Party Prep Coasters

These coasters are really snappy.  All you need is:  

medium loft batting

1/4-yard of six fabulous fabrics. 

We used Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy, Amy Butler's Belle, Yuwa Dots and Pinwheels Windowpane, Alexander Henry Arvika, and Heather Ross Lightning Bugs polka dots.

thread

glasshead patchwork pins 

Step 1: Cutting the Fabric

1. To begin, cut from the batting:
   twelve 4 1/2-inch squares
   
2. Fold the fabric in half from selvage to selvage. From each of the fabrics,  Cut:
   two 2 1/2-inch wide strips
3. From these 2 1/2-inch wide strips, cut:

   eight 2 1/2-inch squares from each fabric.
   four 4 1/2-inch strips from each fabric.

   
   

Step 2: Sewing

1. Select two squares with different prints. 
2. Pin them, right sides together, and sew a 1/4-inch seam along one edge. 
3. Press seam to one side.

Continue making pairs, pinning them, and sewing them together until all of the squares have been used.

 

Working with one square pair, choose a 4 1/2-inch rectangle that matches one of the squares. 

1. Right sides together, pin the rectangle to the squares.
2. Sew a 1/4-inch seam along the pinned edge. 
   
3. Press seam to one side. 

Continue with remaining rectangles until you have twelve 4 1/2-inch squares.

Step 4: Attaching the Layers

1. Place two patchwork squares, right sides together, on top of a piece of batting. Pin in place
   
2. Sew a 1/4-inch seam around three sides of the square, leaving part of the fourth side open so you can turn the square right sides out. 
3. Trim the edges and corners of the batting before you turn it.
4. Turn the coaster right side out.

 

Step 5: Quilt and Enjoy!

1. Once you've turned the coaster right side out, hand stitch the gap closed with a few quick slip stitches. 
2. Quilt the coaster in any style you like; we used the zig-zag stitch to quilt around the outside edge of the coaster.

Step 6:  Make yourself a nice cold iced tea and enjoy!