It's almost that time again! This year, since I didn't have to create the guild newsletter and post it etc., I've had so much extra time to actually quilt. What a treat! I decided to make a little something for my friends and colleagues for the holiday season. Since mug rugs are all the rage this year, I thought I would give those a try.
I am very happy to say that I have a nice little stash of Christmas fabrics collected over the years. Just enough fabrics to have a decent variety. This year, at
Quilty Pleasures, I bought two little bundles of 2 1/2 inch charm packs of Moda Christmas fabrics. With those squares mixed in with some of my own fabrics, I made quite a few small 9 patch blocks with borders. They made really nice mug rugs.
![Mug rug using Moda squares Mug rug using Moda squares](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOcDwDGoFaLONOT7g8As7hWChS3jHxl4Mj585c9vQsQ1dpAZeJ2YbqU-TrLG-1SudF3ieOeDcJrSDL-wmguF4IYVrTi7fcpRCuDd9vAif6BGZ5RhhkGj2hH88q8aA-OZr98EqZXsiYKc/s200/MugRugs2.jpg) |
These are all little Moda squares |
![Three 9 patch mug rugs Three 9 patch mug rugs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8lmpXHbuInUVthpN4MjDcwyy7FFZ9J2x8rU5Czj6jl1YVmA3TS0iLF3YP-LGkeg9Ohp3M_5SAsiJBO_MluO8b8Y1dSUqXQQX4YpkMi2Acw_CQ-Ukk0fRE10CbrA7U9GfMgxoaSIi7V8/s320/MugRugs8.jpg) |
The block in the middle mug rug was made years ago! |
I also had quite a few blocks that I had made years ago, so they got incorporated into the mug rug production.
![Three fabric mug rugs Three fabric mug rugs](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrDAqc3j0UZey_pat9nUIe-ANLco-ZV3z-1E81suy0NVZ58rw1yQsa007cjMi_lY6sjNQU8J63gQRtyo-EjowLmPmpAOaYIyUS7jBJxSL16urpIp1MPTne2bpcyDjEOKkirDIag8TbvA/s320/MugRug5a.jpg) |
Three fabric mug rugs |
After researching on the internet, I found that many mug rugs were made of three panels of fabric. Here are a few of those models. I found it difficult to put all of these printed fabrics together, but I think most came out ok.
![Appliquéd tree Appliquéd tree](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNk3IoCniEK-q_38jwOHTvfq6WcXi31eQMxClQRS7PV0oG-_r0Aoyg1J9w9B_WNB3Fc-v72FwWnvoT69lBtcaeVng6UXDRl3W43Db6v4l5z9mUnruWX5tymbzZKI4AAVsYz3KM6kHoKw/s200/MugRug3.jpg) |
Appliquéd tree |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzi7WdYg6L22jwh7jTh6jLugy4yjUmyB6skXlLQjbb8GXlYB6orSUeSeY1rKrwyO-8KwPdSWzv6a8moXgJIx0UHXbi31XxUEaLbOazpPaPs_dmqNPjo2yYE_EM8MR0F7OnWsKKkkrCK_E/s320/MugRug.jpg)
The tree on the mug rug above was made of strips of fabric and appliquéd. That was a lot of fun.
These were also great little projects to practice my free motion quilting. Some came out better than others, but that's what practicing is all about!
![Penguin fabric Lovely penguin fabric](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFNvzKAmkaSMb_ev_Po0HaYwTHZgGHVwb97RHVFeAJr3Kf49R5AWP71vYDyo3RKar0E2Gwl4-utxZFUeSBin6mqB4ZRlizpGmP3F3EiRhRhLXPigWnHT8sj3zsiqbwBrGGX0dGDCdLyo/s320/MugRugs1.jpg) |
Lovely penguin fabric |
I made this mug rug to highlight the penguin fabric. Aren't they cute!
I bought a couple of e-patterns for mug rugs. The mug and gingerbread man was one of them. My version doesn't really do it justice. The one with the different border looks better though.
![mug rug mug rug](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikZRRyAs_BFvoz-dKvMG8v3VOsmTcBmVr6-RrrK3_HWrUIs35EAKeA9N9EyxpOoM4FAdZ9PcvArSjrnFiRQLNmRa5zttmURVxJcmRqGsDQnEmKCB3N-zoCM6CiLgfASE910nZMXt2zE0/s200/mugrugSpice.jpg) |
Mug and Gingerbread Man |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqT3tYZWiHz-7bHSw-O6NoX0IgzAKykFltlxbeo1KUgjHrUGe1oRRKwKEo2ieU5l8xfg5OGoNk-SldKl0eKvxnrmKiOigC6s88djVg2yTWK10C4ApmmIaGSgtJZl6Fu01UqVtY72eeCc/s200/mug+rugs+glitzy.jpg) |
Glitzy mug rugs |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzdG5nux8WrpO2s912wHHo6SrYPcYkVbHwYtK28QF93Av3uyhDmBF19pyEEylibKDYuL2g_cp1pDPNQCbpaaRqY7F_NZn4vGQ5iYZyrqhkQ5iSf-gF41sWtCHEPDXk-nqJIAZbgpbzY8/s200/mugrugGingerbread.jpg) |
Same mug rug with a different border |
I also created a few glitzy mug rugs. The two below will be in the mail today for Denmark, one for my brother and sister-in-law and the other for her mother. I hope they get there on time!
![Bandit in the stash Bandit in the stash](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoTP7bUgl_WDBc4UlIQvZqpgCAEDhediYU3Enl_0PocVQsDVDXyPlNZYVEM0IfXWKAOk9SfcWNfO93XL1sy8sIk2zGiwrka7mzcw2zJJEOOtJNRY7awmAkGraa_Zos-kgz7JDQDsbNT8/s320/BanditChristmasStash.jpg) |
Bandit nesting in my Christmas stash! |
I spent many evenings making these. One night, Bandit decided to keep me company. He moved around some of the fabrics in the box and made himself at home.
What I learned:
- Having a dozen or so small projects on the go is more than I can handle. At one point, I felt very scattered. I think that it's best if I make a few and finish them before moving on.
- Sometimes it's important to review things that you think you know! I was having a very hard time at the beginning with the binding. I thought I wasn't stopping early enough at each corner (that 1/4 inch) but it turns out, after reviewing directions for making those corners that I wasn't folding the fabric properly. After that, my corners were much more respectable.
- I found it hard to choose the different fabrics that would go together on a mug rug. After I made the Mug and Gingerbread Man above, I realised that having a different fabric for the binding can be a very good thing to emphasize the project.