Gift on the GO and another good thing!

Did you ever need a quick hostess gift? Here is a gift I made up for a non-quilting friend this holiday season. It is a basket of 12 sets of seasonal coasters -a different set of four for each month of the year. They were so easy to make with my GO cutter and the value die. Cut 4 1/2 inch squares of fabric and batting. Put 2 squares of fabric right sides together and add a square of batting. (My coasters are different fabrics on the front and back but you could make them the same.) Sew around the edges with a 1/4 inch seam leaving a small opening to turn the coaster right side out.Before turning, clip the corners. I used a bodkin to get my corners squared out.  Press. I don't like to slip stitch the opening closed so I used Fabric Tac, a permanent fabric glue. Just be careful to keep the gluing neat so it doesn't get on the coaster. Be sure the glue dries thoroughly. Then topstitch all around. This was a great way to use up scraps of fabric and batting - and it didn't take long at all! If you want, you could use the decorative stitches or embroidery on your machine to make the coasters a little fancier. I spray my coasters with Scotch Guard to make them stain resistant.

Now for the big announcement....several months ago my quilting buddy, Pat, and I submitted some designs to McCall's Quick Quilts magazine. Two of our designs will appear in the Feb/March 2011 issue which will be on the newstands and sent to subscribers in December. Be sure to check them out. The article is called Woolen Whimsies. Here is a little picture of one of the designs.


Well, back to the machine - still making Christmas gifts!