Festive Fabric Coasters - a sew-along Tutorial

This week's How-To is: Festive Fabric Coasters by Laura. It was originally published on her site Meadowsweet Organic .

I thought I'd show you a set of coasters that I sewed up for a Christmas gift using two organic cotton fabrics from the Westfalenstoffe collection.

To make a set of four, cut four 4 1/2" square blocks from your main fabric, and another four 4 1/2" square blocks from your contrasting fabric. Cut four 4 1/2" square piece of batting to sandwich in between.
Each coaster is made from three pieces: two fabrics and one piece of batting.
Turn your top piece of fabric so that the two fabrics are right sides together. Put your batting piece on the bottom.
Align your three pieces one atop of the other and get ready to sew.
Sew a 1/4" seam almost all of the way around (pivoting on the corners), leaving a 1 3/4" gap to allow for turning your coaster right side out. Press.
Trim off your corners so that they will not be bulky when you turn your coaster right side out. Next, trim your batting to reduce bulk in your seams when you turn your coaster right side out.
Now, for the magic - turn your coaster right side out, being mindful not to stress the seams too much!

Use a thin wooden dowel or turning tool to push out your corners to make them crisp.

Press your fabric, and slip stitch the opening closed.

Press your coasters one last time, and voilà! A lovely set of reversible coasters festive enough for the upcoming holiday season, but not so festive that you would have to put them away in a drawer for the rest of the year. Perfect for a drink or mug-up!

Visit the Meadowsweet Organic Blog or Laurie's etsy shop at: www.meadowsweetorganics.etsy.com

This tutorial reposted with permission & brought to you by Natalie, of Woolhalla.