About the Author

Carolyn S. Vagts is a wife, mother, grandmother, quilt designer and the new editor of Quilter's World. She also has a successful quilt shop in Canterbury Village in Lake Orion, Mich. Carolyn has made a name for herself in the quilting world with her award-winning techniques of mixing tradition piecing with fusible-art applique. Carolyn's designs have been published regularly in several magazines, including Quilters World. She also lectures and teaches workshops to guilds.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Learn to Make Quilted Mug Rugs

30 Appliqués 8 Backgrounds

Annie's

Contents

Step 1: Selecting a Background

There are eight different styles of backgrounds to choose from in this book from plain to a pieced checkerboard. Several of these have size options.

Take the time to coordinate the background with the surface decoration you like — appliqué or wording (either stitched or handwritten) — considering the size, shape and complexity of the background and surface decoration together.

Choice 1: Plain Rectangle

It's not necessary to make a complicated base for your mug rug to be creative, appealing and functional. Any of the appliqué motifs can be placed on a simple, plain background.

Cutting

Most of the appliqués will fit best on a finished rectangle that measures between 8\" x 6\" and 10\" x 8\".

Assembly

1. Cut the chosen background fabric into the desired finished size from scraps, remnants or precuts (Figure 1).

2. Cut the backing fabric, heat-resistant batting and stabilizer approximately 1\" larger than the background fabric rectangle.

3. Cut a binding strip from coordinating fabric 2¼\" by the perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

For example, for an 8\" x 6\" finished mug rug cut the 2¼\"-wide binding strip 28\" plus 4\"–6\" or 32\"-34\" long.

4. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Choice 2: One Simple Border

If you'd like to add a bit more color and interest to your mug rug, a simple border can do that. Select one of the three finished-size options offered here and use them horizontally or vertically to match the surface decoration you have chosen.

Small One-Border Background

Finished Size: 10\" x 7\"

Materials

• Scraps, remnants or precuts for center, border and binding fabrics

• Backing to size

• Heat-resistant batting to size

Cutting

From center fabric:

• Cut 1 (7½\" x 4½\") A rectangle.

From border fabric:

• Cut 2 (7½\" x 1¾\") B border strips.

• Cut 2 (7\" x 1¾\") C border strips.

From coordinating binding fabric:

• Cut a binding strip 2½\" by finished perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

Assembly

1. Stitch one B border to each long side of A (Figure 1). Press seams toward borders.

2. Stitch C borders to each of the remaining sides (Figure 2). Press seams toward borders.

3. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Medium One-Border Background

Finished Size: 7½\" x 10½\"

Materials

• Scraps, remnants or precuts for center, border and binding fabrics

• Backing to size

• Heat-resistant batting to size

Cutting

From center fabric:

• Cut 1 (7½\" x 4½\") A rectangle.

From border fabric:

• Cut 4 (7½\" x 2\") B/C strips.

From binding fabric:

• Cut a strip 2¼\" by finished perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

Assembly

Refer to Figures 1 and 2 in Small One-Border Background Assembly instructions.

1. Stitch a B strip to each long side of A. Press seams toward borders.

2. Stitch C strips to the two remaining sides of A. Press seams toward borders.

3. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Large One-Border Background

Finished Size: 10\" x 11\"

Materials

• Scraps, remnants or precuts for center, border and binding fabrics

• Backing to size

• Heat-resistant batting to size

Cutting

From center fabric:

• Cut 1 (7 x 8½\") A rectangle.

From border fabric:

• Cut 2 (8½\" x 2\") B border strips.

• Cut 2 (10\" x 2\") C border strips.

From binding fabric:

• Cut a binding strip from coordinating fabric 2¼\" by finished perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

Assembly

Refer to Figures 1 and 2 in Small One-Border Background Assembly instructions.

1. Stitch B border strips to each long side of A. Press seams toward borders.

2. Stitch C border strips to the two remaining sides of A. Press seams toward borders.

3. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Choice 3: Double-Border Background

If one lump of sugar in your coffee is good, two lumps is better! The same goes for borders. Add two borders coordinating with the surface- decoration colors to add twice the pop of color and interest.

Finished Size: 8½\" x 9½\"

Materials

• Scraps, remnants or precuts for center, first and second borders, and binding fabrics

• Backing to size

• Heat-resistant batting to size

Cutting

From center fabric:

• Cut 1 (4½\" x 5½\") A rectangle.

From first border fabric:

• Cut 2 (5½\" x 1½\") B border strips.

• Cut 2 (6½\" x 1½\") C border strips.

From second border fabric:

• Cut 2 (7½\" x 1½\") D border strips.

• Cut 2 (8½\" x 1½\") E border strips.

From coordinating binding fabric:

• Cut a binding strip 2¼\" by finished perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

Assembly

1. Stitch B border strips to each long side of A (Figure 1). Press seams toward border.

2. Stitch C border strips to the two remaining sides (Figure 2). Press seams toward border.

3. Stitch D border strips to each long side of the unit (Figure 3). Press seams toward border.

4. Stitch E border strips to the two remaining sides (Figure 4). Press seams toward border.

5. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Choice 4: Triple-Border Background

A triple border looks like a Courthouse Steps block design. It can stand alone or be a great background to a simple appliqué design.

Finished Size: 8½\" x 9½\"

Materials

• Scraps, remnants or precuts for center, first, second and third borders, and binding fabrics

• Backing to size

• Heat-resistant batting to size

Cutting

From center fabric:

• Cut 1 (2½\" x 3½\") A rectangle.

From first border fabric:

• Cut 2 (2½\" x 1½\") B and 2 (5½\" x 1½\") C strips.

From second border fabric:

• Cut 2 (4½\" x 1½\") D and 2 (7½\" x 1½\") E strips.

From third border fabric:

• Cut 2 (6½\" x 1½\") F and 2 (9½\" x 1½\") G strips.

From coordinating binding fabric:

• Cut a binding strip 2¼\" by finished perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

Assembly

1. Stitch B border strips to the short sides of A (Figure 1). Press seams toward B.

2. Stitch C border strips to the long sides (Figure 2). Press seams toward C.

3. Stitch D border strips to the short sides of the unit (Figure 3). Press seams toward D.

4. Stitch E border strips to the long sides of the unit (Figure 4). Press seams toward E.

5. Stitch F border strips to the short sides of the unit (Figure 5). Press seams toward F.

6. Stitch G border strips to the long sides of the unit referring again to Figure 5. Press seams toward G.

7. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Choice 5: Color-Bar Background

This off-set color bar leaves the perfect area on the mug rug for adding a stitched surface design where you can show off your quilting skills.

Finished Size: 10½\" x 8½\"

Materials

• Assorted coordinating scraps for color bar

• Scraps, remnants or precuts for background and binding fabrics

• Backing to size

• Heat-resistant batting to size

Cutting

From assorted coordinating scraps:

• Cut 6 (2½\" x 1½\") different-color A rectangles for color bar.

From background fabric:

• Cut 2 (2½\" x 1½\") B rectangles.

• Cut 1 (8½\" x 2½\") C rectangle.

• Cut 1 (8½\" x 6½\") D rectangle.

From coordinating binding fabric:

• Cut a binding strip 2¼\" by finished perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

Assembly

1. Arrange and stitch the six A rectangles together on the long sides (Figure 1). Press seams in one direction.

2. Stitch a B rectangle to each end of the A unit (Figure 2). Press seams in same direction as A unit.

3. Stitch the C rectangle to the left long edge of the color bar unit referring to Figure 3. Press seam toward C.

4. Stitch the D rectangle to the right long edge of the color bar unit referring to Figure 4. Press seam toward D.

5. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Choice 6: Uneven Four-Patch With Pocket Background

This design choice gives you the option to mix and match up to four fabrics and add a napkin. The cutting instructions given here are for the Daisy appliqué mug rug sample. Mix and match the colors of the A through D pieces to create your own color scheme referring to the sample photos for ideas.

Finished Size: 10\" x 8\"

Materials

• Scraps, remnants or precuts for background pieces, pocket and binding fabrics

• 2 coordinating fat quarters for optional napkin

• Backing to size

• Heat-resistant batting to size

Cutting

From same background fabric:

• Cut 1 each 6½\" x 5½\" C and 4½\" x 8½\" B rectangle.

From a second color background fabric:

• Cut 1 (6½\" x 3½\") D rectangle.

From pocket fabric:

• Cut 1 (4½\" x 10\") A rectangle.

From coordinating binding fabric:

• Cut a binding strip 2½\" by finished perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

Assembly

1. With wrong sides together press A in half widthwise.

2. Using 1/8\" seam allowance, stitch pressed A onto right edge of B, matching bottom raw edges (Figure 1).

3. Stitch C and D rectangles together along 6½\" edge (Figure 2). Press seam toward D.

4. Stitch C-D and A-B units together along length (Figure 3a). Press seam open (Figure 3b).

5. Stitch down loose edges of the pocket using a scant ¼\" to secure (Figure 4).

6. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Optional Napkin

Cutting

From each coordinating fat quarter:

• Cut 1 (17½\") square.

Assembly

1. Pin the two squares right sides together. Use a ¼\" seam allowance and stitch all around the edges leaving a 3\" turning opening on one side (Figure 5).

2. Turn the squares right side out and press. Slipstitch the turning opening closed, and then topstitch all around ¼\" from the edges (Figure 6).

Choice 7: Charmed Four-Patch

Unless you have been especially lucky in your planning, you probably have some leftover 5\" precut squares lying around. This design is an easy way to use them up and practice your free-motion quilting.

Finished Size: 8\" x 8\" or 9\" x 9\"

Materials

• Coordinating scrap, remnant or precut for binding fabric

• 4 (5\") precut squares

• Backing to size

• Heat-resistant batting to size

Cutting

From coordinating binding fabric:

• Cut a binding strip 2¼\" by finished perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

From precut squares:

• Trim squares to 4½\" for an 8\" x 8\" mug rug or use as is for a 9\" x 9\" mug rug.

Assembly

1. Stitch two squares together along one side (Figure 1). Repeat to make two units. Press seams in opposite directions.

2. Stitch the two units together to make a Four-Patch block (Figure 2). Press seam to one side.

3. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Choice 8: Checkerboard Background

Like all the rest of the choices we have shown you so far, the checkerboard background is great for appliqué or simple stitching decorations. Try mixing and matching the two for even more personalization.

Finished Size: 10½\" x 8½\"

Materials

• Variety scraps, remnants or precuts for background and binding fabrics

• Backing to size

• Heat-resistant batting to size

Cutting

From background fabrics:

• Cut 16 (3\" x 2½\") A rectangles.

From coordinating binding fabric:

• Cut a binding strip 2¼\" by finished perimeter of mug rug plus at least 4\"–6\".

Assembly

1. Stitch four A rectangles together along long sides to make a vertical row of four pieces, mixing the colors (Figure 1). Repeat to make four rows, pressing seams in opposite directions between rows.

2. Stitch the rows together matching seams (Figure 2).

3. Proceed to Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués on page 28 and Step 3: Embellishing Your Designs on page 32 for embellishment suggestions and finishing steps.

Step 2: Picking & Adding Appliqués

One of the easiest ways to apply appliqué designs is the raw-edge fusible web method. Paper-backed fusible web motif shapes or individual pieces are fused to the wrong side of fabric. The motif shapes or individual pieces are then cut out, layered to make the design, and then fused to a foundation fabric. Each piece of the design is stitched in place by hand or machine to secure.

You will find 30 appliqué designs in this book. The motifs are reversed for use in the raw-edge fusible appliqué method. Note: If you prefer another appliqué method you will need to prepare the designs to fit that method. Just remember that the templates included are reversed.

Before you begin the appliqué process, please read through the general instructions, the following rawedge fusible web method instructions and the tips to help make your mug rug project experience a happy one.

Picking the Appliqué Design

There are several mug rug background sizes given, and most of the appliqués will fit on any of these sizes. Position the design pattern on the mug rug background.

Consider if the appliqué will be centered or offset to make room for other elements such as personalization with words or a quilted motif.

Refer to the Fabrics section of Before You Start on page 4 for tips on choosing the best fabrics for raw-edge fusible appliqué, and gather fabrics for your appliqué that coordinate with the background.

Picking Batting, Fusible Web & Stabilizer

There are many choices on the market for batting, fusible web and stabilizer. Refer to Before You Start on page 4 for some tips on how to choose these materials. Whatever you choose, read the manufacturer's instructions before the using the product. Each company will have tips on how to use their product successfully.

We suggest you use a heat-resistant batting. It will protect your furniture and can prevent injury. If you choose not to, we suggest that you use two layers of a thin cotton batting instead.

Fusible web with a paper release works best for the raw-edge fusible appliqué method. Using a fusible web with paper release allows you to simply trace the appliqué designs onto the paper side of the fusible web, leaving a space in between the pieces as you trace.