sew a seam on one side. You will have two strips sewn together once you open it up.  Press flat with the iron, and line another strip with right sides facing to one side of the 2 strips.  Continue in this fashion until you have a section of 5 strips sewn together.  Press with the iron so all the seam lay in one direction.

Step 4: Now we prepare the quilt sandwich:

Cut your sewn strips so they measure 4 1/2 square inches like your batting and backing fabric.  Lay the batting down first, then the backing fabric, right side facing up.  Then lay your sewn top on top of the backing fabric right side down.

Step 5: Pin the sandwich to hold it together. 

Step 6: Sew a seam around the edge of the coaster leaving a inch opening in one edge.

Now you should have an inside-out coaster.

Step 7: Carefully turn the coaster right side in.

 It will look messy as you turn in right side in.

Step 8: Press the coaster flat, and fold the little flaps inward.  Sew them closed, and for good measure, sew a seam around the outside of the coaster so it will lay flat.

Step 9: I quilted the coaster by sewing straight seams where the fabrics met on the front.

Step 10: Put a refreshing and well deserved drink on your coaster!

I really like these coasters.  Unlike the other ones, these ones can be thrown in the laundry when they get dirty.  I love how the fabrics really go together!  Needlework is really good for matching their fat quarters.  When you grab one, you might as well get the one's beside it.  I guess this means I can go and get some more pretty fabrics!

From the (Quilting) Vault

Did you know that I used to quilt?  Like a machine.  I learned how to sew a straight line, and that was all I needed to get into quilting.  I loved it.  I would go to the fabric store and buy the cheapest fabrics (I was a broke quilter) and see if I can make something beautiful from them. 

I was pretty good at it.  I made 2 quilts and gave them away as gifts.  And I made smaller quilted items like tote bags and pillows and wall hangings.  I even sold some! 

But I found a job, and didn't have as much time to cut pieces, and quilt like I used to.  Its a little sad really.  I enjoy sewing so much.  Quilting is a little like alchemy; you can turns scraps no one wants into art. 

While I was cleaning out my fabric box, I found two pieces I never finished:

I think this was going to be a pillow?  Its the size of a throw pillow.  It could have been a panel for a bag though. I remember when I designed the quilt block, I was teaching myself paper piecing, and really loved house shapes.  So a house shaped quilt is what came of it. 

This is how I know it wasn't meant to be something larger. The backing fabric is just white cotton.  And its already quilted.  I think I meant to leave it like this, but I think I'll put another 2 border pieces on it to make it a little bigger.   

I must have really liked this fabric, because I have more than a meter of this purple, and a half meter in another color.  I think I will try and finish that up this weekend.  My machine is on the fritz right now, but I know a great place where I can sew by the hour...

Another leftover paper pieced block. Its pretty cute.  I remember I got these scraps from a quilter, and she said that they were too small to do anything with.  I must have taken that as a personal challenge (like I would probably do) and make a block out of them.  If I had the time, I would make an entire quilt out of heart blocks like this.  But I think I may have to turn this into something really small.  I hate to see quilting go to waste. 
 
I'm not someone that likes to leave things unfinished.  I wonder what made me stop working on these.  Oh, sometimes I wish my memory was a lot better.  But at least now I will be able to turn these forgotten crafts into something I can use of gift away!  Does that count as upcycling?

Have you ever abandoned something you were working on?  Why? 

Hexagons a go-go!

I'm a little addicted to making these hexagons.  I have this book on quilting, and inside there's a tutorial on paper piecing, so I thought I would try it.

Now I know what all the hoopla (link) was about.  It is a lot of fun, and not so difficult.  I am having a great time going through my stash for blue fabrics to make hexagons out of.  I'm making a table runner for my table.  I have some blue stoneware on it and a painting with lots of blues in it.  I thought a quilted table runner will be great!

The only thing is that it will take at least 60 hexagons to make my runner.  Thank goodness I like making these little hexagons.  If you live around town here in Hamilton, I know that Needlework (link) will have a class on English paper piecing in the near future, so keep a look out on their website.

I should go and make some more hexagons!