Here’s what you’ll need:

• Fabric scraps cut into strips. Mine are a mix of widths about 1″ – 1.5″ wide.
• Small pieces of wadding a little larger on all sides than the finished size of the coaster you’re making.
• Small pieces of backing fabric, again a little larger than your finished coaster
• Sewing machine
• Sewing kit – to include pencil/chalk/scissors
• Sewing thread, I used Madeira Aerofil threads
• Something circular to draw around

Stitch ‘n’ flip

Stitch and flip is basically a piecing technique worked onto a foundation. For that foundation we’re using wadding which means that our piecing will be quilted as we go. This means the project moves along quickly and that our coasters will be quilted for extra strength and added heat protection for the surface beneath that hot mug!

Set the backing fabric fabric aside for now, we’re just going to work through the wadding. Place the wadding on the sewing machine and position your first fabric strip face up on the wadding on the left hand side. Place another face down on top of it, raw edges aligned. Sew with a straight stitch through all layers along the right hand edge of the strips taking approximately 1/4″ seam allowance.

Flip the top strip over and finger press (or press with an iron). Place another strip on top of the one you just flipped, again right sides together, and sew down the right hand edge as before. Flip the strip over.

Repeat until your wadding piece is covered with strips of fabric.

I pressed mine with an iron as I stitched and flipped, but if you finger pressed, now’s the time to give the piecing a quick press with an iron.

Construction

Now place your backing fabric right sides together with your patchwork. Head to the machine and stitch a circle on the line you drew earlier. Be sure to leave a small gap (about 2″) so that you can turn your work through in a moment.

Using scissors, trim back the excess around your stitched line. Notice that I’ve left more allowance near the opening, this makes it easier to tuck that seam allowance in and top stitch it, so don’t be too scant with your trimming! Notch the seam allowance to help it lay flat when we turn it through.

Turning through

Now turn the coaster out through the gap that you left. You can use the tips of your scissors to carefully push out the edges of the circle so they are nice and crisp.

The seam allowance at the opening now needs to be tucked in. Position it carefully in place and then pin closed.

Learn to make some stitch ‘n’ flip patchwork coasters. This is a fantastic scrap-buster project. You can use up even quite tiny pieces of fabric with this quick project. Sets of the coasters make a lovely gift too! The stitch ‘n’ flip technique is easy, even if you’re a complete beginner to patchwork and if you want to, you can even add some extra decorative stitching too. Let me show you what to do…

What to do

Begin by drawing around something circular to establish the finished size of your coaster and make a template. I drew around an existing round coaster for mine and it measures 10.5cm but you could use a small bowl or draw your circle with a compass.

Using your template, draw a circle onto the wrong side of your backing fabric with extra fabric on all sides as you can see in the photo.

Cut a piece of wadding the same size as the backing fabric.

Extra detail

It’s completely optional, but if you want to, you can add some decorative stitching at this point. I love to try the embroidery stitches on my sewing machine and I chose this little oval design which I’ve worked in a hot pink thread. You can of course add as much or as little decorative stitching as you want.

Topstitch all the way around your coaster a few millimetres in from the edge to secure. I used my edge foot for this as it helps to keep things neat. You can choose a contrast thread for this if you like for an extra pop of colour.

And you’re done!

Why not make a set of these wrapped with a ribbon as a gift? Worked in a seasonal fabrics they could be perfect for Christmas!

Happy sewing,
Love Frances