This is a very good scrap project courtesy of my sister-in-law, Susan!
1. Cut 4.5-inch square of solid color cotton.
2. Cut 4.5-inch square of thin cotton batt, or old tea-towels or other absorbent fabric.
3. Cut one 4.5-inch square of each of four different cotton prints.
4. Fold each print square in half – wrong sides together -- and press. Set aside.
5. Stitch solid square and batt together – stacked wrong sides together -- with stitching centered vertically and horizontally on the fabric.
6. Stack with batting on the bottom and layer the folded squares on top of the solid square that is already stitched to the batting, as shown below.
7. Layer first folded print with fold running vertically down the center of the solid square/batt and raw edges lined up along the right side of the square. Pin in place.
8. Layer second folded print with fold running horizontally across the center of the solid square/batt and raw edges lined up along the bottom of the square. Pin in place.
9. Layer third folded print with fold running vertically down the center of the solid square/batt and raw edges lined up along the left side of the square. Pin in place.
10. Layer fourth folded print with fold running horizontally across the center of the solid square/batt and raw edges lined up along the top of the square. Lift the top of the first print and tuck the right side of the fourth print under the flap. Pin in place. (See finished appearance of pinned layers in photo below.)
11. Stitch 1/4 –inch seams around all four sides of the fabric stack.
12. Trim each corner diagonally.
13. Turn through the open center of the folded fabrics.
14. Use pointed object to push out corners.
15. Press flat.
You can make a set of four matching coasters with four print cottons, one solid cotton and one batt piece each 4.5 X 18 inches, or 9 X 9 inches square.
My friend, Janet, used this idea to make a hotpad, as well. Janet said: "I thought you'd like to know that I used the coaster pattern, enlarged it to an eight-inch square and made my sister a hotpad for her birthday. I think it turned out quite nice. I added an extra layer of batting between the two bottom layers which I stitched to the inside one so it wouldn't shift. Now that is a project of the length I like!"
Note 12/19/10:
We have recently seen these coasters made with one color of fabric and top-stitched (or decorative stitched) around the edge of the finished coaster. Alisa thought this stitching was a good idea to help make the coaster lay flat, so we wanted to mention it as an option for these coasters, too. Thanks for visiting Appleton Dance!
Note 01/19/12:
Today I have repaired an error in the directions that must have occurred when I entered the note above. The directions should be complete now that I have fixed the problem.
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