hot off the singer: patchwork coasters (take 1)

This is one of those projects that I started thinking up as I was trying to fall asleep, and then spent way too much of my precious rest time just lying there turning it over in my head. Now that it's all done, I think there is a much better way to make the box... but it's going to take some more mulling for me to figure it out (unless anyone wants to weigh-in with a suggestion?) The finished coasters are about 4 1/4" square, and I think I'd make them a little smaller next time, too.

 

First, I cut the outside of the box from natural linen and pressed double 1/4" seam allowances on all edges.

  

Next, I cut the box lining and pressed a 1/4" seam allowance to the back side.

  

I fit the lining right-side out inside the outer box and sewed down the pressed edges.

  

Then I whip-stitched the corners.

  

The coasters were pieced together at 5 1/4", for a finished size of 4 1/4". The backing is wool felt.

  

I sewed the top to the backing with right sides facing, leaving a small hole for turning. Before turning, I layered a 4 1/4" square of batting - I used the heat-proof batting that you can buy for making oven mitts - to the backing, so once turned it was easy to lay flat inside. Then I pressed and whip-stitched the opening closed.

Once sewn and pressed, I top-stitched each coaster about 1/4" from the edge.