scrappy coasters {tutorial}

Last night I played with my scraps and made these fun QAYG coasters. You know how much I love bright, happy colors, so this project was pure heaven.

Each coaster measures 5.5" x 5.5". Would you like to make some of your own? Here's a tutorial.

What you'll need to make one coaster:
fabric scraps - any size, any color
batting - at least 7" x 7"
thermal fusible fleece - I got mine from JoAnn's
fabric for the backing - at least 6"x 6"

Let's start, shall we? First, let's make the main top part of the coaster. I decided to do QAYG (quilt as you go) style patchwork using my scraps, trimming them to the size I needed.

Take your 7" x 7" batting piece, place a scrap of fabric on it, quilt it using straight lines. Your first scrap of fabric is attached to the batting base now.

Now add another scrap to the already attached fabric (right sides together), sew using a 1/4" seam, flip over, press, and quilt using straight line stitching.

Keep adding and quilting more scraps of fabric until your whole 7" x 7" base square is covered.

This is what my square looked like.

Now trim your patchwork square to measure 6" x 6", cut the 6" x 6" backing fabric (I used some leftover Echino I had on hand, but any regular quilting fabric will do), and 5.5" x 5.5" fusible thermal fleece. The fleece is cut 0.5" smaller than the front and back of the coaster to ensure less bulk in the seams.
Note: if you don't have thermal fleece, you can just use regular fusible fleece, or even another layer of  regular batting will do.

Place fusible fleece on the wrong side of your coaster back. Center in place, iron to attach to the fabric following manufacturer's directions.

Now place top and bottom parts of the coaster on top of each other, right sides together. Pin in place.

Sew all around the coaster using a 1/4" seam, make sure to leave about 3" opening on one side for turning the coaster. Trim the corners.

Turn right side out, use pencil to make sure that your corners are nice and pointy, pin the opening closed and top-stitch 1/8"around the whole coaster. This top-stitching will sew the opening closed as well as give the coaster a nice finishing touch.

Ta-da!!!! Your coaster is now finished!!

Any questions? Let me know.

Wishing you all a nice and creative day, Svetlana.