Try Something Different with These Coasters
They’re Quick and Welcome Gifts Too!
While most quilted coasters are pieced, these are appliqued to create patchwork designs. Plus, the appliqued pieces were done with cork fabric instead of quilt scraps.
Fabric scraps can be used but cork fabric is so easy to work with. It doesn’t fray so the designs stay crisp and the edges neat.
Cork fabric is made from thin layers of cork adhered to fabric and comes in many colors. It’s easy to cut with scissors or a rotary cutter and also easy to stitch through.
If you don’t want to work with cork fabric, pleather, felted wool, and Kraft-Tex don’t fray and will create similar effects. Just make sure that what you choose is heat-resistant for hot mugs.
Or use pieces cut from quilting cotton (satin-stitch outlining will keep them from fraying). Apply the applique pieces with water-soluble glue and then stitch down the edges.
Julie Cefalu from The Crafty Quilter has written an excellent tutorial for making these coasters. You’ll find tips for sewing with cork here.
The finished coasters are a little over 4″ square.
Julie also provides a tutorial for mug rugs made with fabric and cork that are 6 1/4″ x 8 1/4″.
