Drink Coasters From Scrap Fabric

I think "in this economy" is one of the most overused phrases of 2009, yet I keep using it myself. For example... In this economy, I can't really afford to pick up little "just because" gifts for friends when I see something I think they'd like. So I've been trying to come up with things like hostess gifts that I can make myself. Sitting and looking at my own old, stained coasters at dinner the other night, I came up with this idea for a quilted drink coaster.

You've probably seen the fabric before. I bought too much of it and have used it for several projects already. It says "spring time" to me, so I thought it would be a nice change on our dining room table. Maybe it will encourage spring to show her lovely face.

Start by cutting front and back pieces into 5" squares. I also lined these with some white fleece that I had leftover from another project. You could use batting or any other scrap fabric you have. The lining should be cut into 4.5" squares.

Take the lining you've chosen and tack it to the wrong side of the back piece. Tacking it at the corners will make it easier to turn right side out later. You can skip this step if you don't mind fidgeting with it later.

Place the back piece and front piece right sides together, pin, sew around the edges, leaving a gap for turning. Clip corners and turn. Iron.

Fold the opening in, pin, and sew all around the outside of the coaster. There's not much seam allowance, so if you don't feel comfortable living on the edge (or at least sewing on the edge) then you can increase the size of the original squares to 5 1/4" square.

Now it's time to quilt! I simply made a spiraling square. You could sew along the line of what's on your fabric, like around the flowers that are on mine. If you've used a striped fabric, you could sew along the various lines. Use your creative genius here!

I ran out of time (which is why I'm posting this so late) and have only made 4 so far, but will get to the rest of them today. I think they would be a perfect hostess gift tied up in a set of 8.

~* Kellie blogs regularly at Greenhab: The Browns Go Green *~