Record Coaster Sewing Tutorial

Create a set of coasters shaped just like 7″ 45 rpm records! Vintage vinyl 7″ singles can be really striking to look at with bright, multi-colored labels against the black vinyl. Sometimes these records are even produced with vivid colored vinyl.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

This project is the perfect opportunity to show off vibrant printed scraps from your stash, and once you see how easy they are to make you’ll want to sew a whole batch!

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Materials to Sew a 45 RPM Record Coaster

  • Two 8″ x 8″ squares of solid colored 100% cotton fabric for the 7″ record (use fat quarters or large scraps)
  • One 4″ x 4″ square of bright printed 100% cotton fabric for the label
  • One 2″ x 2″ square for the middle “adapter” (optional)
  • One 8″ x 8″ square of fusible fleece
  • One 8″ x 8″ square of medium weight fusible interfacing
  • Small pieces or scraps of double-sided fusible webbing
  • Thread to match record color
  • Rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat
  • Fabric shears
  • Craft or paper scissors
  • Fabric marking pencil
  • Pins
  • Point turner or chopstick with rounded end
  • Sewing machine (I sew with a BERNINA 570 QE)
  • Straight stitch foot (I use BERNINA Patchwork foot #97D)
  • Zipper foot (I use Zipper foot #4D)
  • Zigzag foot (I use Open embroidery foot #20C)
  • 45 RPM Record Coaster pattern printed at actual size (do not stretch or shrink to fit)

Prepare the materials before sewing.

Gather together all the tools and materials needed to create a coaster. Cut the fabrics, fleece, and interfacing into squares sized in the materials list above with a rotary cutter, ruler, and cutting mat.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Print the pattern on heavy card stock, and cut out the shape with paper or craft scissors along the outside black line.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Using the pattern, trace the record circle shape on the back (non-fusible) side of the fusible fleece with a fabric marking pencil or marker.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Carefully cut the circle shape from the fusible fleece.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, fuse the fleece to the wrong side of one 8″ x 8″ fabric square. Flip the square over for the next step.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Make a 2 3/4″ long line centered on the right side of the fabric square. To do this, use a ruler to measure from corner to corner; make a small line to mark the center of the square.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Next, move the ruler to the opposite corners and mark a line about 1 1/4″ long from each side of the center mark. Make sure the final line does not measure longer than 2 3/4″ total.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

And finally, fuse the 8″ x 8″ square of medium weight interfacing to the back of the other 8″ x 8″ fabric square. Using the interfacing will keep your circle from distorting during sewing, turning inside out, and pressing.

Sewing the 45 RPM Record Coaster.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Set up your sewing machine with a straight stitch foot (I am using the Patchwork foot #97D) and thread that matches your record fabric.

This step entails stitching a very tight straight stitch all around the mark you made on the top of the fabric square with the fleece circle fused to the back, then cutting the slit open. The tightly sewn stitches around the opening allow for turning the coaster inside out with very little distortion. The label shape of the record will be fused directly over this slit, and you won’t see it at all in the finished coaster.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Change your sewing machine straight stitch to a short 1.5 mm stitch. Stitch about 1/8″ from the marked line all the way around, backstitching at both short ends.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

This is what the stitches will look like from the back of the fabric, sort of like a very long buttonhole.

This step entails stitching a very tight straight stitch all around the mark you made on the top of the fabric with the fusible fleece circle fused to the back. This tight stitching will allow you to cut an opening inside the stitches to turn the record inside out with very little distortion.

With a sharp pair of scissors, cut open the fabric inside the stitching.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Place both 8″ x 8″ pieces of fabric right sides together with the fused fleece circle facing you. Pin through both pieces all around the circle shape.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Change out the straight stitch foot and insert your zipper foot to sew the next step. Move the needle position all the way to the left. Increase your straight stitch to a 2 mm stitch.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Place the left edge of the zipper foot against the circle of fleece, and very carefully stitch all the way around the circle. Remove the pins as you sew.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Be slow and deliberate at this step, if your stitches stray away from the circle it will show up in your final coaster.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

After stitching, turn the fabric to the back side and use pinking shears to cut close to the stitching. If you do not have pinking shears, cut the seam allowance to 1/4″ and use sharp shears to clip notches into the seam allowance all the way around the circle.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Turn the circle inside out through the opening, being careful not to rip or overly stretch out the fabric. Very gently push out the round edges with a point turner or rounded chopstick.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Press the circle well with your iron. Steam press the opening down so it is very flat.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Most 7″ records have a large opening in the middle, while some have a smaller hole to fit on a record player. The larger holes needed an insert, or record adapter, to fit on most regular turntables. Some of these adapters were fun shapes and bright colors. You can choose to create your record coaster with just the label, or add a fun adapter as well!

To add the label and adapter, use the “LABEL” and “ADAPTER” sized circles on the pattern. Grab the fusible webbing and a pencil.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Trace the circles on the paper backing side of the fusible webbing. Cut the webbing in large squares around the circle shapes.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, first fuse the shapes to the wrong side of the fabric. Cut the shapes to size carefully along the pencil lines. Then peel the paper backing away.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Center the shapes on your record over the slit used to turn the shape inside out, and finish fusing with your iron.

For next steps, I am using the Patchwork foot #97D with Dual Feed. If you do not have the Dual Feed feature on your machine, use a Walking Foot #50 for this step to help keep the fabric layers from puckering or shifting during sewing.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Use a straight stitch set about 2 mm in length for topstitching the coaster.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

First, sew a straight stitch very close to the edges of the fused shapes.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Stitch the label, and if you added an adapter, remember to also stitch around this circle shape.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Next, stitch about 1/8″ to 1/4″ from the very edge of the coaster.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

I added consecutive lines of stitching, each 1/4″ away from the last line. It’s easy to follow the edge of the Patchwork foot #97D to make 1/4″ spaced stitches.

And finally, add a narrow zigzag stitch to finish off the fused circles. You can use any zigzag foot, but the Open embroidery foot #20 gives you a really nice, open view of what you’re sewing.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

I sampled some zigzag stitches, playing around with stitch width and length until I found a stitch I liked. I used a zigzag stitch at .5 mm long and between 2 mm and 2.5mm wide.

45 Single Vinly Record Coaster 1620 x 1080 Erika Mulvenna 29

When finished stitching, give your coaster a good steam pressing to make it nice and flat.

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

Enjoy!

45 RPM Record Coaster Tutorial

45 Single Vinyl Record Coaster Tutorial

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