A Toast to Coasters

Designer: Monica Solorio-Snow of Happy Zombie

For one caddy and eight coasters

*    18×22" piece (fat quarter) each of green floral, pink-and-green print, pink tone-on-tone, and multicolor dot

*    16×23" cotton batting

*    3⁄4"-diameter button

Finished caddy: 4-1⁄2×3×2"

Finished coaster: 4-3⁄8" at widest point

Quantities are for 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1⁄4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.

Cut pieces in the following order. Click on "Download this Project" above for triangle pattern. Or use a 60° triangle ruler to cut the pieced triangles.

From green floral, cut:

*    4--1-1⁄2×18" strips

*    2--5×5-1⁄2" backing rectangles

*    6--3" squares

From pink-and-green print, cut:

*    4--1-1⁄2×18" strips

*    2--5×5-1⁄2" backing rectangles

*    2--4×7" rectangles

From pink tone-on-tone, cut:

*    4--1-1⁄2×18" strips

*    2--1-1⁄2×7" strips

*    2--5×5-1⁄2" backing rectangles

From multicolor dot, cut:

*    4--1-1⁄2×18" strips

*    2--4×7" rectangles for lining

*    2--5×5-1⁄2" backing rectangles

From batting, cut:

*    2--4-1⁄4×7" rectangles

*    8--5×5-1⁄2" rectangles

1.    Fold a green floral 3" square in half diagonally with wrong side inside to make a triangle; press (Diagram 1). Fold pressed triangle in half again and press to make a prairie point. Repeat to make six prairie points total.

2.    Aligning raw edges, center one prairie point atop a pink-and-green print 4×7" rectangle. Then position two additional prairie points on top of first with ends meeting (Diagram 2). Baste a scant 1⁄4" from all raw edges. Aligning raw edges, position a pink tone-on-tone 1-1⁄2×7" strip atop prairie points (Diagram 3). Sew together with a 1⁄4" seam through all layers to make caddy front.

3.    Repeat Step 2 to make caddy back.

4.    Sew a multicolor dot 4×7" lining rectangle to remaining long edge of pink tone-on-tone strip on caddy front (Diagram 4). Press seam toward lining rectangle. Repeat with caddy back, pressing seam away from lining rectangle.

5.    Referring to Diagram 5, place a 4-1⁄4×7" batting rectangle atop wrong side of pink-and-green print rectangle of caddy front (batting will extend 1⁄2" onto pink tone-on-tone portion). Baste outer edges only. Repeat with caddy back.

6.    Layer caddy front and back, right sides together. Join, leaving a 3" opening in multicolor dot lining for turning (Diagram 6). Press seams open.

7.    To shape a flat bottom for caddy, at one corner match bottom seam line to adjacent side seam line, creating a flattened triangle (Diagram 7). Measuring 1" from point of triangle, draw a 2"-long line across triangle. Sew on drawn line. Trim excess fabric. Repeat with remaining bottom corner and both corners of multicolor dot lining.

8.    Turn caddy front and back right side out through lining opening and finger-press seams. Slip-stitch opening closed. Insert lining into caddy; press top edge. Sew button to middle prairie point on one side to complete caddy.

1.    Referring to Diagram 8, sew together a multicolor dot 1-1⁄2×18" strip and a pink tone-on-tone 1-1⁄2×18" strip to make a strip set. Press seam in one direction. Repeat to make a second strip set.

2.    Cut six of Triangle Pattern from each strip set to make 12 pieced triangles total (Diagram 9). Six triangles will have pink tone-on-tone at their base, and six will have the multicolor dot.

3.    Lay out six matching pieced triangles in two rows (Diagram 10). Join triangles in each row (Diagram 11). Press seams in opposite directions.

4.    Join rows, leaving a 2" opening in center of seam for turning (Diagram 12). Press seam open; press under and baste seam allowances of unsewn portion. Trim seam allowances even with outer edges to make a coaster top.

5.    Repeat steps 3 and 4 with remaining set of six matching pieced triangles to make a second coaster top.

6.    Layer a pink tone-on-tone or multicolor dot 5×5-1⁄2" backing rectangle right side up atop a 5×5-1⁄2" batting rectangle. Position a coaster top on backing rectangle, right sides together; sew 1⁄4" from raw edges of coaster top (Diagram 13). Trim excess backing fabric and batting, trimming 1⁄8" from points of coaster top. Turn right side out through opening; press. Slip-stitch opening closed to complete coaster. Repeat, using remaining coaster top, to make a second coaster.

7.    Repeat steps 1–6, using remaining multicolor dot and pink tone-on-tone 1-1⁄2×18" strips, pink-and-green print and green floral 1-1⁄2×18" strips, and coordinating 5×5-1⁄2" backing rectangles to make eight coasters total.