pattern & project // spooky cat coasters

At Halloween time, you see lots of black cats around, and I especially like those that have a vintage look to them. That's what I was going for when I drew up a black cat for this month's character. He shows up on the calendar desktop, today's pattern & project, and if I get extra ambitious, a printable later this week.

You can stitch this spooky cat and some candy corn on anything you want, but to get you started, I've made a very easy coaster that is a nice companion to a cup of coffee or hot cider. Coasters are fun projects for me because they are small and simple, and nice to switch out seasonally.

But before I get too far, today's post is coordinated Do Small Things with Love. Go give her a visit and learn how to make a spooky cat hoop!



Nancy has been making all kinds of fun Halloween projects lately, so be sure to take a good look around while you're there. Now, are you ready to make a spooky cat coaster or two?



Here's what you need:

Linen or other solid fabric
Felt (I'm using a wool blend)
Print backing fabric
Embroidery floss
Scissors
Needle
Cutting mat/rotary cutter/ruler (optional)
Pins

Spooky Cat Embroidery Pattern

Here's what you do:

Transfer the pattern to the linen (I used this method) and stitch the design however you like.

Trim the embroidered fabric, felt, and backing fabric to 4 x 4 inches. A rotary cutter is super helpful for this, but not required.



Layer the fabric pieces with right sides facing out, and the felt in the middle. You could use cotton batting here, or double up on the felt for extra protection. Pin the layers together.



Stitch around the edges using blanket stitch. Someday I'll make a tutorial here, but for now, check out Future Girl if you need some help.



Make your way all around the coaster and you're done!




You can also stitch some with a little candy corn in the corner. These are quicker to stitch, so I'll be making a couple more with just the candy. It matches the backing fabric perfectly because this was cut from my Spoonflower swatch. Four pieces can be perfectly cut from that one swatch!



By the way, one of the things I like about using felt between the layers is that with the blanket stitching, you can still see the color of the felt poking out a little! That said, I'm not sure that I'd trust it with a SUPER hot beverage on your priceless antique table. Use your best judgement and consider adding extra layers.




Grab a cup of coffee and start stitching your coasters! Oh, and when you do, I'd love to see! Tag your photos with #OliveStitching on Instagram or Twitter.