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[amcbetsy]

I have never made coasters and potholders yet, but would like to try some. I was just wondering if anyone has some instructions for some. I found a couple on the internet, but they were sort of strange and not very practical. I want them to be able to be gifts, so I would like the coasters to be able to be used on nice furniture without liquid soaking through, but I am not sure how to make them. Does anyone have some tried and true methods? I didn't see anything in the Instructions section of the website. Thanks.

[Cutiepie]

OK, here's some ideas and techniques for potholders and coasters.

First, with the potholders: make sure you use both material AND thread that is either non-flammable or else that doesn't have a low melting temperature (for synthetics). I tend to like 100% cotton for these. I know of a woman who used a nylon fabric that had an unfortunately low melting temperature and the hotpad melted when she took a dish out of the oven. Fortunately, she wasn't injured, but the potholder was ruined and it took some effort to get her dish clean again. For batting/filling, you can use felt or quilt batting (since quilt batting has usually been treated with fire retardant).

The potholders here on the site are created so that you stitch out the majority of the design first on a single layer of fabric (with stabilizer). Then, before the final color, you put the batting and backing layer against the back of the hoop. I usually use long quilter's pins at this point to keep everything in place, or you could use spray adhesive. If you use the pins, be sure to keep them away from the stitching area to avoid hazards. Nobody wants to be hit by a flying piece of broken needle/pin. The final color is the quilting and satin-stitch edge.

The coasters on the site are similar to the potholders in that the design is stitched first and then a backing is applied in the last step. I strongly recommend felt for stitching coasters on. It looks so nice and is so easy to do. You might want to check for color-fastness, but that's the only concern I can think of. As for the backing, you can get some vinyl from your local fabric store/department. Look at the type used for making tablecloths. It is fuzzy on one side and then either plain or patterned on the other. Of course, if you find some of the vinyl tablecloths for a good price, that is great too. Place the vinyl against the back of the coaster before stitching the final color to attach it. You could use it either side out, but I tend to like it with the flannel-fuzzy side showing and the vinyl side against the felt. It protects your furniture and is plain white (usually) so it goes with anything. The vinyl on the reverse side prevents moisture from getting through.

Oh, boy. I hope that this all makes sense. I can sometimes ramble and while it makes sense in my head, nobody else can figure out what I am talking about!

[amcbetsy]

Thank you, those are great instructions and make perfect sense. Some of the instructions I saw were kind of,,,,,strange, to say the least- some had CDs inside of them, which made them way too big for me. One question though, why do you recommend felt? I think it is ok for some things, but there are some i would like to have a different look, and felt is not at all what I would care for. Wouldn't other fabrics work well?

[grannyof9]

Thanks for these instructions. I would have never thought of the vinyl backing idea for coasters. I just happen to have some white and brown vinyl with the fuzzy lining. I guess I'll make some of those coasters!

[Cutiepie]

Oh, yes. Almost any fabric will work. I just like felt because it is absorbent and the designs look crisp on it. Just about the only fabric I would avoid is something like a satin (which would show water stains easily) or . . . well, anything that would potentially be damaged by moisture (for what I think are obvious reasons). The very best way that I have found of seeing if something is going to work is to do a trial. The worst that might happen is you have to toss out your attempt.