Autumn on the Table

Totem Mug Rug - One of ten patterns 
from the Halloween & Thanksgiving Mug Rug book

The nights are turning cooler and the leaves are beginning to change colour.  So I am changing the mug rugs in my house to welcome the Autumnal season into my home.

Mug rugs are such a quick and easy way to create a homely touch.  You can use novelty charm squares (5" squares) as in this Quilt-as-you-Go pattern from my Halloween & Thanksgiving pattern book (also available via Amazon):

QAYG Halloween Fun

Or you can use shades of green, red, brown, yellow or orange from your stash:  

Pumpkin Patch Mug Rug Pattern

You can even turn a pumpkin into a Jack-o-Lantern with a touch of black fabric or felt:

Included in the Pumpkin Patch Pattern

And whilst you are finding scraps of black felt - look for some white to make a couple of fish-bones to add to the Moonlit Cat mug rug:

Moonlit Cat Mug Rug Pattern

The Moonlit Cat pattern is available as a single pattern or as part of the Halloween & Thanksgiving pattern book.  Either way you will also receive the Scaredy Cat version to make as well:

Moonlit Scaredy Cat Pattern
(included with the Moonlit Cat Pattern)

If pennies or time are short then just make a coaster using part of a mug rug pattern:  

Click on the image for the instructions for these spooky coasters

Whatever fabrics you choose to use - a mug rug pattern will help you create a little bit of fabric art for your home this season.   The Patchsmith's Halloween & Mug Rug pattern book will take you from Halloween to Thanksgiving with ten delicious mug rug patterns:

Available in PDF format from Etsy
or Paperback format via Amazon

So join with the Patchsmith this season and enjoy some eerily frugal fabric fun.  Until next time.................

Ghostly Coaster

Ghostly Coaster

Life is busy - I get it.  Even a mug rug just isn't possible - no problem.  But a coaster which can be stitched on the machine and finished by hand - eerily possible.  And here is how using The Patchsmith's Ghostly Duo mug rug pattern (also available in the Halloween & Thanksgiving pattern book) .......

1.   First - choose your fabric (the hardest part of any task for me!).  For each Ghostly coaster you will need:

                   One 6" square

                   Two 3½" x 6" rectangles

                   One 6" square of lightweight batting/wadding
                   One 6" square of fusible webbing

                   Fabric for your ghost 

                  Ghostly Duo mug rug pattern 

(Tip:  I cut my ghosts from an old white linen table cloth as it is a bit thicker than quilting fabric and I know it will wash well.  Felt also works well as it stops the background showing through.)

2.  Fold under 1/4" along the 6” edge of one of the rectangles of fabric as shown and press.

3.  Applique a ghost onto the center of the 6” fabric square following the instructions in the pattern.  Place lightweight batting behind the appliqued square and quilt around the ghost. 

Applique and quilt around your ghost ...

4.  Next lay the two backing rectangles right sides facing upwards, so that the rectangle with the folded edge overlaps the other rectangle slightly, creating a 6” square (the folded edge should lie on top).

5.  Place the appliquéd ghost square on top – right side facing downwards.  Pin to secure.

You should be able to see the quilted line quite easily.  

6.  Now stitch all the way around the ghost, approximately ½” outside of the quilted line.  Accuracy is not essential and smooth corners will work better than pointy ones. 

7.  Once you have stitched all the way around - trim all layers approximately ¼” from the outline stitching.  Take care not to snip any stitches.

8.  Turning out is simple because of the overlapping back.  

(I run my Clover Turner all along the inside of the seam to ensure it is fully turned out.) 

Pink Ghostly Coaster

9.  Give the ghoulish coaster a good pressing and slip-stitch the envelope back closed. 

Easy?  You bet.  So much so you could whip up a whole gang of ghoulish ghosts for your children, nephews, nieces, grandchildren and ... oh yes, yourself.  This method would also work well for other shapes.

Perfect for those Halloween cocktails

And if you would prefer a book of Halloween mug rug patterns you will find a paperback version on Amazon or a PDF version in my Etsy store. 

Halloween & Thanksgiving Mug Rug Booklet

Until next time ..... enjoy the Halloween fun and games and keep safe.

Late Summer Mug Rug

Quilt-As-You-Go 'Late Summer' Mug Rug

It is officially the first day of Autumn today so I pulled out my Halloween and Thanksgiving mug rug pattern book with a view to making something season.

Halloween and Thanksgiving Mug Rug Pattern Book
(also available in paperback via Amazon)

But then the sun came out and the sky turned bright blue and it seemed too early to contemplate autumnal themes.  Thankfully, every one of my mug rug pattern books comes with a pattern that can be used all year round.  In my Halloween and Thanksgiving book it is the ‘Quilt-as-You-Go’ pattern.

Halloween Quilt-As-You-Go (QAYG) Mug Rug

This pattern is designed to use up spare charm squares (5” fabric squares) so I pulled a selection of some of my favourite summer fabrics.

Summery Charms Squares and Scraps 

I lay them out to decide which seven fabrics worked well together before cutting the pieces.

Cut and ready for stitching

Then it was a simple case of laying them onto batting and backing and stitching them together as detailed in the pattern.

Stitch the scraps together onto batting

And hey presto - in just over an hour I have a mug rug that spans two seasons – the Late Summer mug rug.

 Late Summer Mug Rug

Until next time.

Halloween and Thanksgiving Mug Rugs

(Also available in paperback via Amazon)

I love the Autumn season – so much fun to be had – especially if you are into making mug rugs.  (If you don’t know what a mug rug is or why you should make one check out this posting.)

So I thought I would share my collection of ten Halloween and Thanksgiving patterns especially made for this season. 

First up is a nice and easy quilt-as-you-go pattern that uses seasonal 5" charm squares .....

The good thing about this pattern is it isn’t just for the Autumn season – it can be used all year round - even Christmas ......

If you fancy something a little more Halloweeny then bats may be just the thing....

If you are short of time you could make a small 5” coaster for your desk or worktable ....

Find more Halloween Coasters HERE

Every Autumn home needs a pumpkin or two and the Primitive Pumpkin mug rug is perfect to brighten the coffee table....... 

Primitive Pumpkin

You can even rearrange the applique shapes to make an alternative shaped pumpkin – now that is really neat ...... (details included in the book)

I’m not keen on spiders except for this friendly chap – he can sit on my table anytime he likes.....

Of course it is Spooky Season and the Ghostly Duo are out in force.....

Spooooookkkkkyyyyy!

You can also find easy-to-follow instructions HERE to turn these ghostly ghouls into a cute coaster .....

Perfect for a child's bedside table - or as hostess gifts over the Halloween season

Another pattern that can be used all year around is one of my favourites - the Moonlit Cat mug rug.......

(This pattern is also available individually in PDF format
just click on the photo to go through to the pattern)

This pattern comes with an alternative cat applique for a totally different look .....

Scaredy Cat is included in the book and with the individual pattern.

Autumn is all about ghosts and ghouls – there is also Pumpkin Pie and warming cups of coffee .......

And turkey for Thanksgiving (of course!) .......

Thanksgiving brings us onto the last two patterns in the book – the Pilgrim Settler – complete with pie and pumpkin .....

And finally the Totem Pole mug rug.........

Did you know the word 'totem' means kinship?

All these patterns are available in one handy book – available in paperback format from Amazon USA or Amazon UK.  Also available for immediate download from the Patchsmith's Pattern Store on Etsy.

So what are you waiting for – it is time to have some fabric fun this Autumn.