Making a Mug Rug

The Modern Quilt Guild Individual Members group put on a pretty cool swap recently. The group decided to do a mug rug swap. Several of us participated in the swap, me included. I had never made a mug rug before and wasn't even really sure what they were. But I love the challenge of making something I've never made before.

So, from my understanding a mug rug is simply a drink coaster on Viagra. Bigger then a normal coaster, but not fully a placemat, a mug rug holds not only your coffee/tea mug, but also has room for the spoon and some cookies or other small treats.

Mug rugs vary in shape and sizes, making each one an individual miniature quilting work of art.

I decided to make mine in a more traditional slightly rectangle shape. I used fabric from a pre-cut pack that I purchased at Hobby Lobby in Arizona.

The colors of brown, green and orange, along with the patterns gave the mug rug a very 1960's feel.

Since the piece was machine sewn, I decided that I hand to add some hand sewing to it. So I hand quilted the piece with a simple grip pattern.

I think I did pretty good considering I didn't use anything to mark my lines. I just eyeballed the whole thing.

Next was adding the binding. I choose a fabric in a darker green that was the same pattern as the green I used for the backing.

This was only the second time that I have ever made binding. Usually I just fold over the edges of the backing to the front of the quilt in order to create the binding.

Not too bad of a job if I do say so myself.

Here is the full back view of the mug rug, showing off my lovely hand quilting.

And here is the full front view of the mug rug. The rug is now at home with it's new owner enjoying what I hope will be many wonderful mornings of coffee, tea and sweet treats.