How to Sew Coasters using Charm Pack Fabric
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If you can sew a square, you can make coasters! Coasters might seem complicated if you’re new to sewing, but I promise they’re one of the easiest things you can make. Coasters are great beginner project and they also make wonderful gifts!
My method for sewing coasters is a little different than other tutorials you might have come across. The basic process is the same for pretty much all coaster tutorials — including mine — but I do things with a slightly different technique. The end result is coasters with nice, pointy corners and smooth fabric that doesn’t look rippled. As a bonus, they’re easier to sew this way too!
In the photo below, the blue coaster with teacups is made the “traditional” way. Although I still love this coaster, it doesn’t look nearly as neat as the other two.
Supplies for Sewing Coasters
For this project, you need only fabric, batting, and basic sewing supplies. Here is what I use to make coasters:
- Charm pack quilt fabric* (or quilt fabric cut to 5″ squares)
- Insul-Bright batting cut to 4″ squares
- Odif 505 fabric adhesive
- Thread (Connecting Threads is a nice budget-friendly brand)
- Iron & ironing board
- Straight pins
- Fabric scissors (for trimming coaster corners)
- Regular sewing machine
If you’re not familiar, charm packs are a type of precut quilting fabric that comes in 5″ squares. There are tons of charm pack fabrics to choose from. I like buying my fabric from online quilting stores, or you can also find some nice options on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Dv3tTu.
Insul-Bright batting works great because it insulates against hot and cold — perfect for coasters! I find it’s also a little stiffer, which is good for adding structure and making your coasters lay nice and flat. You can, of course, use other batting if you don’t have this brand.
How to Sew Coasters Step by Step
Making coasters is super easy! Once you make one, you’ll see how fun they are to make. If you don’t have charm square fabric, you’ll want to start by cutting some fabric into 5″ squares.
You can make multiple coasters at once if you want to batch sew this project. I recommend preparing all the pieces you need ahead of time so you can make the coasters quickly.
Sewing the First Seam
- Choose two pieces of charm square fabric. I like using neutral or less interesting fabric for the “bottom” because you won’t usually see it. Otherwise, you can use two pretty fabrics to make them more reversible.
- Lay the charm squares right-sides-together and pin around the square.
- Begin stitching around the square using a 1/4″ seam allowance. It works best to start about 1.5″ from one of the corners, sew to the corner, pivot, and continue around the square. You’ll want to stop 1.5″ in after sewing the last corner, leaving an opening about 2″ wide in the middle. This allows you to turn the coaster later on.
Attaching Batting
- Cut a piece of batting that measures 4″ square.
- Spray the batting with fabric adhesive (following the instructions on the can).
- Center the piece of batting sticky-side down on your coaster. The edges of the batting should line up approximately with the stitching.
- Press the batting onto the fabric to ensure it stays in place. It only needs to hold until after you turn the coaster, as you will be stitching around it again.
Turning the Coaster
- With the batting in place, turn the coaster right-side-out.
- Use a blunt tipped tool to poke the corners out from the inside. Make sure you don’t use too much force, or you may puncture the fabric and create holes. I like using a blunt sewing tweezers.
- Make sure the batting and seam allowances are all laying nicely inside the coaster before moving on.
Pressing the Coaster
After turning the coaster, you’ll use an iron to press the fabric. This helps the coaster lay nice and flat. When pressing, make sure the opening is in a straight line. The raw edges of the fabric should be tucked inside the opening and both sides of the opening should be lined up.
Sewing a Narrow Seam
The last step is to stitch a narrow seam around the entire outside of the coaster. Not only does this give the coaster a nice finished touch, it also secures the opening you used to turn the coaster.
- I like to start in the middle of the opening. Stitch about 1/8″ away from the edge of the fabric, or whatever seam allowance works best for you. You just want to make sure you’re catching both layers of the opening so they are secured in place.
- Stitch around the entire coaster, pivoting when you get to the corners.
- When you reach the beginning of your stitching, go over the stitching by about 1/2″ to hold it in place. This way, you don’t need to do any back stitching.
- I like to press my coasters a final time after sewing the narrow seam. This makes them look extra crisp.
I hope you love making these coasters as much as I do! I would love to hear how your coasters turned out in the comments or you can leave a comment on my YouTube tutorial as well! You can also find me on social media @craftingwithclementine or share pictures using #craftingwithclementine
Thank you for joining me for this project!
