Melitastitches4fun's Blog

Demonstrated Making Coasters with Cork Bottom

Sharon B, the President of ANG Central Jersey Chapter, requested that I demonstrate how I make a coaster with the cork bottom at the May meeting today.

Last month, members were given pre-cut round Craftex and cork with a self-adhesive side. They were given 18 count canvas but no particular design. Three members were ready to finish theirs and a half-dozen more listened and watched.

Besides the stitched piece and the piece of cork and Craftex that Sharon provided, scissors to cut canvas and any thread to attach the canvas to the Craftex is all that is needed (it won’t show). I brought a spool of white outdoor 100% poly thread by Coats & Clark. I also brought my lifetime spool of invisible thread but Janice M brought her spool of invisible thread that is big enough to be a lifetime supply for everyone in the chapter! I have never seen a spool so large.

I brought my Kreinik cord maker to add a cord between the top and bottom layers (which is optional but I like to do it). The threads typically match the one used in your design. I talked about attaching the cording by stitching and with glue. You need three times the circumference plus extra for starting and ending. Stitching is technically preferred but it is only a coaster! I brought the best glue I’ve found to date, Super NEW GLUE” by Euro Tool. My fingers even got stuck together – almost. It’s great glue.

The process is almost the same as I described here: https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/05/04/compensation-coaster/

As I told them, I almost never do finishing the same way twice. I demonstrated a round using my pink coaster  (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/07/14/2024-summer-stitch-camp/).

This time, I tacked the Craftex on the back of the needlepoint with invisible thread in 5 places. Then, I used 2 strands of the outdoor thread and laced each tab to the Craftex crossing to the opposite side as I moved around to various tabs. I glued the last half dozen tabs. I wanted to show how quick and firm the glue dried.

I only showed how to cut the blue square (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/07/18/summer-stitch-camp-square-coaster/) and I finished it later that night.

That’s when I remembered one way I avoid a knot on the cording which would create an unwanted bump which isn’t good for a coaster that needs to be flat. I put a piece of Scotch tape on the end with the knot and cut through the tape. It worked great on my thicker blue cord.

And, I was able to nudge the 2 cords together so you almost can’t see it. Can you see where the ends overlap?

Here’s where.

The corners kind of stuck out but since I cut the cork to shape, it worked out just fine. I just traced the shape and then cut the cork.

I used glue to attach the cording along each edge and at the corners. It looks great!

Mine will be the pink one and the blue one will be Bill’s.