Saturday, 30 November 2013

Across the Pond Christmas Project and Give-away

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79143602@N04/11139291126/in/photostream/lightbox/
I love December – it is a month of joy and gifts and chocolates on the tree.  It is also time for another Across the Pond project but the last thing any of us need in December is a HUGE project.  So I have the perfect, one-hour make for you this month (okay, some may take one-and-a-half-hours but hey – what’s 30 minutes between friends?)

My choice of project this month is the cup cosy or ‘mug hug’ as I like to call them.  There are plenty around but two of my faves are:

Sew Happy Geek – this is the simplest and most versatile.
http://sewhappygeek.co.uk/index.php/2011/05/24/tutorial-tuesday-coffee-cup-cosy-with-free-pdf-template/
You can patch it, applique it or use one piece of designer fabric.  Quick, easy and effective.  You could even make a co-ordinating mug hug with left-over fabric from another project (mmmm maybe a Patchsmith mug rug?)  What a great little present that would be for the Secret Santa.
Note:  Ignore the comment about needing an account to download - this is no longer true.

And then there is Staci over at Crafty Staci who has a selection of FREE patterns and tutorials.
http://craftystaci.com/coffee-cup-sleeves/

Now these are some seriously cute, fun designs and I chose to make her fox mug hug to match my Fox mug rug and coaster
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79143602@N04/11139254335/in/photostream/lightbox/
This mug hug went together really well - it was a little fiddly turning it right side out but my trusty chop-stick came to the rescue.  It took little more than an hour.
But I'm a greedy girl who wants all the presents on her wish-list.  I also wanted a mug hug for my pen pot.  My pen-pot-mug is quite short so I simply patched eleven 3" x 1½” strips together to give me a finished mug hug measuring 10½” by 2½” tall.  Then I appliqued the little blackbird from my Seasonal Tree mug rug pattern and hey-presto - a cosy country pen-pot.
Blackbird Pen Mug Hug
Then, just as I was about to fill up one of these mugs with a nice cup of Italian coffee, an email popped up to tell me that Amy (of 'Amy Made That' fame) had made a lovely tree skirt from Kate Spain's 'In From the Cold' winter fabrics.  This reminded me of the left-over charm squares from my JOY banner. And before I could say, 'Yes Santa, I have been good ...... at least once this year' - I had made another slightly larger version.  This one is reserved for my Christmas cocoa.
To match Amy's Christmas Tree Skirt
(I just need to figure out a way to get her to send it to me .....
perhaps I could tell her it is needed for a photo shoot!)
But you don’t have to make these cute little cosies just for mugs – what about jars of preserves (jam, marmalade, pickle) - or long, long hugs for bottles of wine.  I am sure you can come up with some other ideas as well.  

Oooh, that has given me an idea – how about a competition?  ‘YAY’ I hear you all screaming.  Just leave a comment telling me how you will use your mug hug.  I will pick a winner, at random, on Christmas Eve to receive a small fat quarter bundle.   (Make sure I can contact you to be in with a chance.)  And everybody who posts a photo of a mug hug onto the Across the Pond Flickr Group will get an extra chance to win.

Sew until next time ....... 

18 comments:

  1. Lots of fabulous ideas here, thankyou.

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  2. This post came at the perfect time! I am going to make one for my Secret Sister at church...and I'd better get a goin' on it to,give her next week! I want to make another one or two for myself to keep my morning cuppa warm! Thanks so much for sharing your patterns!

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    1. You've got plenty of time Kathy - mug hugs go together really easily. Have fun.
      xxxx

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  3. Why haven't I made one of these yet? I'm going to use a mug hug for when I get up early on work/school days and by the time I get to drinking my tea it's stone cold!

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  4. I never made any of these either. To me that foxy coaster stole the show. All those foxes are just so cute! No idea on the use for mug hug though.

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  5. So cute! My family name is Fox so I see some Christmas projects in my future! I got your pattern for the fox mug rug and the mug hug one too!

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  6. What a great idea - my daughter sets off to work early each morning and she'd love a fox mug hug - I'm off to make one now!

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  7. I sew need to make some of these for Christmas gifts. Thanks for sharing

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  8. Your hired!! to come make all my Christmas gifts for me ;)) Do you have any dynamite? Seriously loved your post here. How cute is your little fox mug rug with the mug hug to match! Some great ideas here, thank you! xx

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  9. I plan to use my mug hug when I drink my hot chocolate this winter.

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  10. I would use it every day on my coffee cup, thanks.
    smjohns63 at yahoo dot com

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  11. Loving this month's project. Definitely going to try and squeeze one in to give to my bestie as a Christmas pressie as she is always getting a coffee on her way in to work. Thanks for the chance to win xxx

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  12. Arghhh - your timing is off lol - I needed one of these a couple of weeks ago and had to make my own without a pattern, it's not the prettiest thing I've ever made but it does the job of keeping my tea warm in the car, whilst I sit and wait for swimming lessons to be over. Now I need to make a proper one, off to check out the patterns x

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  13. Great quick gift idea. Will do. Thanks.

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  14. Yours is the first mug mat I've tried and first in my book of patterns. My Alaska friends are going to love, love, love the mug hugs to go with! Many thanks.

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  15. I love that little fox set. You could cover a jar with your mug hug and use it as a vase!

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  16. I need to make a mug hug for my insulated travel mug to keep my tea warmer longer and to cover that silver, curvy body in color! Adorable :)

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  17. I need to keep my coffee mug cosy, all too often my coffee is luke warm when I finally remember to drink it.

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