Looking for a quick and easy sewing project that is actually useful? Then you should make some fabric coasters a.k.a mug rugs! They are not only cute and cozy but super practical too!
The best part is they whip up really fast and are easy to make.
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Since these coasters are fabric they won't scratch your table and because they are three layers thick, you won't have to worry about those awful rings left behind on your wood table from a sweaty glass.
The coasters I made are reversible too so you can mix up the fabrics you like to match your room decor.
This project is perfect for an experienced sewer or a beginner so let's get sewing shall we?
Quick & Easy Fabric Coaster Sewing Tutorial
Supplies Needed:
- 1 piece (piece A) of cotton (home decor*) fabric 5" x 5"
- 1 piece (piece B) of cotton (home decor) fabric 5" x 5"
- 1 piece cotton flannel fabric 5" x 5"
- sewing thread
- sewing machine
- scissors
- iron & ironing board
- piece of paper, tape, pencil & 5" piece of yarn/string
* home decor or upholstery fabric is a sturdy fabric that is used to cover furniture or to make throw pillows with. Make sure it is cotton so that you can iron it.
Step 1 - We need to create a perfect circle in order to make our circle coasters so the first step is to create a circle template using the paper, pencil and string or yarn. I like the size of my coasters to be about 4" in diameter so that most cups or mugs I use will fit nicely on the coaster.
We need to make our own homemade compass tool (remember those things from middle & high school!!). To make a perfect circle template tape one end of the yarn to the pencil close to the sharp lead tip end. Then put a mark on the yarn at about 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" from the pencil. Put the marked spot of the yarn in the middle of the paper and hold it down with your finger. Take the pencil, pulling the yarn somewhat taught and trace in a circular motion with the pencil on the paper. Do this all the way round until you have a complete circle pattern.
Cut out the circle and use this as your template for the fabric.
Step 2 - On the wrong side of fabric piece A of the home decor fabric trace the circle pattern and then cut it out. (The template already has a 1/4" seam allowance built into it). Next make a fabric sandwich (see above picture for example) with the remaining pieces as follows:
bottom layer - piece B home decor fabric right side facing UP
middle layer - piece A home decor fabric (cut into a circle) right side facing DOWN
top layer - cotton flannel fabric
Step 3 - On the wrong side of fabric piece A make two marks that are 1" apart along the outside edge of the circle. This will be the spot you do not sew so that you can turn your coaster inside out!
Bring your fabric sandwich over to your machine, place the needle at the first mark you made and sew all the way around the circle using a 1/4" seam allowance. Stop sewing when you get to the second mark. You should have a 1" spot that is not sewn.
Trim the excess fabric all around the sewn circle making sure not to cut through the stitches. Then turn your sewn circle inside out by gently pushing the fabric through the opening.
Step 4 - Gently iron the coaster, tucking the un-sewn opening back towards the inside of the coaster shaping it as you go.
Step 5 - Sew a top stitch all the way around the perimeter of the coaster making sure to sew the 1" opening closed.
Step 6 - *optional - I like to quilt (sew stitching) all around the entire area of the coaster to give it lots of stability. This is completely optional. From the picture you can see I used a continuous spiral pattern on mine. To do this I just started sewing about 1/4" from the topstitching, turning the coaster as I sewed continuing to sew 1/4" from all stitches the entire way through the coaster until I got to the center.
If you don't want a swirl pattern you could just sew across the coaster in several different spots too. Let the fabric print inspire you!
Ta-da! You are all done! Wasn't that so quick and easy. Now you can go make a few more.
Fabric coasters make a great house warming gift, birthday present or Christmas present for that hard to shop for friend or relative. Plus who doesn't love getting a handmade gift?
If you aren't able to make your own fabric coasters you can find some that I made in my Etsy shop Sapucha! I love custom orders too - so if you don't see a pattern or fabric that you like shoot me a message and we can chat about finding just the right pattern for your needs.
More Fun & Easy Sewing Tutorials and Projects
Have you caught the sewing bug yet? If you did here are some more easy sewing tutorials I'm sure you will like too:
