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Tonya from The Crafty Mummy shows how to make these folded and tucked fabric coasters. They look like they’d be difficult but they’re actually very to make. And quick, too. The top is made from 4 squares of fabric. She used the same fabric for all of them, but you could also use 4 different fabrics for a scrappier look. A set of these coasters would make great teacher or neighbor gifts! Go to The Crafty Mummy for the tute.
[photo from The Crafty Mummy]
Dear Crafty Readers,
“I run a small sewing business. I sell handmade items that do really well at Christmas.
Every year, as soon as November hits, the messages start rolling in.
‘Can you squeeze in one more?’
‘It’s just a small order.’
‘I really need it before Christmas.’The thing is… I’m tired.
I spend most of the year sewing, planning, listing, packaging, and selling. By December, I’m already running on fumes.
This year, I decided to do something different. I set a clear cutoff date for Christmas orders. After that date, I said no — even when people asked nicely, even when they said they’d pay extra.
Some people understood.
Others didn’t. I got guilt-laden replies, passive-aggressive comments, and a few messages implying I was being selfish — or lazy — or ungrateful for the business.
Now I’m second-guessing myself.
Am I the asshole for saying no to Christmas orders because I want to actually enjoy the holidays?
— Anonymous
If your chest tightened a little reading that, you’re not alone.
This question cuts straight into one of the most uncomfortable truths of handmade selling: Christmas can be both your most profitable season and your most draining one.
And the pressure to keep saying yes can be enormous.
At Christmas, requests don’t feel optional — they feel urgent.
People aren’t just asking for handmade items. They’re asking for:
And because you can sew, it quietly becomes something you should do.
That’s where boundaries start to blur.
There’s a strong belief in the handmade world that Christmas business should be taken at all costs.
After all:
But what that belief ignores is the cost of constant urgency.
Christmas orders often mean:
More orders don’t always mean a better season.
Most sellers don’t burn out from one request.
They burn out from:
By the time December arrives, many makers are exhausted before Christmas even begins.
And exhaustion makes resentment grow quietly.
Saying no at Christmas feels harsher than at any other time of year.
You’re not just saying no to a sale — it feels like you’re saying no to:
That emotional weight can make even reasonable boundaries feel selfish.
But wanting rest isn’t selfish. It’s human.
There’s a quiet, unfair expectation that if you work from home or run a creative business, you don’t really need time off.
That you can:
But makers have families. Traditions. Bodies that get tired. Minds that need space.
Christmas shouldn’t belong only to buyers.
Some people believe that real business owners should push through.
That saying no to demand is:
Others believe that protecting your time is the only way to stay in business long-term.
There is no single right answer — but pretending there is creates unnecessary guilt.
For some sellers, enjoying Christmas means:
Boundaries don’t mean you don’t care about your customers. They mean you care about sustainability — yours.
This is where opinions split — and that’s exactly why this question matters.
Some readers will say:
Others will say:
And many will quietly admit:
Let’s be honest — because this one hits close to home.
Scroll down and tell us where you stand.
This is one of those conversations that deserves honesty — not judgement.
(If you have a sewing dilemma you’d like to submit anonymously, Sewing.CraftGossip would love to hear from you.)
I, too, have been making these for years(about 20). I just wanted to add a few ideas that I have done over the years: I use 6 squares, not 5. Lay one face down, add batting or insulation, if needed, one face up then the four folded pieces. Sew, trim, and turn inside out.
Instead of folding the 4 pieces into rectangles, you can fold them into triangles and then do all of the other steps.
Also, you can make these smaller for decorations and larger for hot holders, with proper insulation between the two squares.
And finally, you can make these using circles. Hope this jump starts some fun sewing!
PS: I recently sew these being used as wine glass holders, just slip the bottom of the wine glass in between the folds. It stays on, and can be used as an identifier, if each one is made differently.