Currently Stitching: Christmas Coasters

Once again I have put more on my plate than should be on my plate. I see fabric and patterns and other peoples projects and I just want to make them all! Does that happen to anyone else?!

I set out to use these Christmas scraps - and my first thought was bags! Obviously! And then I thought to myself, some of these are so small, I should use them for coasters. And then I thought, wow these would make cute stockings! So of course, I started working on all of them and now none of them are done. It's shameful really...

I worked through this assortment, plus a few more fabrics, to find the pieces that would be the hardest to use on a bigger project. Like the salvages or cuts that are right on the edge of an inch wide.

What makes this sort of thing fun is that there's way less stress in figuring out the layout! I so enjoy scrappy sewing because it's kind of a free for all! Of course you can do it with much more intention and coordinate fabrics and colors. Completely up to each quilter!

At this point I trimmed the blocks to 5 x 5 inch squares.

Then I found some leftover off-white, semi-snow looking fabric and cut them into 5 inch squares as well. I used my seam marker and frixxion pen draw to lines on either side of the center for sewing. Then I sewed them on the mixed blocks!

Next I cut down the middle to get two half square triangles. So cute! 

From there, I got REALLY WILD! And sewed them back together again! I did pin because it was hard to get the seams to nest perfectly without it. I drew the lines again and went back to the sewing machine.

This is how they turned out! So stinking cute! They did take a bit of effort to get pressed flat. I pressed with spray starch and also used my clapper! I love how happy they look!

After that I matched a front with a back and added batting. I forgot to take a picture 😬

I sewed like sides together, with batting on the back of one piece. Then I turned it inside out and sewed all the way around the edge.

So cute right! Don't pay too close attention to the sewing lines, ya girl was struggling with the bulk of material. I don't do top stitches like that very often.

Here is the other side, and it looks a little rough... facepalm. Be kind! It's my first time making coasters! Truly I do love how they look and I learned a lot!

Let's just focus on how adorable this mug looks on it my new coaster!

So what have we learned!?

1. Cut the batting smaller than the squares of fabric. It will make it much easier when sewing all the way around the block. 
2. Maybe doing little baby scraps for this isn't ideal. It creates quite a bit of bulk, no matter how cute. I don't want a cup sitting on a wobbly coaster. 
3. I started with 5 inch blocks which were too small. Next time I'll start with bigger pieces so the coaster is larger. 

All in all I had a good time! I would like to make these again now that I've had the change to work through the process. There's always more to learn about sewing! I hope you keep finding new projects that inspire you! As always, please share yours with me!