Handmade Holidays- Charm Square Coasters

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I got super behind last week with Halloween and my Bear of the Month landing on a weekend, which is when I normally share the projects for my 12 Weeks of Handmade Holidays series, where I am sharing 2 projects a week that are gift ideas you can make for the holidays, or anytime you need a gift. So I am still trying to get caught up on week 5 from last weekend, but this is the last one and I will be all caught up and ready for week 6. This week's non-crochet gift idea is a super quick and easy one- a set of coasters made with charm squares. 

When I sew I am usually either making small projects, or projects that can be made with small amounts/pieces of fabric. That is just what I like to make, I like making small, quick projects, and I like doing patchwork or pieced projects, and both of those types of projects use fabric in smaller pieces. Because of this I sometimes like getting precut fabrics, like fat quarters, jelly rolls, layer cakes, and charm squares. They can give you a lot of variety of fabrics in little pieces and without having to spend too much money. Because of that I have quite a few of those precuts or other smaller, scrappy pieces of fabric in my stash and I have used them for a few of the sewing projects in this series. 

Last week's project was made with charm squares, and this week's is too. This time we are making a set of coasters.  This is such a simple project to make and you can either use Christmas fabrics like I did for this set, or favorite colors, colors to match decor, other seasons, etc. All you need is 2 charm squares per coaster, and a little bit of thin batting. I think a set of at least 4 coasters is what I would do, but you can do as many as you would like. They are so quick and easy to make. 

The great thing about using charm squares for coaster is that they are already the perfect size. That means there is hardly any cutting and prep to get started, just cutting out the batting. However, that being said you could also cut out 5" squares and use scrap fabric or yardage instead of precut charm squares. Either way it is a quick and easy project. 

You could gift a set of coasters by themselves, like I said before I would do a set of at least 4. Or if you want to pair them with a larger gift you could put together a little gift basket with a favorite drink. Something like a Hot Cocoa basket with the coasters, some hot chocolate mix, things to add in like marshmallow and candy canes, etc. They would add a fun handmade touch to a larger gift. 

This is project number 10 in this series of handmade gift ideas, so far we have 5 crochet projects, 4 sewing projects, and a painting project. I hope you are enjoying these gift ideas. Be sure to check out the other projects shared so far in this series- the Solitude Scarf, Easy Fabric Corner Bookmarks, the Merry Hat, Fabric Lanyards, the Trinity Stitch Book Sleeves, Initial Trinket Dishes, the Sleepy Baby Doll, the Charm Square Doll Blanket, and the Evergreen Washcloth, with several more projects to come over the next few weeks leading up to Christmas. 

How to Make a Charm Square Coasters

You will need:

• 2 charm squares per coaster, 8 for a set of 4 (or cut 5" squares)
• thin batting (5" square per coaster)
• coordinating thread
• sewing machine
• scissors or rotary cutter, ruler, mat
• iron

Instructions:

Choose 2 squares per coaster, you will also need to cut 1- 5" square per coaster. 

Place your 2 fabrics right sides together, the the batting on the wrong side of one of the squares.

Sew around the edge of the squares with a 1/4" seam allowance, leaving an opening on one side for turning.

Clip the corners and turn right side out. It is a good idea to press the coasters at this point so they are nice and flat with all of the edges nicely pressed. 

Topstitch around the outside edge, close to the edge and closing up the opening that you left for turning. I added another round of topstitching inside of the first round. 

Repeat to make as many coasters as you would like to complete the set.