Look Inside The Patchsmith's One Block Mug Rug Pattern Book

If you want a mug rug pattern book that turns ANY 6” patchwork, embroidery or applique block into a fun and functional mug rug, look no further than the One Block Mug Rugs pattern book. 

 

If you can afford just one mug rug pattern book then this is the book to buy.  It contains ten sidebar designs that will go with any 6” block of your choosing.

And to get you started it also comes with easy instructions for the seven 6” blocks featured in the book.

You can mix and match the blocks with the Sidebars to create a myriad of mug rugs.  In this example I have paired the Patchsmith Daisy block with the Scallop Sidebars. 

And then I paired it with the Beehive Sidebars:

And also with the Checkerboard Sidebars:

Another example is the Stars and Stripes Sidebar which goes very nicely with the Mug-of-Tea Block:

And looks equally as good with the Patchsmith Star block:

But, if you make the Stars and Stripes Sidebar up in novelty fabrics, you get a totally different look:

Leaving you free to pair the sidebars with ANY 6" block of your choosing - not just those in the book.  Perhaps you have a block or two left over from a sew-along:

Here I have paired the Courthouse Steps Sidebar
with the Splendid Sampler's Coneflower block

Here I have partnered the Stars and Stripes Sidebar with a
Lori Holt Cozy Christmas block.

Maybe you have a sampler block that you created to test your fabric combinations.  If so just add sidebars to the block to create a pretty, functional mug rug for your sewing table.

The Scallop Sidebars have been added to the
Cornerstones Block from my Sampler Pattern Book.

The options are endless with this versatile pattern book.  Especially as the One Block Mug Rugs book is available for immediate download from my Etsy Store and it is also available in paperback format via Amazon.  

So join with me and find out just how much fun mug rug making can be.  

New Year - New Hobby - New Mug Rug

Tea and Cake Mug Rug Pattern

The new year is often a time of new intentions.  If you have started the year looking for a new hobby or to learn a new skill then look no further than mug rug making.

Valentine Hearts Mug Rug Pattern

If you are new to mug rugs be sure to check our the Mug Rug Basics tab above.  Here you will find all you need to know to make a little piece of fabric art for your home or to gift.  You can find information about applique and binding, how to download and print patterns, even how to enlarge a small mug rug pattern to make a larger accessory for your table.

How to Enlarge a Mug Rug Pattern

In the Freebies tab you will find my FREE Rainbow mug rug pattern to help your develop and practice your skills.  If you click on the Rainbow mug rug below it will take you through to a step-by-step tutorial to help you along.

FREE Rainbow Mug Rug Pattern

And don't forget to check out The Patchsmith's Etsy store where you will find your next mug rug project ready for you to download and start immediately.

Butterfly Pocket Mug Rug Pattern

If your prefer your patterns in paperback format head over to my Amazon page where you will find collections of patterns to suit all occasions.  Alternatively just enter "the patchsmith" in the Amazon search bar.

Just one of nine Patchsmith paperback books available via Amazon

So what are you waiting for?  There is so much fabric fun to be had.  Until next time .....

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.................

The Patchsmith's Summer Fun Pattern Book

The Patchsmith's Summer Fun Paperback 

There is a new Patchsmith mug rug pattern book available - Summer Fun Mug Rug Patterns.  Included are ten fun patterns to help you bring summer home.  Six of the mug rug patterns are from my most popular summer patterns available individually on Etsy. Such as:

Butterfly Pocket Mug Rug

Watermelon Mug Rug

Beach Huts Mug Rug

All of these patterns are available in my Etsy store (just click on the photos above to go through to the individual pattern).

However, there are four patterns in the Summer Fun book that are unique to this book:

Flower Garden Mug Rug 

Ticker Tape Mug Rug

Topiary Trees Mug Rug

Harbourside Mug Rug

The Summer Fun pattern book is currently only available in paperback via Amazon but I am finalizing the PDF version and will let you know as soon as it is up and ready in my Etsy store.

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.

Whales and Flying Geese

Sometimes it just takes a little addition to turn a mug rug into a slightly bigger mini quilt.  Here I have  added a rainbow of flying geese to the Whales mug rug pattern from my Animal and Pets pattern book.

The Whales Mug Rug pattern is also available from Etsy.

But these aren't just any flying geese - these are 3D Flying Geese which are super easy and super quick to make.

A rainbow of flying geese.

The 3D flying geese block requires only one seam and because of this, it is really easy to match up the geese without sewing off the point.  There is a very good You Tube tutorial  showing how to make them but here is a basic run-through of the process for those who prefer a paper copy (click HERE for a PDF print out): 

3D FLYING GEESE BLOCK

(makes one goose measuring 2½” x 1½” raw/2” x 1” sewn in)

Cut one goose rectangle measuring 2½” x 1½”.

Cut two background squares measuring 1½”. 
 
Fold the goose rectangle in half with wrong sides together.  Finger press (do not press with an iron). 

You will now layer the goose between the two background squares as follows:

Lay one background square right side facing up.  Lay the folded goose rectangle on top with the raw edges lined up with the top of the background square as shown. 

Note the folded goose block is slightly shorter than the background square so you should have ¼” excess background square showing at the bottom. 

Next place the other background square on top of the goose, right side facing down so that it overlaps the bottom background square completely. 

In effect, you have a goose sandwich!

You stitch the unit together down one side of the sandwich as shown. 

Open up the sandwich so that the goose lies evenly on the front of the two background squares and press. 

Hey presto – one flying goose (measuring 2½” x 1½”). 

You can batch make a whole gaggle of flying geese using this method and when you come to stitch them together you will be able to see clearly where the tip of the goose is so there is no risk of losing your points!

So there you have it.  You can make the geese any size you like – fat, thin, long, short.  Play around and have fun.  But here are some measurements to get you started:

 
Finished
Goose            Cutting Sizes

2” x 1”             Cut one 2½” x 1½” goose and two 1½” background squares

4” x 2”             Cut one 4½” x 2½” goose and two 2½” background squares

5” x 2½”          Cut one 5½” x 3” goose and two 3” background squares 

6” x 3”             Cut one 6½” x 3½” goose and two 3½” background squares

 

Try it out and turn a little bit of fabric fun into a row of your own flying geese.  Or do as I have done and  add a row to any mug rug pattern of your choosing.  

Until next time .....