Recycled fabric coasters ~ paper-piecing

I was lucky enough to find a second-hand copy of Jayne Emerson's book 'The Impatient Patchworker' in Hay-on-Wye last summer. My favourite idea in this book of quick and simple projects was the handsewn hexagon coaster - a good way of using up leftover bits of fabric that aren't much good for anything else.

I enjoyed recycling some old clothes (pictured, right) taking advantage of the lovely prints. It turns out that this is one of those 'addictive' craft techniques and you soon find yourself looking for more combinations of patterns and colours. The great thing about recycling scraps is that each piece is unique.

The coasters are pieced together by hand using paper templates and backed with felt. Here's one in progress and one in action....coasting??