Unwind Design

Wooden Dowel Coasters

By now, we hope you’ve hosted your own Unwind & Design party. Be sure to check
out the online components of Unwind & Design as well. The site features Web-exclusive projects, along with hostess tips, video demonstrations, party playlists, a sample invitation, and more.

List:
assorted dowels (round, 48-inch-long, 3/8-inch-diameter, #19380; square, 36-inch-long, 1/4-inch-thick, #27546)
paint (Valspar Signature Colors, Eddie Bauer Home; Full Sun #EB1-1; Pail #EB6-2; Shrimp #EB4-3; Snapdragon #EB17-2; Apple Green #EB10-2; flat)
stain (Olympic Interior One Step, Traditional Walnut)
colored twine (#158880)
18-gauge steel wire (#62933)
foam brushes**
touch-up paintbrush/jar (#140300)**
anvil hand pruners (#77178)**
polyurethane**
tape measure**

*A portion of this cost is for supplies that can be kept in your hostess tool kit. Does
not include applicable taxes, which vary by market.
**Add these items to your Unwind & Design hostess tool kit.


STEP-BY-STEP

Step 1: Use anvil pruners to trim off the ends of each 48-inch round dowel, and then cut the dowel into nine 31/2-inch pieces for each coaster. Cut each 36-inch square dowel into 12 pieces for each coaster.

Step 2: Add a light coat of paint or stain to each dowel piece. (Use gloves when working with stain.) Lay the pieces on a drop cloth to dry. The pieces should be dry to the touch in about 20 minutes. If working indoors, direct a fan on the pieces to
reduce drying time.

Step 3: Cut two 3-foot-long pieces of twine or wire for each coaster. Group together nine round dowel pieces (or 12 of the square dowel pieces) to form a square. Tie the twine or wire around the first dowel piece, and then loop the remainder around each piece to secure them together. Tie off and cut the excess when you reach the end. Repeat to secure the opposite end of the coaster. Hostess Tip: Give each guest a jar of polyurethane for adding a protective finish to the coasters later.