giving: simple cloth coasters.

In today’s handmade gift guide, a few favorite ideas for making simple cloth coasters and offering them as a handmade gift during the holidays, or anytime…

A little kit for making:

If you’re not up to the task of making the coasters and offering them yourself, or you know someone who would love the chance to try them for themselves, offer the supplies in a cloth bulk bag and give the gift of a neat little kit. All you need is the fabric, some pins, and needle and thread. Add a link or search instructions for our simple cloth coasters tutorial, and you’ll have given everything your loved one needs to practice a new craft and end up with coasters of their own making.

A little tipple:

We might be approaching a long dark winter, but a trusty tipple on a handmade coaster might help things along. (We made this set from some remnant chambray fabric for a little pop of blue.) Curious No. 6 is a limited edition non-alcoholic cocktail with a tropical twist from Curious Elixirs. It includes lemon balm and nutmeg to help you unwind and aloe and neroli for a “beauty boost.” Sign me up. For folks who aren’t abstaining, consider a subscription to a wine club like What to Drink or place an order direct from indie winemakers, like our pals at Oyster River Wine Growers, who are offering flat rate $7 shipping with the code PUMPKIN SPICE. (Sign me up for these too!)

A little comfort:

Blend your own herbal tea! I like making a balanced blend of oat tops, rose petals, lemon balm, and mint for a relaxing bedtime (or anytime) wind down. I get my herbs from local shop, Remedies, and like to bag things up in small muslin bag or upcycled glass jar for ease of gifting.

A little sweet:

True story: Rose drinks a cup of hot cocoa every night. No doubt she rests her mug on one of her handmade canvas coasters. Take her lead and give the gift of a set of coasters with the very best cacao powder out there, the Anamalai Cacao from Diaspora Co. Add a little something special with a hand-carved wooden scoop, like this one made by Moore Wood Goods.

A little bitter:

I love the herbal bitters from Dram Apothecary. Offer the whole set of minis or just a pair tucked into a cloth origami masu box with a bundle of coasters. (If you’re feeling very ambitious, include a canvas tool roll apron for the artisan cocktail maker in the family.

A little cozy:

If you know someone who needs a little something scented to feel the spirit of the season, this spruce-scented soy candle from P.F. Candle Co is a favorite in our house. Upgrade a few hardware store matchboxes with a piece or two of gum tape, add a handmade coaster, and invite yourself over for hot toddies and you’re giving the gift of cozy.

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For the past few years, Rose Pearlman and I have been collaborating on simple, useful craft projects made from humble materials that can serve a practical purpose in your home. In celebration of our past work, we’ve designed a series of holiday gift guides that showcase just some of the ways that these humble crafts can become a part of a special holiday gift—or simply be the gift itself.

This post includes affiliate links to online shops. Reading My Tea Leaves might earn a small commission on the goods purchased through those links, but most of these supplies can be found locally right in your own community. If you’d like to support this site directly, you can contribute directly here. Thanks so much for supporting this work.