I was just going thru some of the little gifts I have been making and putting aside for when I need something..I made these little criss cross coasters from a tutorial I found on line
http://www.allsorts.typepad.com/alls...ross_coas.html

they are so fast and easy and good way to use up small pieces of fabrics

Those are really nice.

Love that pattern and how clever to have them made up as extras :mrgreen:

Those are so cute. Thankyou for sharing the link!

These are cute and come in handy for gifts, On our bus trip to Mary Jo's a few years back I made 45 sets of these for our members, thanks for posting the link so others can start making a few sets for the holidays. Denise

Hmmm, ok, I'm not sure if I'm being dimwitted or what, but I don't know if I get how this pattern works. When you turn it out "like a sock", does that make it so you can't see the 2 unfolded squares you started with?


And how do you get them to look like x's instead of 4 patches? I'm just a newbie.

Those are fun to make. I was given the pattern plus the fabrics (precut) and batting to make a set of these and have been making them ever since. I made some on my last quilting retreat and left them for the retreat center to use. I also showed several of the ladies there how to make them. They make great thank you, thinking of you, welcome, or just about any other thing you can think of that you need a small gift for. They can also be made by folding the fabric in half from side to side and then they look like a four patch.

Fold them on the diagonal. I use a piece of Warm and Natural batting or a piece of craft felt. On top of that I lay one square of fabric face up. Then weave the folded (and pressed) pieces on top of that and pin them in place. Then I sew about 3/8" inside the edge, trim the corners and flip the folds over the batting. I also then use a little 1/4"x 1 1/2-2" piece of fusing just under the edge after I flip them to hold the folds in place. It keeps the centers right next to each other.

I make something like these but I use circles and then you can put a stemmed glass right inside of them and it stays right with your glass.

And, how do you "turn them out" if you don't leave an opening? The instructions said to sew all the way around? I'm confused.

So either way you do it, you can't see the batting or bottom square then? If it works the way I am thinking you would turn the folded pieces to cover the stitched edge, and they would meet in the center of the back?. Sorry I'm so slow about this. In my head I see turning these like I roll a pair of socks together. LOL.

So glad I am not the only one Grandmama Pat. I have some cheap fabric I absolutely hate- I might just have to try it out. If I can wrap my head around it, I'll use my "nice" fabric to make Christmas gifts for mailing to friends.

Let me know how it works. I just can't get it straight in my head, yet.

I will let you know later this evening. This idea is just driving me crazy.

If you look under the tutorials, I just wrote one for a simple otholder. This is the same principle but you wouldn't use the insulate batting just a thin batting.

I used a soft clear plastic square inside mine to keep moisture from going thru and no batting..
Once you take the pieces and start to do it you will see how....they are really easy...and I think adding a little ribbon and some sort of embellishment adds a nice touch

Those are really nice Sue and a quick gift idea...Thanks for sharing!

Oh, I need to make some of these. Thanks for sharing, they are beautiful!!

I hope many of you make them and then post pictures...always fun to see other peoples work

Ok, Made one with squares I already had cut and a scrap of cotton batting. Very easy, even for a newbie. It sounded and looked harder than it actually was. I'm already looking through my Christmas fat quarters to make more!! This one is my experiment to see if I could figure it out.

Wow Cherie thats great!!

These are cute. I wasn't sure how to turn them either until I went to the web link you attached. This is the simplest technique I've ever seen. Thanks for the link!

Thanks for the link...those are super little gifts!

That looks perfect! And no one will guess how easy it was!

Thank you stichinluvr!

Oh these are fun, I couldn't figure them out either until I sat down and did one. But I hadn't ever seen one done on the diagonal, I will have to do that next.

Lol, I'm trying the four patch looking one right now. They are so fun.

I'm going to have to try these!

Ditto above. Neat for gifts.

I'll be trying this too. They are so nice & a great way to use up scraps! Thanks!

For the last few years I have been really working on using up small amounts of fabrics and these are perfect for just that..and nice to have a boxfull of little items to use for gifts.

Very Pretty Great Gift Idea! Thank you! :thumbup:

You sew all around the outside but not on the folds. The folds are the opening. It takes 5 5"sq pieces of fabric and one 5" square of cotton batting. Just try it, if it doesn't come out right you haven't really lost that much. It's much easier just to sit down and try it than it is to try to think it all out ahead of time.

I ended up using 4 1/2" squares and really liked the looks of those better...but not matter can do any size you like..

I wish I was the sort of person who made things in advance and had them ready. What a cute idea and a great gift for some lucky person!

I get on jags. Right now I'm making some coasters. Last summer I made 15 baby blankets in a couple of weeks. I'm now down to 5 so I probably should make more. Sometimes after a big project I find I need to do something more small---a kind of "no-brainer." Once you get the hang of something like these coasters they become no-brainers. Last night I was making sets that had the same fabrics in all four but two were the hourglass (criss cross) design and two were the 4patch design. I'm trying to get enough done for all three kitchen/sewing rooms at Threads of Time in Danville IL. That way when we have classes or retreats there will be coasters there for everyone to use.

I find it is easiest to do alot of something all at once..while all the fabrics are out and the measurements handy etc...then fun to pack those things up and go to the next project

I love making these coasters but I never thought to make them in triangles. Aren't you clever!!!! Thanks for sharing!

Very cute!

I love these made some last year but lost my pattern when we moved thanks a lot now I have it again and can make some for my GD who graduated this year and is moving into her own place will be great for holidays. Thank again