Upcycled Fabric Coasters Made with Denim and Felt

Turn denim scraps into beautiful handmade coasters with simple running stitches, Sashiko-style embroidery, and a fun reverse appliqué twist. These upcycled fabric coasters are perfect for slow stitching lovers and anyone who enjoys creative sewing with recycled materials.

Got a pile of denim scraps that you can’t throw away? Same here.

These upcycled fabric coasters are one of those lovely slow craft projects where you can sit down with a cup of tea, a needle and thread, and potter about stitching squiggles into old jeans.

They’re made from small denim offcuts, stitched by hand, and finished with a felt backing that peeks through little cut-out holes in the fabric. There’s a running stitch, a bit of Sashiko-style sewing, and a fun reverse appliqué twist for good measure.

If you enjoy mindful sewing and playing with texture, this one’s for you.

I’ve made denim coasters before using jean seams and belt loops (a totally no-sew project), but this time I wanted something softer and more organic. These are slower, a bit wonkier, and definitely more “handmade looking,” which I personally love. Very on-brand for Pillarboxblue, really: recycled materials, simple techniques, and embracing the imperfect.

These coasters are:

• Brilliant for using up denim scraps
• Great for experimenting with stitches
• Perfect for slow crafting evenings
• Lovely as handmade gifts (or keep them all for yourself)

What You’ll Need

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• Denim scraps (single or double layer)
• Felt (craft felt or felted wool from an old sweater)
• Embroidery thread (I used yellow and white)
• Hand sewing needle
• Chalk pencil
• Pins
• Embroidery hoop (optional but helpful)
• Small sharp scissors
• Fabric glue
• Soluble embroidery paper

How to Make Hand-Stitched Denim Coasters

I made two coasters here, mainly because I couldn’t decide which stitching style I liked best (classic crafter problem).

Coaster 1 – Running Stitch on Double Denim

First, I drew my squiggly pattern onto some water-soluble embroidery paper using a Sharpie (any permanent marker works fine for this). Once I was happy with the design, I pinned the paper to the front of two denim layers. For the double-sided piece, I cut a section from the leg of an old pair of jeans.

You can pop everything into an embroidery hoop if you like – it’s not essential, but it definitely helps stop the denim from wriggling about while you stitch.

Then I followed the pattern’s lines with a small running hand-stitch. I chose yellow thread because I love that bold denim-and-mustard combo – it really pops.

Originally, I planned to do Sashiko stitching on this one too… but between the double denim and embroidery paper it got pretty chunky. So I switched to running stitch instead. Crafting is all about adapting on the fly.

Once all the stitching was finished, it was time for the slightly magical bit. To remove the embroidery paper, I gently soaked the denim in lukewarm water. The paper dissolves, leaving only your stitched design behind. Give it a little swish in the water and rub gently if needed to help the paper disappear. Then lay the denim flat to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Coaster 2 – Sashiko Stitch on Single Denim

For the second coaster, I kept things simpler. I drew my squiggly pattern directly onto a single layer of denim with a chalk pencil, then stitched over it using white Sashiko-style stitches. Check out my Sashiko denim bookmark for more tips on Sashiko stitching.

Sashiko stitching is much easier (and quicker) on a single layer of denim because you can weave the needle in and out of the fabric and load up two or three stitches at a time before pulling it through. It makes the whole process feel more rhythmic and satisfying. I also love how clean, graphic and crisp this version looks — the white stitches really pop against the indigo denim.

If you’re new to Sashiko, this is a lovely small project to practise on without committing to anything big.

3. Cut the Reverse Appliqué Holes

Now for the fun (and slightly nerve-wracking) bit.

Using small, sharp scissors, carefully snip tiny holes inside the stitched loops. Then gently cut away sections of denim to create your reverse appliqué design.

Take your time here. Slow and steady wins this race.

You don’t need to cut every loop – just enough to let the felt show through later.

4. Add the Felt Backing

Cut a piece of felt slightly larger than your coaster. Apply glue to the back of the stitched denim, then press it onto the felt, making sure everything lines up nicely.

I used felt so the colour really pops through the appliqué holes, but you could just as easily experiment with patterned fabric or even another layer of denim if you fancy mixing things up. Let the glue dry thoroughly.

Once everything’s dry, trim the edges of the stitching so the felt and denim are neatly finished together.

And that’s it – handmade upcycled denim coasters, ready for coffee, wine, or whatever you happen to be sipping while crafting.

Why I Love This Little Project

One of the things I love most about this project is how easy it is to change things up. You can play with stitch patterns, thread colours, felt shades, or even the shape of your coasters – circles, squares, or delightfully wonky blobs all work.

You could also scale them up to make larger versions for table mats (like my denim and felt ones), which look great paired with a matching denim table runner.

If you enjoyed this, you might also like some of my other denim and fabric scrap projects on Pillarboxblue, like:

• Applique Denim Pot Holders
• Sashiko-style denim star ornaments
• Quirky denim moths and butterflies
• Denim Hexagon Mug Rug