4 Square Fabric Coasters

This instructable will explain how to sew some simple fabric coasters. These will protect your furniture & add some decorative oomph to your place. You can show our love of a sports team or university.

A set of these coasters can be made in about 2 hours (with sewing machine) if you need a quick gift for someone. Their overlapping four-patch pattern gives them a neat two-toned look when you use 2 different fabrics. And they can hug a wine glass base! They can also be used flat (with either side up) if you don't use stemmed glasses.

Beginner or basic skills-you will be sewing straight lines & cutting fabric. I highly suggest a sewing machine but they can be sewn by hand.

Fabric- 2 fat quarters (18X22) will give enough for 4 coasters + a bit of extra fabric. I like using a patterned fabric & solid (or almost solid) fabric for the ones I make. Smaller all-over patterns seem to work better.

Iron your fabric flat if it is very wrinkled. You want nice flat pieces for the later steps.

I prefer to draw my lines out for easier cutting & maximizing my fabric use. I use 4.5" squares, you could certainly go a little larger, but I wouldn't recommend making them much smaller due to seam allowances (you do want to be able to use them, after all). The 4.5” size allows 16 squares per fat quarter (4X4 grid) and I use 3 of each fabric (6 total squares) per coaster (or 12 per color / 24 total for a set of 4 coasters). If the 22 inch side of the fat quarter is actually 22.5 inches you may be able to sneak out 20 squares instead of just the 16. 

If you go for a 5" square [resulting in a larger coaster], you can get 12 pieces (3X4) grid of squares- IE 3 on the 18 inch side & 4 on the 22 inch side with more wiggle room if you are trying to showcase images on the fabric (like my sports logos here).

Whatever size you choose, cut all 6 squares the same size.

Decide which squares you will use for the flaps and get ready to iron away. Once you have your pieces cut out, you will want to iron each of your 4 top squares in half. Fold in half into a basic rectangle shape. Depending on your fabric you may need to pay attention to the direction of the print- so you can line up stripes, etc. You will need 4 folded strips per coaster- 2 of each fabric. So, 4 coasters needs 8 folded pieces of each fabric (16 folded pieces total for the set of 4 coasters). I like to stack them in sets after folding- outer base, inner base, pattern flaps & solid flaps. This makes it easier for production line pinning & sewing, time saving if you are working that last minute gift that you need in an hour or so.

Next, you will layer your strips to make your top coaster piece. If you are making a set and want to make sure your top layers look as similar as possible, I would recommend layering all of your coasters at the same time, this way you will know that you layered the white on top of the pattern (in this example) the same way each time. To layer, make sure your folds are all to the middle of your coaster and the raw edges are on the outside edge. Try to get your fabric strips as snugly together in the middle as you can, if you leave large gaps you will be able to see your lining on the final project. Think how you fold the flaps of a cardboard box so it stays closed. I like to have the folds “step” down so there isn’t a flap for the sewing machine foot to catch on when I am sewing.

DESIGN TIP: If you are trying to showcase bits of the fabric design (logos, etc) - fold & place and then FLIP it over before stacking on the base squares so what you set up is what will show on the outside once sewn & turned.

Stack your fabric: Each coaster should have the lining on the bottom, followed by your square of OUTER bottom fabric (right side facing up), and finally your woven strips (as pictured above).

Pin each coaster together to prevent any movement while sewing. Again, make sure to keep your top strips as close together in the center as you can. Sew around the entire outer edge. You will be using the center of your coaster to turn out your final project, so no gaps need to be left for turning (and hence no top stitching will be needed!).

Sew close to the edge ( I like to use the edge of the presser foot) as a guide.

Check you caught all layers with the stitching before trying to flip the coaster inside out. You can count layers around (check your seams) or try running a capped pen/knitting needle/crochet hook etc along the inner edges to check for gaps.

Once the sides are checked, I like to trim the bulk of the seam allowances- pinking shears or normal scissors both work.

Finally, turn out your finished coasters and press them flat if needed. Mine usually don’t need a final press. I use that capped pen, etc from earlier to push the corners out more evenly. Quick and easy coasters with no top stitching needed!

To insert the EMPTY wine glass- pinch opposite corners together to create a larger opening (4 square side) & kind of wiggle/slide the base of the glass in until all 4 flaps cover it. This usually involves some tipping so it is best the glass is empty. Sorry my pictures are a bit dark.

You can also fold the flaps into triangles for a different effect. Once pinned, trace and sew a circle for the stitch line instead of just sewing a square. You can go scrappy and use all different fabrics or monotone and use just 1 for all layers. Striped pattern fabrics can give some pretty results- both matching & different depending on your base fabric and how the tops are laid out.