Cat Coaster or Potholder - Machine Embroidery Pattern

Today, I’m here with a fun in-the-hoop machine embroidery project. Cat lovers will enjoy making these machine embroidery cat coaster designs to resemble your cat. These cat coasters or potholders were stitched in the hoop with my embroidery machine and designs purchased from Sweet Pea Machine Embroidery Designs.

The kitty potholder pattern is labeled as coasters, but I made mine into a hot pad by adding an extra layer of batting and a layer of Insul-Bright heat-resistant batting before the last step.

Disclosure: Needlepointers is a Sweet Pea affiliate, so we will receive a commission if you make purchases through our links.

The design comes with five different cat designs. I have made three: the ginger, tabby, and tuxedo designs. There are also plain and calico designs. These in-the-hoop designs are quick and easy project to make.

Click the link below to watch our video, which shows the steps of making a coaster at high speed so you can get an idea of how they are made. Keep reading this page for more information and a link to purchase the pattern.

About the Cat Coaster Designs

This cat coaster includes five different cat designs: calico, tuxedo, tabby, plain, and ginger.

The designs come in three hoop sizes, 4x4, 5x5, and 6x6, and files are available for most embroidery machines. The following formats are available: DST, EXP*, JEF, PEC, PES, VIP, VP3, *BMP and INF and XXX. 

This design includes a printable PDF step-by-step photo tutorial and images of the coasters.

These coasters are completed in the hoop, which means they only need a couple of steps to finish after stitching.

WHAT YOU NEED to make the cat coasters

• Cat Coasters Machine Embroidery Designs by Sweet Pea Machine Embroidery Designs 
• Scrap Fabrics
• Batting
• Insulbright or Heat resistant batting if making a potholder
• Cut-away stabilizer
• Thread
• Scissors
• Embroidery Machine

Making the coasters or potholders

Since Sweet Pea Machine Embroidery Designs includes a step-by-step photo tutorial with every purchase, this article will only show some photos of the basic steps of making one of the coasters.

For this design, the first step is to use a sewing machine to sew the two backing pieces together, leaving an opening to turn the coaster right side out.

The design is stitched in one single hooping. Hoop the cut-away stabilizer and stitch the first stitch. This is a placement stitch for the batting.  The batting is placed to cover the placement stitch, stitched down, and trimmed.

The steps for machine applique embroidery designs will include a placement stitch for each fabric and a tack-down stitch. Below is the placement stitch for the first fabric.

I am stitching the tuxedo cat pattern in this example. The number and pattern of fabrics will be a bit different for each cat, but the general process will be the same.

The first fabric is placed over the placement stitch with the wrong side facing down. Make sure the fabric extends past all edges of the placement stitch.

The tack-down stitch is next. This holds the fabric in place. After stitching, use small curved embroidery scissors to trim along the lower edge.

Next is the placement stitch for the 2nd fabric, tack down stitch, and trimming the top edge only.

The next steps are to quilt the top part of the face, satin stitch between the fabrics, and embroider the facial features.

Then, the eyes shine, and the whiskers and ears are embroidered.  Your machine will stop for color changes after each step.

The last two embroidery steps will involve stitching down the backing and doing a triple stitch around the outside.

If you are making coasters, place the prepared backing piece on the top of the hoop, with the right side facing down, covering the design.

To make mine into potholders, I stitched the largest size, 6x6, and used 100% cotton thread for the stitching and embroidery. Non-cotton thread can melt if exposed to a heat source.

Before placing the backing, I added a layer of heat-resistant batting and an additional layer of 100% cotton batting, which will make the potholder more heat-resistant.

I taped each layer down separately on the back of the hoop.

Then, I added the backing as in the instructions to the front of the hoop.

I stitched the last two steps through all of the layers.

Once the stitching is complete, remove the potholder from the hoop and trim around the outside 1/4" from the stitch line. Clip the corners and the points on the ears.

Turn the potholder right side out.

Use a pointed stick or pencil to push out the seams and the ears.

Iron the potholder and then hand stitch the opening closed.

These are smaller-sized potholders but would also make nice-sized mug rugs.

Other fun machine embroidery projects you can make are:

• Crazy Patch Ornaments
• Crossbody Pack
• Frangipani Mug Rug
• Greeting Cards

No embroidery machine? Don't worry; there are options for making cat potholders!

If you crochet, check out this popular free crochet kitty cat pot holder pattern by Blackstone Designs.

If you sew or quilt, don't miss this cute quilted Kitty Potholder by Patchwork Pottery, available through their Etsy shop. Log cabin blocks surround this little project of a peeking applique kitty.