Herbal Coasters

Many of us will be giving gifts in the coming month for a variety of holidays.  For those tea, coffee, and hot cocoa, (maybe even the hot buttered rum drinkers) why not consider making and giving bundles of these herbal coasters.

You’ll need the following materials to make one coaster:

• 2 – 6″ square pieces of fabric
• 2 – 5 1/4″ square pieces of cotton batting
• Dried herbs/spices of some sort  – think lavender, chamomile, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, etc.

Place one square of your fabric on your work table, wrong side up.  Place one piece of the batting in the center of that square of fabric.  Sprinkle your dried herbs lightly over the surface over that batting, don’t let it get too deep, you want your drinks to sit evenly on the finished coaster.  Place the other piece of batting on top of your herb covered batting.  Next place your fabric, right side up on the top of the batting.  Pin in all together to keep the fabric and batting in place.  Sew the coaster together using a straight stitch, using a 3/8″ seam allowance, on all four sides.  Trim the edges with pinking shears to keep your coasters from fraying and giving it a slightly decorative touch.

Consider bundling four together with a decorative ribbon.  Add a pretty tag with this poem: 

Herbal coasters, do your thing,

Harmony, joy, and comfort bring

To all who rest their mugs on you

Make their worries far and few

Perhaps package it together with some favorite coffee or tea.  Homegrown dried mint for tea would be great too.