Holiday Gift Blog Hop: Day 3

Welcome! It's Day 3 of our Holiday Gift Blog Hop, where some blogging friends are sharing tutorials that we think you'll love--either for last-minute gift ideas or to file away to try after the holidays.Today's tutorial, from the Benartex blog team, falls into the super-quick category: beer coozies (koozies? cozies? We're going with coozies for now) and coasters using Man Cave IV from Benartex. The fabric makes these projects, and they're ideal for your favorite guy.

We fell in love with the Man Cave IV fabrics--they're fun masculine prints, and they take two very simple (and fast!) projects and make them something special. In keeping with the laid-back guy vibe of the prints, these projects have some exposed raw edges and freehand machine quilting and cutting. If that's too relaxed for you, we've included tips and/or other methods on how to work with a little more structure as you sew.

Take a closer look at the fabrics:

You'll Need:
Coozies 
1/3 yard beer bottle print (fabric has 9 rows of bottles, so you'll be able to make 9 coozies using method 1 and 5 using method 2)
1/3 yard black solid
Batting

Coasters
1 fat quarter beer label print (will yield 10-15 coasters)
1 fat quarter backing fabric
Batting
Basting pins or spray baste
Free motion quilting foot (optional)

Making the Coozies:
We made these coozies two different ways; if you're a zigzag fan and want a super-casual look, try Method #1. If you prefer cleaner edges, try Method #2.

Method #1
Fussy cut a row of centered bottles measuring 4-1/2" x 9".

Cut a 4-1/2" x 9" piece of batting (We recommend using black batting here, as it blends in well with the black fabrics along the raw edges)
Cut a 4-1/2" x 10-1/2" black solid strip

Layer the black solid right side down, the batting, and then the fussy-cut bottle strip right side up. The slightly shorter batting and bottle strip should be aligned along one short edge of the black strip as shown, with the longer black extending on the opposite end (we used white batting just for this photo so you could see the placement: black on black = hard to photograph details!)

Pin the three layers together.

Sew close to both long edges with a zigzag stitch. We chose to use a tight zigzag to better encase the raw edges. Tip: Try using your walking foot while zigzagging through these layers.

Fold the piece in half, bottle sides together, matching the raw edges of the bottle fabric/batting (in other words, don't match the end up with the extra black fabric--leave that loose). Using a straight stitch and a 1/4" seam allowance, sew to create the round shape of the coozie. Fold the excess black edge over 1/4" and press.

Fold the pressed black edge over the seam allowances and slipstitch in place to hide the raw edges. Turn right side out, slide a cold bottle in place, and enjoy!

Method #2

Fussy cut a row of centered bottles measuring 5" x 9". 

Cut a 5" x 9" piece of batting (white or natural is fine here, as it won't show)

Cut a 5" x 10-1/2" black solid strip

Layer the batting, black backing right side up and bottle strip right side down, leaving the extra black length off to one side as in method #1. Pin in place.

Sew along the top and bottom using a 1/4" seam allowance and a straight stitch. Turn right side out and press. If you like, topstitch 1/4" from top and bottom edges. Press the top and bottom edges of the excess black in 1/4". Press the long excess black edge in 1/4". 

As in method #1, line up the short raw edges of the layered sections, pin in place, and stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance. Fold the pressed black edge over the seam allowance and slipstitch in place. Turn right side out and enjoy!

Making the Coasters:

The trick to this project is quilting a larger piece of fabric and then cutting the coasters shapes out when you're done; much easier than trying to quilt small fabric circles! 

Decide how many coasters you want to make and cut a section of beer label print that includes that many labels, plus at least 1/2" along the outer edge (in the photo below, there are 9 useable labels out of an approximately 10" x 12" piece). Cut backing and batting pieces slightly larger. Layer the backing right side down, batting, and beer label print right side up. Baste to secure.

Quilt each label as desired, extending at least 1/4" beyond the outer label edge. We used the free motion foot and quilted spirals on some labels, and a walking foot to quilt straight line asterisks on others.

Cut out each coaster 1/4" beyond the outer edge of label. Note: If you're uncomfortable free handing this circle cutting, trace a circle shape around each label with a fabric marking pen before cutting. You can cut out 2 adjoining labels if you are careful. It might be fun to cut out the circles with a pinking shears, if you like. If you do the asterisk quilting, after cutting out the coaster, stitch near the outer edge of the circle to secure everything.

There you have it! Easy bottle coozies and coasters...a great holiday gift!

Would you like to win a fat quarter bundle of Benartex or Kanvas fabric? Sign up to follow our blog (via email or Bloglovin'--both in the right hand sidebar) and leave a comment letting us know you did so (or are already following!). For a second entry, like us on Facebook and leave another comment. In your comment, also tell us the hardest person on your list to buy for. The giveaway will be open through Thursday, December 12th at 11:59 EST, at which point we'll use a random number generator to select a winner.

See the other Holiday Gift Blog Hop tutorials here:
Day 1: Fabric Gift Bags from the Benartex blog team
Day 2: Toddler Purse and Doll Blanket by Jennie from Clover & Violet
Day 4: Mae's Daisy Quilt by Melissa from My Quilt Relish
Day 5: Honey Bee Quilt by Erin from Why Not Sew? 

Looking for more holiday gift ideas? Check out the projects from our Holiday Headstart blog hop back in October:

Day 1: Take Me to Class Tote by Tessa from The Sewing Chick

Day 2: Window Zip Pouch by Emily from Mommy's Nap Time

Day 3: Squared Stripe Pincushion from the Benartex blog design team

Day 4: Bold Braid Quilt by Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation

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