A small tutorial.....

So I love the idea of sharing and I love seeing peoples tutorials on projects.... so I am taking a stab at it with my first tutorial. 

Woo Hoo!!

  I decided to show everyone how I make coasters. They are a quick project and makes an awesome gift.  So here goes...

The first step is to cut your fabric.  If you already have a charm pack this step is basically done for you.  You need 5 inch squares- 2 out of fabric and one out of batting for each coaster.

In my picture I cut out enough for 4 coasters.

layer your fabric squares as pictures- fabric right side up, fabric wrong side up, batting

Sew all the way around the perimeter of the square making sure to leave at least a two inch hole on one side to turn.  When you hit the corners make sure you leave your needle in the "down" position before lifting up the foot and pivoting.  (you can use either a 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch seam here, whatever you prefer)

It should look like this after sewing all around.

Then with a good pair of scissors cut the batting only  as close to the seam as possible.  This minimizes the bulk. I recommend leaving the batting alone where you have your opening. It makes closing the seam easier later on.

 

Next, cut the corners to make turning easier.

This is what your coaster should look like now.

Now you get to turn the coaster right side out and it actually starts taking shape.  I usually use the tip of my scissors to help push out the corners.

I like to pin the opening used for turning closed to make quilting in the next step easier.

Here is the FUN part! You get to quilt the coaster however you would like.  I do recommend starting by doing a row of stitching around the perimeter before anything else to make sure the open seam that was left for turning is closed.  

On these coasters I used my walking foot and sewed straight around the coaster 1/4 inch from the edge. 

Remember to put your needle in the "down" position before lifting the foot and pivoting.

 Before I completed my first round I stopped 1/4 inch before the sewing line.  Pivoted and started sewing 1/4 from the previous sewing line I created.  This makes it one continuous spiral quilting line.  For these I stopped after three rows of sewing.

 

Viola!! Finished coaster! 

Repeat the same procedure for as many coasters as you like. 

 

You can see the quilting on this coaster the best. 

There are LOTS Of variations you can do with coasters.  You can piece together the 5 inch squares, you can make them circular, you can enhance it by the way you quilt them too.

  No matter how you do them though I am sure you will LOVE the results! 

I hope this was helpful.  This is my first tutorial so any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Take care mucho!!!

-Natalie