Embroidering Creative Coasters

Coasters, coasters, and more coasters! Creating coasters with an embroidery machine is so easy and so much fun! These in-the-hoop style coasters finish up fast and make great gifts. Below, you'll see a sampling of some of my favorite coasters styles.

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Holiday themes are always appreciated and making a set with a monogram or holiday design can be the perfect hostess gift. And who doesn't love a coaster personalized with their first initial? A single coaster is easy to include with a card and a wonderful way to say thank you or "I'm thinking of you today." Recently, I collected a list of names from my dental office and made one for everyone who works there. The smiles on the gift recipient's faces were priceless. Below are a few examples.

The stipple style coaster design shown above is available for you to download here on my site for free. I originally offered these as a bonus to coordinate with It's Sew Easy TV show 1506-2. You'll find them in different sizes and shapes, with the smallest one sized to fit a 4-inch embroidery hoop.

On show 1506-2, I created coasters with silk dupioni, metallic thread, and included a sheer organza gift bag. You can watch this episode HERE on my YouTube channel.

Visit the Let's Go Sew with Joanne Banko YouTube channel and you'll see two additional coordinating videos showing detailed steps to create in-the-hoop coasters using built-in frame shapes on Brother machines. Basic steps and supplies for creating all the coasters shown here are pretty similar. Watch the two videos and you can confidently create any of these coaster styles.

​Link to video #1: Create Custom Coasters using Brother Built-in Frame Shapes

Link to video #2: Extra Tips for Re-sizing Appliqué and conserving Fabric

Let's me outline general supplies you'll need and the steps to create:

• Select fabric & batting. Quilting cottons, fancy fabrics like silk dupioni, and even ordinary craft felt will work. My preferred method is to cut coaster fabric to fit required hoop size and add a layer of cotton batting or fusible craft fleece, hooping the fabric and fleece together for the top side of the coaster. If you're creating a coaster using my method for adding an appliqué, you'll need contrasting fabric pieces, cut slightly larger than your appliqué shape.  Steps for adding an appliqué shape are  detailed in the video. I prefer to back my appliqué fabric with fusible web such as the Exquisite FuseMe fusible webbing by DiME. Once the coaster is all finished I give it a good press and my appliqué piece is throughly bonded to the coaster.
• Select fabric for backing the coaster. I prefer to use the same fabric on the back as I did for the top part of the coaster. Back pieces need to be cut to meet in the middle if you want to add a water resistant filler to your coaster, but they can be cut larger to overlap at the back if you wish. Felt can be cut single layer but woven fabric needs to be cut on a fold. The video shows how to create a custom pattern to determine size for back coaster pieces. Be sure to securely tape pieces in place to avoid shifting during embroidery. I used ordinary Scotch® Magic™ Tape and stitched right through the tape.
• ​Decorative frame shapes and lettering can easily be added to your coasters. Just remember, you'll want to stitch decorative frame patterns before adding the back pieces. In addition, for stipple fill coasters you'll add the monogram after the stippling is done on top, but before the backing is added to finish the coaster.
• Insert a piece of vinyl shelf liner or cork to make your coaster water resistant.

Follow the steps shown on the video to create custom coasters you'll be proud to use or give as gifts! Feel free to leave your comments or questions below!