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 .....

St Patrick's Day Mug Rugs

 

St Patrick's Day version of Nordic Gnomes Mug Rug 

Sometimes all it takes is an additional free pattern sheet to turn a mug rug into a season special.  So it is with my Nordic Gnomes Mug Rug pattern.

Nordic Gnomes Mug Rug Pattern

With every purchase you receive an additional pattern sheet to turn the Nordic Gnomes into St Patrick's Day gnomes.  

Of course, you may just prefer to celebrate St Patrick's Day with a shamrock.

St Patrick's Day Mug Rug pattern

I love celebrating special days using a few scraps and an hour or two in my sewing room, don't you?

Have a Happy Christmas

 Sending you Christmas wishes across the globe ….

… and wishing you peace and happiness for

the year ahead.

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 .....

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Mug Rug

Platinum Jubilee Mug Rug

I love to bring the seasons and celebratory days into my home using small quilted items especially mug rugs.  (What is a mug rug?)

Here in England we have a very special celebration coming up - the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrating the extraordinary achievement of Queen Elizabeth II to serve the people of Britain for seventy years. 

If time is short, quilt and bind a block to add a touch of British charm.

And I want something particularly special to mark the occasion.  So I have created a Platinum Jubilee mug rug using the 6" Union Jack block from my Union Jack Blocks and Table Runner pattern.  

6" and 12" Union Jack Blocks and a Table Runner
in one handy pattern

If you want to do the same this is how ......

Firstly you will need to patch a 6" Union Jack block.  Alternatively, you could use any 6" block (finished size) that has a British theme.

It doesn't have to be red, white and blue.

Next, you will need to download and print the 

PLATINUM JUBILEE MUG RUG SIDEBAR PATTERN.  

Make sure you print the template sheet to the 'exact size' using the size check box on the template page.  (I also have a page on downloading and printing patterns.)

Add some jewels if you want a pop of colour

Then follow the pattern to applique the crown onto the sidebar.  You can add jewels to the crown as I have down in the red, white and blue version above - or you can leave the crown unadorned as shown in the pretty pink version below.

No jewels for this crown!

And you could leave it there - finishing off the mug rug as detailed in the Sidebar Pattern.  However, if you wish to make the mug rug commemorative you might want to add the dates to the sidebar.

To do this you will need to mark the dates onto the sidebar.  You can use a lightbox if you have one or you can do as I have done, and use a window and some sticky tape.   Here is how:

Tape the applique template to a window

Once the applique is complete tape the template page to a window before taping the appliqued sidebar on top of the paper, aligning the appliqued crown with the crown on the paper.  (Do not worry if the applique is a little out - you just need to be able to see the dates, so adjust the sidebar position if necessary.)

Tape the appliqued Crown Sidebar on top of the sheet

Next use a dispersible marker pen or pencil to trace over the dates.  I use a Frixion pen as the markings disappear when you iron over them.  These are readily available from supermarkets here in England but you can also purchase them from Amazon.   Alternatively you can use chalk paper.

These Frixion pen marks will disappear with a hot iron

Carefully detach the sidebar from the template sheet and you are ready to stitch over the date tracings.  I used two strands of embroidery floss and a small chain stitch on the red, white and blue mug rug and a simple backstitch on the pretty pink mug rug.

Pretty in Pink

Finally, finish off the mug rug according to the sidebar pattern.

There you have it - a little bit of nostalgia and a whole lot of fabric fun.  Until next time ....

The Patchsmith's Stars and Stripes Mug Rug Sidebar

Stars and Stripes Wheel Mug Rug

The Patchsmith’s One Block Mug Rugs book is one of my favourites. 

Available for immediate download via Etsy

It contains ten sidebars and seven blocks that you can mix-and-match.  But it doesn’t stop there – you can add the sidebars to any 6” block of your choosing - so you can use up all those surplus blocks you have, to create a fun and functional mug rug.

Today I would like to show you the Stars and Stripes sidebar.  It is shown in the book with the mug-of-tea block shown above (the mug-of-tea block is also included in the book).  But it looks equally good with a simple patchwork block as shown here:

Stars and Stripes sidebar teamed with simple patchwork
(patchwork block included in book)

You can even the sidebar in fun seasonal fabrics to create a holiday sidebar.

A Snowman filled Stars-and-Stripes Sidebar

But I wanted to create a mug rug that would be suitable for the den or snug.  So I teamed the Stars and Stripes sidebar ....... 

Simple patchwork sidebar

....... with a simple applique block created from The Patchsmith's Christmas mug rugs pattern book:

... to create the perfect gift for Father's Day.

So many mug rug possibilities from one mug rug pattern book which is why the One Block pattern book one of my favourite books.

If you fancy a copy hop on over to Etsy for the PDF version (immediate download) or visit Amazon for the paperback copy.    

Until next time …..