How to Make Grandmother's Flower Garden Coasters Tutorial

I showed these hexagon coasters in an earlier post and my friends have asked for a tutorial.  This is not  easy for me, but what the hay.  So I snapped pictures along my way.

First, make a template by drawing hexagons on graph paper and then photocopy on cardstock to make a sturdy template.  You can use any size hexagons you desire. 

Trace one pattern onto backside of just piece of  fabric and cut one quarter inch beyond lines.  Then cut a square piece of fabric just a bit bigger plus a piece of batting of your choice.  You can use most any batting even the iron on.

Layer as follows:  Cut fabric piece, right sides together with the square fabric piece and the batting on the bottom.  Carefully cut an X in the center of the top piece—not in both pieces of fabric—just the top fabric.

Pin the fabric to the batting.   Sew on the inside of the marked line backstitching at start and end.  Cut out about 1/8^th inch away from stitching and clip corners.  Cut a slit in the inner corners as well.

Turn inside out through the X and press.

Trace one single hexagon onto fusible web.  Cut a window as shown. 

Press the fusible to the backside of the fabric selected for the top center.   

Cut out on the marked lines, remove backing paper and fuse in place on the center of the coaster where the cut X is located.

To make the faux hexagons, draw chalk lines to form the six outer hexagons as it shows on your paper/graph paper pattern.  Start stitching at an inner corner on the outside.  Proceed to the center and travel to the next corner along the edge of the center hexagon.  Sew down the line to the outer edge.  Pivot around and stitch back to the center over the stitches you just made.  You should now have a double line of stitching emphasizing the hexagon.  Continue around to the next center corner, stitch down and up the chalk line. Repeat until you have gone all the way around and stitch down to where you started.

Now stitch the center's edge with your choice of stitch.  You can use a plain stitch, zig zag, buttonhole or a fancy stitch.