In the current issue of Love Patchwork and Quilting (issue 13) there’s a bonus kit included for making a set of 4 quilted coasters. They are made from small spools blocks. The fabrics aren’t great quality (being honest!) but I thought the pattern was cute and it was a good chance to test out the pattern on fabrics that I wasn’t too emotionally invested in 🙂
It was a fun block to make, and in much smaller pieces than I would normally use for quilting. In that sense, it was a good experiment outside of my comfort zone.
It’s a perfect project for chain piecing, and you can get the whole thing done very quickly if you keep you pieces organised by the side of the machine.
The most important tip I can give you is that it is worth taking the time to press the seams of each row of the block in a different direction, so that they lock nicely when it is time to assemble them. That way, it all comes together neatly.
The wadding that came with the kit was awful – if you are working with the kit, throw it out and use your own. That said, wadding, and indeed quilting for coasters makes sense. It’s absorbent, and perfect for preventing pesky puddles in precious places. (Excuse my alliteration. I got a bit carried away.)
Here’s the moral to the story: spools are fun, and this pattern is worth making. I’ll look forward to whipping up some more in better materials over the summer. Maybe I will even share them with you!
Have a great day,
xx jf
finchley street 