Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Fall is my favorite season but that hasn’t always been the case. Growing up in California, we didn’t have much in the way of seasons, so I never understood the true glory of autumn until I moved to the East Coast. My first year in New York, I unwittingly took a weekend trip to Swarthmore, Pennsylvania right at the peak of fall foliage. I arrived at night and in the morning, woke up to a breathtaking riot of colors. As I wandered the town, I felt like I was in a kaleidoscope of yellows, oranges, red and pinks. I collected a bunch of my favorite leaves that day, thinking that they would keep their brilliant colors and was so sad when I realized they wouldn’t.

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Because the beautiful foliage is, in fact, so fleeting, I wanted to make some pretty leaves that would last all year long. I made these Fall Leaves Coasters with our brand new Fall Leaves Felt Bundle, a neutral taupe complemented by four bright autumnal colors. Like my previous Felt Coaster projects (which you can see here and here) these are easy (and addictive!) to make. And with Thanksgiving around the bend, a set of Fall Leaves Coasters will surely make an elegant addition to your festivities!

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Molly Schnick. Click here to see even more of Molly’s work!

Materials

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

To make 8 total coasters (four of each version):

Patterns

Version One

Cutting

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Cut an outer leaf piece from the tan felt and a  colored felt.

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Using a pencil or an erasable fabric marker draw three straight lines radiating out from the bottom of the leaf, each starting from the same point, a 1/2-inch above the bottom middle curve. The middle line should be at 12:00 with the side lines at 10:00 and 2:00. Stop these lines an inch from the edge of the leaf.

1 1/2-inches from the end of each of your three lines draw two lines branching out.

Mark a curved line, following the curve of the bottom of the leaf, a 1/2-inch from the bottom of the leaf.

For a clearer picture of these markings please see below:

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Make sure the markings are clear.

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Using sharp scissors cut out away the markings. Do this carefully by just cutting around the marker lines.

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

The cut out lines should be no wider than 1/8-inch.

Sewing

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Pin the leaf with the markings cut out to one of the colored leaves. Make sure the edges meet up nicely and that the colored felt is showing through the cut out sections of the top leaf.

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Using a very small running stitch and two strands of embroidery floss sew the two leaves together along the edge of the cut out section of the top leaf.

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Then sew them together along their outer edges.

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Snip around the edges so none of the colored felt is poking out along the edges.

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

You’re all done!

Version Two

Cutting

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Cut out an outer leaf piece from the colored felt.

Cut out an inner leaf piece from the tan felt.

Sewing

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Pin the two pieces together, with the tan piece centered on top.

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho

Using a very small running stitch and 2 strands of embroidery thread sew around the perimeter of the inner leaf.

You’re all done!

Fall Leaves Coasters | Purl Soho