Coasters are great for protecting your tables, especially if you entertain a lot. I’m going to show how to make an easy decorative coaster out of cotton fabric and batting. I chose to use holiday fabrics and make my own bias tape but you can also buy pre-made bias tape and use colors and prints that match your home décor.
Place the batting in between the two pieces of cotton. Make sure the right sides of the cotton are facing out. Pin 2-3 times along the four sides to keep the materials in place.
Starting an inch in from one of the corners, stitch three straight diagonal lines about 2 inches apart. Use a ruler to help you gauge the space in between if needed. Stitch three more lines the same way in the opposite direction.
The bias is the grain that lies at a 45 degree angle in between the selvage and the width of the fabric. The bias has a stretch in it, making it easy to turn corners when using bias tape.
Measure and cut a 2 inch wide strip 20 inches long on the bias of the cotton fabric.
Place the strip into the bias tape maker with the wrong side facing up. Push it through until it comes out the other end. Use a seam ripper or something with a small point that will help pull the fabric through.
Once the fabric is through, pull the bias tape maker and iron the bias tape as you go. If you don’t have a bias tape maker, you can fold the sides over a 1/2 inch and iron.
Fold the bias tape over the edges of the coaster and pin. If there’s extra fabric from stretching, cut some of it off but not too much. Starting 1 inch in, stitch the bias tape with a 1/4 inch seam allowance and leave 1 inch open at the end.
Ready to try it out? Check out our selection of cotton quilting fabric!