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Potholders

Marsha Michler suggests learning quilting methods via small-scale work: potholders. This is the only size quilt I have ever completed, and pairs of potholders have become my standard wedding gift. I am making some for July weddings, and will post a tutorial from them, but for now I just wanted to show off some pictures.

Last summer I made butterfly potholders from two calicos out of my stash and some heavier fabric (the dark green and brown) found at an antique store for a dime:

Usually I finish the edging with blanket stitch; this time I got fancy and used closed blanket:

I have two sets in progress (which of course are not going to be the sets I give at this summer’s weddings!), one casual and one more formal (sexy, even?):

lavender gingham coffee-themed potholder sides

The main delay on these is that the kimono and coffee appliques need to be stitched down, and I want them to be nice looking. Hence, hand embroidery, at which I am very slow.

Pinstripes

One of my college roommates is getting married on Saturday, and she and (especially) her fiance are big Yankees fans. I had thought of making them fabric coasters already, and in fact the Spider-Man coasters are for them (she used to shoot us with webbing in the dorm: “fffshhh! you can’t move for an hour!”). I got more ambitious, though, and added Yankees coasters to the list.

Edit: It has come to my attention that my ex-roommate is actually a Mets fan, and all the Yankees-related activities and decor I have seen have been her selflessly giving to her beloved. I hope she likes the Spider-Man coasters.

Navy blue fabric markers are hard to find. I thought I would have to go with acrylic paint, but finally found some at Create For Less, where I was glad to see the purchase multiple was just 1. A Yankees logo was easier to find; I decided on an old one because it was more interesting.

I acquired the logo before I was sure what I would do with it, so I printed it out 4-up at a reasonable coaster size. After my marker acquisition I traced the design onto strips of fabric that were two coasters big. At this point I hadn’t decided whether to make two coasters or four.

After pondering the fact that I already had two Spider-Man coasters for them, and four of “ordinary” fabric, I thought a total of eight, four themed and four not, made more sense than a total of six, all themed but not half-and-half. After heat-setting the marker, I ironed on interfacing and sewed pinstripes. If I’d paid attention I would have lined the pinstripes up to mesh with the edge-stitching better (read: at all), but they turned out okay. Here they are ready to sew and ready to turn:

After a trip through the laundry and a press for neatness, they were ready to wrap! Here’s the whole family.

Fabric coaster tutorial

A friend had a half-dozen or so thin fabric coasters lying around his apartment. He had bought them on Etsy and wished for more. They absorb condensation, cannot damage or be damaged by laptops and books laid on them, and aren’t thick enough to make such objects sit at an angle.

I have subsequently made a lot of these coasters, in various styles. They are extremely easy and utterly customizable. Whatever size square you want, add an inch in each direction to allow a half-inch seam allowance: a 5″x5″ fabric square will give you a 4″x4″ coaster, which is about the right size (the “originals” were 11cm square, which is about 4 1/3″).

Per coaster:
two 5″x5″ squares cotton fabric (matching or non-matching)
two 5″x5″ squares lightweight interfacing (fusible if you like)

Attach one piece of interfacing to the wrong side of each piece of cotton, by ironing on or basting with a long stitch and a 3/8″ seam allowance. “Quilt” each side individually if desired, stitching with a standard length stitch in some pattern you like: diagonal stripes, straight stripes, spiral, concentric squares or circles, freehand, cross-hatch. You may also quilt after putting the sides together. Pin the right sides of the cotton together and stitch with a 1/2″ seam allowance, leaving the middle of one edge open (but stitch all corners). Trim the seam allowance at the corners and turn right-side-out, working the corners to a proper point, and iron, with the fabric at the open edge folded inside. If you have an adjustable needle, move it to the right, and topstitch the coaster with the edge of the fabric lined up with the right edge of the presser foot. I usually start at the far end of the open edge and finish at the near end, so it is stitched across twice.

Some examples:

Spiderman coasters, front and back:

Inexplicable calico coasters, front and back:

I’ve more recently found a blog post on cocktail napkins, which are basically the same as these except without interfacing or quilting, and with rickrack trim. Good ideas get around!