Scrappy Coaster DIY

​A few weeks ago, I posted a video story highlight of a scrappy coaster DIY. I thought a post with step-by-step photographs would be a good compliment for anyone interested in trying it out for themselves. It's a really easy, practical, and fun project that you could finish in less than an hour. If you're a quilter or sewist, I bet you won't need to buy anything to make these. I also think it's a great gift item to give a set of 4-6. 

​Scraps of fabric at least 1 inch in width
Scrap quilt batting
Felt
Thread
Chalk marker
Fabric scissors
Glassware for tracing (I used a wide mouth mason jar)
A sewing machine

Step 1: prepare your felt and batting

​I'm sure you could use a specific measurement, but I used a wide mouth mason jar for all of my measurements and tracing. I used the widest open mouth to trace out 6 circles from my felt. These will be the bottom portion of the coasters. Then flip the jar over and use the slightly smaller bottom for 6 batting circles for the middle. Really it's just to give it a quilted look, but also just to absorb any moisture from your glass. 

Step 2: prepare your strips

Cut your fabric into strips approximately 1 inch in width. I think the skinnier you make them, the more color you can incorporate into the coasters. You could go for more of a color blocked look by using wider strips, but I like using as many scraps as possible in each coaster. 

​These coasters are like a little sandwich: scraps, batting, and then felt on the bottom. Even with pinning, the strips may shift a bit while sewing so little extra layering can go a long way.

Step 3: sew & trim

First sew back and forth across your strips of fabric until there's enough quilting to meet your preference. As coasters, the quilting is really more decorative so there's no wrong way to do it. Straight lines, curves, whatever floats your boat! Once you've gone across the strips enough so they are secure in place, trim the excess around the edges and sew in overlapping circles around the edges of the coasters. I usually go around each one about 3-4 times.

​Trim the excess fabric and threads so you have roughly even circular coasters. And that's really it! Again, these are not structural so as long as they look neat and function to you, then they are done!

​I have now made these on a few occasions and they always come out great and are finished quite quickly. 
If you decide to make these, please let me know and share them with me!