How to Make a Mug Rug
ext cLearn how to make a mug rug with this easy and fun sewing project. A mug rug is a small quilted mat that is used to hold your mug and a snack. It is a great way to use up your fabric scraps and add some personality to your table. You can make a mug rug in any size and shape you want, and customize it with different fabrics, patterns, and embellishments. In this tutorial, you will learn how to make a mug rug with a simple strip design and a binding.
What You Need
To make a mug rug, you will need the following materials and tools:
- Fabric scraps of your choice. You can use any woven fabric, such as cotton, linen, denim, or wool. Quilting cotton is easy to sew and gives your mug rug a nice amount of stiffness. You can also use other fabrics for a different look and feel.
- Batting for the filling. You can use any thin batting, such as Warm and Natural cotton batting *. Batting adds softness and thickness to your mug rug.
- Binding fabric for the edge. You can use any fabric that matches or contrasts with your fabric scraps. Binding fabric adds durability and neatness to your mug rug.
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine or needle
- Pins or sewing clips
- Scissors or rotary cutter and cutting mat
- Iron and ironing board
- Ruler or measuring tape
How to Make a Mug Rug
Follow these steps:
Cut out the strips.
You will need several strips of fabric. Decide on the size you want and cut out the strips accordingly. You can use a simple strip pattern or use your own creativity to mix and match different fabrics and patterns. For example, you can cut out 2 inch (5 cm) wide strips from different fabrics.
Sew the strips together to make a strip set.
Keep two strips right sides together and stitch them together along one long edge with a 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) seam allowance. Press the seam open or to one side with an iron. Repeat with more strips until you have a strip set that is wide enough for your mug rug size plus 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) for seam allowance.
Cut the strip set into smaller units to make the mug rug piece.
Next cut the strip set across the width into smaller units that are the same width as your mug rug size plus 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) for seam allowance.
Cut out the batting for the mug rug.
Then cut out one piece of batting that is slightly smaller than your mug rug piece.
Quilt the mug rug piece and the batting together.
Place the mug rug piece right side up on top of the batting piece (the wrong side will be touching the batting). Topstitch along each side of the mug rug piece, securing the batting piece to the back.
Cut out the binding.
Cut out strips of binding fabric that are 2 1/2 inch (6.4 cm) wide and long enough to go around the edges of your mug rug plus some extra for corners and seams. Sew the strips together end to end with diagonal seams to make one long strip of binding.
Fold and press the binding strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press with an iron.
Align the raw edges of the binding strip with the raw edges of the quilted piece, starting from somewhere along one side and leaving a few inches of tail at the beginning. Stitch along the edge with a 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) seam allowance, stopping 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) before each corner and backstitching.
Fold the binding strip up at a 45 degree angle at each corner.
Then fold it down along the next edge, aligning the raw edges again.
Continue stitching along each edge until you reach where you started.
Leave a few inches of tail at the end. Join the two tails of binding with a diagonal seam and trim off any excess fabric.
Fold the binding strip over to the back and stitch it down by hand or by machine.
Congratulations! You have made a mug rug!
FAQs
Q: What is a mug rug?
A: A mug rug is a small quilted mat that is used to hold your mug and a snack.
Q: How much fabric do I need to make a mug rug?
A: The amount of fabric you need depends on the size and shape that you want to make. You can use any fabric scraps you have or buy new fabric for your project. In general, you will need about 1/4 yard (0.23 m) of fabric scraps, 1/4 yard (0.23 m) of batting, and 1/4 yard (0.23 m) of binding fabric.
Q: How do I sew strips together to make a strip set?
A: To sew strips together to make a strip set, you will need to keep two strips right sides together and stitch them together along one long edge with a 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) seam allowance. Press the seam open or to one side with an iron. Repeat with more strips until you have a strip set that is wide enough for your mug rug size plus 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) for seam allowance.
Q: How do I cut strip sets into smaller units to make the mug rug piece?
A: To cut strip sets into smaller units to make the mug rug piece, you will need to cut the strip set across the width into smaller units that are the same width as your mug rug size plus 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) for seam allowance.
Q: How do I customize my mug rug?
A: You can customize your mug rug by using different fabrics, colors, and patterns for your strips. You can also use different fabrics, colors, and widths for your binding. You can also add embellishments, such as buttons, beads, or embroidery to your mug rug for more style and personality.
