Sewing coasters is fun and super easy! You can download the free pattern for these practical fabric scrap coasters in the sewing tutorial.
The most important points at a glance
- You can easily sew these lovely coasters for mugs or glasses yourself
- You can download the pattern for the coasters directly here in this post for free
- You can sew the coasters simply by turning them inside out or by binding them with bias tape
- All you need are a few fabric scraps and iron-on interfacing
- Sewing level: Beginner
- Sewing time: 15 min.
What a clever sewing idea! Whenever your fabric scraps threaten to get out of hand, this kind of colorful project is the perfect solution, right?
Fortunately, you can easily sew these beautiful coasters for glasses and mugs (coffee rings on your desk are a no-go, aren't they?!) yourself. And it's really a lot of fun, too. So, grab your fabric scraps and let’s get started!
Why should I sew mug coasters?
It’s not just fun to sew them – these pretty coasters also make a quick gift for your loved ones. As a set with some fragrant tea or as a single piece for a favorite colleague who’s having a tough time: Perfect! It’s best to sew a few in advance, because you can never have enough of these practical little coasters.
Of course, you can also sew glass coasters instead of mug coasters. You can adjust the size of the free coaster pattern individually as you like. :)
Which fabrics can I use to sew the coasters?
Scraps of sturdy fabrics are best for this sewing idea. Cotton fabrics, denim, canvas, decorative fabrics, linen, rayon, or blends are perfect. You can also wonderfully sew "receipt patchwork" and use it for these apple coasters.
It is important that the fabrics are easy to wash, since they will be in contact with drinks or food. I sewed my coasters using cotton fabrics that I reinforced beforehand with iron-on interfacing.
If you want to know more about working with cotton fabrics, read my post on sewing cotton fabrics.
In general, you should wash and iron all fabrics before sewing. This prevents the fabrics from shrinking during the first wash.
Do I need a pattern to sew coasters?
Not at all, you can also sew great coasters out of simple squares or circles. There are no limits to your imagination here.
In principle, you can still follow this tutorial, because it contains important tips and advice that will help you even if you sew the coaster without a pattern using just a simple geometric shape.
Important, if you want to sew round coasters: It can be a bit tricky to iron the rounded seam allowance of the turning opening neatly to the inside. For starters, I therefore recommend choosing straight edges for your coasters.
What does my sewing machine need to be able to do if I want to sew coasters?
Straight stitch. Nothing more. That’s simple, right?
If you want to use the fabric scraps you prepared using the receipt technique: Perfect! It’s quick and easy. And because the fabric scraps are sewn directly onto iron-on interfacing and ironed later, it’s not even necessary to finish the fabric edges.
Can I also sew pot coasters from the pattern?
Of course, that’s no problem. Simply enlarge the pattern when printing to 110% or 120% as needed. It is important that you use batting that was specifically developed for use with hot items.
Thermolam* is always a good choice, as is Bosal Iso-Vlies*. I love sewing with both, although I find that Thermolam creates a firmer structure. By the way, it can also be used as a sew-in batting for projects where temperature is not an issue. Simply because it is so easy to work with and gives fabrics a lot of body. Perfect for bags, organizers, and much more. I would always use Thermolam, like Bosal, in two layers if the insulation aspect is the priority. You can get Thermolam both pre-packaged in 1-meter pieces and as bolts.
Bosal sew-in thermal batting* comes originally from the USA and is often used for seat cushions, cooler bags, lunch bags (do you already know my tutorial for sewing a lunch bag?), or oven mitts. It is slightly softer than Thermolam and has an insulating layer that shimmers silvery. According to the manufacturer’s recommendation, Bosal thermal batting should always be used with a layer of cotton batting or similar to insulate sufficiently.
My experience? The stuff is incredibly easy to sew and insulates fantastically.
Important distinction: Bosal is also available as Bosal foam stabilizer* specifically for bags and is a real insider tip!
When I have to choose, I often prefer using Bosal over Thermolam because it is so incredibly easy to work with, even though it is slightly more expensive. It can only be bought pre-cut, not off the bolt.
What do I need to sew coasters?
That is quickly summarized. You need:
- Fabric scraps (for some of my coasters, I had already prepared fabric strips using the receipt method)
- Cotton woven fabric* or linen* for the underside
- Vlieseline H250*
- Fabric marker*
- Sewing thread*
- Rotary cutter*
- Fabric scissors*
- Pins*
- Iron and ironing board (feel free to read more about practical ironing aids)
- Fabric clips*
- Pinking shears*
- Velvet ribbon or bias tape for the loop
- Scraps of felt or boiled wool for the leaves
- the free coaster pattern
A word about rotary cutters: For such small sewing projects, I also use a small rotary cutter because it allows for much more accurate work. My rotary cutter* of choice is usually the 28mm by Olfa/Prym. Specifically the new version of it. You can recognize it by the ergonomic, ribbed handle – the old version has a smooth, straight handle.
The new rotary cutter version has a good center of gravity, which really saves effort while working. What truly excites me, however, is that the blade sits rock-solid, unlike the predecessor model.
On the predecessor model, the locking screw would always loosen a bit over time, causing the blade to start wobbling. That no longer happens with the new model because the blade is fixed with a click-lock.
Another advantage: You can change the blade much more easily because the lock just needs to be pulled back to release the screw. In my view, a truly successful update!
Reading tip: Everything about rotary cutters (incl. 10 death traps for your rotary cutter) ;)
Info on the ironing mat: I iron clothing, of course, on a normal ironing board. But when it comes to such small tasks, I find an ironing mat right next to the sewing machine much more practical. As a successor model to my self-built ironing board, I treated myself to an ironing mat made of 100% virgin wool*. It’s fantastic because it absorbs the steam from the iron and releases it back to the fabric in a nicely dosed way.
Funny side-effect: When it comes in contact with steam, the mat smells like sheep. Cute, right?
Important: The iron should not be left parked on the mat with the hot sole facing down. :)
Here too, a reading tip: 10 practical ironing aids
YouTube sewing coasters
Conclusion: Sew coasters yourself
Sewing quick patchwork coasters is simple and great fun! I conjured up individual coffee mug coasters for all my loved ones so they know that I’m thinking of them very fondly. :)
So: It was fun, I used up fabric scraps, and made friends and family happy. What more could you want? ;)
Feel free to write to me and tell me if the tutorial was as much fun for you as it was for me! I look forward to your comment.
Happy simple sewing
your Sabine
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