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Slide 1: ==== ==== For tips on sewing and other crafts, check out www.dawns-deals.com ==== ==== When it comes to making handmade gifts one of the sewing projects I like to make are some great beverage coasters made out of cotton fabric and cotton batting. What is really great about this sewing project is the fact that you don't need a lot of supplies and the supplies that you do need are very inexpensive. From start to finish, you should be able to make all four of the beverage coasters in less than one hour. For the purpose of this pattern and instructions, I made mine in a square shape. You can easily convert the instructions to make round shaped coasters by simply drawing a 4 3/4" diameter circle onto a piece of paper and using that as your template. Supplies Needed To Make 4 Coasters: 1/4 yard cotton fabric (I like using prints but you can use solids) 1/8 yard cotton batting that is 1/8" thick Sharp fabric scissors Coordinating thread, straight pins and a measuring tape Sewing machine Tip: When you purchase batting for this project, make sure its cotton and not polyester because cotton batting is more absorbent. Fabric Preparation: Wash and dry all fabrics to remove sizing. Once dry, press your fabrics with a hot iron to remove wrinkling. Step 1: Cut your cotton fabric into 4 3/4" squares, you will need a total of eight squares. Cut your cotton batting into 4 1/2" squares, you will need a total of four batting squares. Step 2: Lay two of your cotton fabric squares right sides together. Lay a piece of cotton batting on top and pin to hold the squares in place. Machine sew three and half of a fourth side together with a 1/4" seam allowance. Before turning your fabric square, trim the corners and seams and then turn your square inside out through the opening. If your fabric became wrinkled while sewing, use a hot iron to remove the creases. Step 3: Hand sew the opening closed using tiny even stitches with coordinating cotton or polyester sewing thread.
Slide 2: You will repeat steps one through three until you have made all four of your beverage coasters. They are machine washable and dryable and will last for several years. If you are presenting them as a gift, consider tying all 4 of your coasters together with a pretty satin ribbon and bow. When I make these and give them as gifts, I like to roll them up and stick them inside a ceramic coffee cup or porcelain tea cup. You could also include a small bag of gourmet coffee or a bag of loose tea with them and give to your gift recipient. Shelly Hill is a mother and grandmother living in Pennsylvania who enjoys crafting, sewing and scrapbooking. You can visit Shelly's online craft blog called Passionate About Crafting at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com for free craft project ideas and tips. You can find a photo of this completed project on Shelly's blog at http://passionateaboutcrafting.blogspot.com/2009/11/easy-sewing-project-fabric-coasters.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelly_Hill ==== ==== For tips on sewing and other crafts, check out www.dawns-deals.com ==== ====