Mug Rug Tutorial: Using a Printable Image or Picture

I will say that I am super jealous of you who can print pictures. The color ink on my printer went kaput and I cannot print anything with color. Well, and have it look good. So color images for me is out. But I can still print in black. I decided to give it a try for gifts of the members in my MOPS Discussion Group that I led this past year.

I loved the theme, "Be You, Bravely". It spoke to me. I needed to be brave, and I needed to be me. So I decided to make the ladies mug rugs (I love Mug Rugs) using the theme. At first I wanted to make zipper pouches (hense the zipper pouch round-up a couple weeks ago) but decided to go with mug rugs instead.

So, printable mug rugs was born! You can use your own colored images. and make them especially personal.

First, cut down some fabric into 8.5" x 11" rectangles and an 8.5" x 11" rectangle of freezer paper, this helps the printer grab the fabric, and print cleanly.

Select the image and the size you want, I chose 5" x 7" images, and print. Using paper printer and the best printer quality will result in the best images.

Remove the freezer paper (you can reuse it, in my case I reused it 5 times!) and soak in a vinegar bath to set the ink. I let them sit about 10 minutes (some up to 20 because I forgot... oops). Then let dry (it wont smell really once it is done drying.)

Trim down to your preference. I trimmed down prior because my rectangle pan was dirty so the round one was the only clean one I had.

I was rushing to finish, so I missed the pictures of these steps :(

Frame the images in strips of fabric. In this case I used 1.5" x wof (width of fabric) left overs and scraps. This is a great scrap buster!
Sandwich with backing and batting

Quilt, I just did straight lines so the focus was the print.
Bind... check out the faux binding using the backing over at Made by Rae... it really is easier and quicker for a project like this!

Voila! A beautiful, personalized Mug Rug! Use with coffee or tea and enjoy!

Check out more mug rug inspiration on my Mug Rug Pinterest board...

Happy sewing!

Happy St. Patrick's Day: Shamrock Cut Out Mug Rug Tutorial

If it wasn't for Baby Girl's St Patrick's Day Outfit and the mini quilt theme for the Tucson Modern Quilt Guild's show and tell for this month, I probably would not have created this incredibly fun mug rug! And then, would never have thought how fun it would be to have a tutorial for you all to create one yourselves!

It's a great scrap buster too, just like most mug rugs. Though you still need bits big enough for the whole piece. You can use whatever printable shapes you want!

What you need:
2 (9"x7") pieces of main fabric for front and back
2 square pieces big enough for your shape facing
1 printed shape your desired size
1-2 pieces for the inside of the shape (I used one piece about the same size as my main)
about 1/8th yard for the binding
batting

Trace your shapes on the facing pieces (here are some outlined shamrocks on google). Place them on your main front piece and arrange however you like. Pin Make sure you have the right sides together. I just used muslin for the facing.
Sew along your drawn line.

cut out the shape, making sure not to clip your seam, trimming points and snipping curves.

Turn the facing to the wrong side of the main piece. I used a super dull lead pencil, I imagine it would be much easier with a turning tool.

pin. Top stitch down. (you can assemble your sandwich before you topstitch so you are going over it less)

Sandwich your mug rug. First lay the backing right side down, place the batting on top, the top right side up with the cutout over your shape inside fabric (don't want any batting showing through those cut outs!

baste around the outer edge to help hold it in place. Quilt however you feel. I just doubled over my top stitching.

Admire the back and trim off the excess.

bind.

Enjoy with your favorite coffee or tea! Don't worry, mine is just regular coffee! ;)

What shape would use use to create a cut-out mug rug?

Arizona Mug Rug: A Paper Piecing Tutorial

You've probably seen my Arizona Mug Rug here and here, and you can buy the paper piecing pattern on craftsy. Here I'm giving directions on how to assemble paper piecing patterns using my Arizona Flag Mug Rug.

Print patterns according to directions, in this case without any scaling. Make sure the 1" test box is 1". I print them on paper that works really for paper piecing, this is it from Amazon! Love this stuff! Foundation Piecing Paper (affiliate)

Cut out all pieces.

Then I take and fold on the lines... This makes trimming the fabric once sewed, and matching the fabric piece to the space a little easier too.

Match up the size of fabric to the space starting with the numbered 1 space. I think of it like a quilt-by-number as-you-go method, but on paper instead of batting.

Make sure you leave enough room for seam allowance.

I use a spot of glue, like this glue Elmer's Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks (affiliate), to hold down the first piece of fabric as I start. wrong side of the fabric to the back of the paper.

Then take your 2nd piece of fabric (making sure it's big enough) and line it up on top of your first piece, right sides together. using a short stitch length, sew along the line of the paper fabric down so you could see the lines.

Lining up D+C...

Open up your fabric and it should cover the second space plus seam allowance. Trim down for the next piece leaving a 1/4" - 1/2" seam allowance.

Continue for each piece and shape and then trim down to the final paper size and shape.

then sew together as instructed by pattern. In this case:

Bottom parts A + B, then tear away paper

Top first E+F & D+C then EF + DC .. tear away paper 

Last top + bottom

I pinned to make sure the star came out.

Square it off, sandwich with batting and backing then quilt and bind!

You now have a fun new rug mug for your morning coffee or tea!

Don't forget to give this a try using my pattern that you can buy on craftsy !

Happy sewing!

Arizona Mug Rug: A Berry Bunch Pattern

remember when I first made the Mug rug? You can read the post about it here

It is now for sale on Craftsy!

Arizona State Flag Paper Pieced Mug Rug

Stay tuned for a little help with paper piecing!

Happy sewing,

Arizona Flag Mug Rug

I am super stoked! I started this project back on Flag Day (which actually was a coincidence, totally not intentional) and I became way discouraged. I know how to paper piece, but creating a paper piece template/pattern is way different. But with time and patience, I like to rush sometimes, I was able to complete this Mug Rug and I am super stoked!

One Bucket List item is now half complete! :)

Update, you can now but this pattern! Arizona Mug Rug on Craftsy

Quilt As You Go: Dresden Fan Coaster

I am revisiting the Dresden Fan Coaster from last year. I felt that it wasn't necessarily the best directions if someone wanted to duplicate it. I also love making picture collages, so this gave me the opportunity to do that!