Cozy Christmas Bell Mug Rug

I love sew-alongs and when the Cozy Christmas sew-along popped up, organized by Lori Holt and Riley Blake, I knew I wanted to play.  

However, I don’t want another large quilt so I have decided to make a mug rug each week using the applique Cozy Christmas block for that week.  (You can get the free Cozy Christmas pattern together with details of fabric requirements and templates over at Bee in my Bonnet or click on the Sew-Along picture above.)

The first block up is the Cozy Bell block and Lori has a wonderful video showing how to make this block using her stitch-and-turn applique method. For my mug rugs however, I shall be using the quick-fuse method (also know as raw edge applique) to reduce bulk and I thought I might share a few tips for each block if you are also using this applique method. 

Firstly, for the bell ringer you do not need the whole B6 circle so trace a little over half of the shape as shown below.  This shape will lie partially under the bell and you do not want the circle outline showing through.

Secondly, trace the two bow (B9) shapes together, as a mirror image.  This will help if using a directional print.  Do the same for the bow tails (B13 shapes).

Thirdly, peel back a corner of the fusible webbing paper before you cut out the shapes. Gently finger press it down again to cut out the shape.  You will find that it is easier to peel the paper from the back of the shapes if you have a corner to get you started.

I stitched the bell and bell ringer in place before adding the bow but it doesn’t really matter how you do it. 

Cozy Christmas Bell awaiting a bow.

Finally, if you do not have any bias tape you can cut a 1” wide strip of your chosen fabric and a ¼” rectangle of fusible web (I cut my fabric 4” long and my fusible web 3½” long).

Cheats Binding Tape

Press the fabric lengthwise so that the raw edges overlay one another.  I overlapped the edges so that my strip of fabric was approximately ½” wide.  Next fuse the rectangle of fusible webbing over the cut edges to seal them.  Peel the paper away from the fusible webbing.  You can then trim and use as you would bias tape.   

Cheat's Binding Tape ready for stitching

I cut a ¾” piece for the bow knot.   

Cozy Christmas Bell Mug Rug

To create this first Cozy Christmas mug rug I added a wide striped sidebar from my One Block Mug Rugs book (page 21) using charm squares from Lori Holt’s Cozy Christmas fabric. 

Turn any 6" block into a fun and functionalMUG RUG

To complete the mug rug I quilted around the bell (I love the way it puffs up if you quilt close to the applique) and I added a little quilted detailing on the bow.  I also quilted wavy lines down the sidebar – nice and easy. 

Quilted Cozy Christmas Bell

So there you have it – week one of the Cozy Christmas sew-along and one Cozy Christmas Bell mug rug.

Until next time .....

The Splendid Sampler blocks 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52

Courthouse Steps Sidebar meets The Splendid Sampler block 52.

I have been having even more fun with The Splendid Sampler blocks:

Block 48 – ‘Whim’ designed by Faith Jones of Fresh Lemon Quilts. This 6” block is a lovely quick paper-piecing block – perfect for beginner and experienced paper-pieces.  Great for using up some charm squares and scraps.

The Splendid Sampler Block 48 - Whim

Block 49 – ‘Summer’s Gift’ designed by Karla over at Sweetwater Fabrics.  This is a cut-out applique block.  The background is simply patched from four HST and the applique is laid over the top.  And what is more, it doesn’t matter if the seams don’t match on your patched background – it won’t show. 

The Splendid Sampler Block 49 - Summer's Gift

Block 50 – ‘Flights of Fancy’ – a Fig Tree & Co block.  There are quite a few pieces in this 6” block so I took a shortcut with the middle.  I patched it using four 2.5” squares and then cut it on the diagonal to create the quarter-triangle middle.  Cool eh?  

The Splendid Sampler Block 50 - Flights of Fancy

Block 51 – ‘Bee Happy’.  I had great fun with this English paper-pieced (EPP) block if you ignore that pesky little hexie flower!   I EPPed the bee but the sides of the large hexie weren’t straight enough for me, so I undid the outer seams and machine pieced it in place.   

The Splendid Sampler Block 51 - Bee Happy

Block 52 – ‘Coneflower’.  This was an easy-peasy applique block designed by Pat Sloan.  So easy I had plenty of time to add a Courthouse Steps sidebar from my One Block Mug Rugs book and turned it into a mug rug.  It is nesting my coffee cup as I type.   

The Splendid Sampler Block 52 - Coneflower

If you want to turn some of your Splendid Sampler blocks into mug rugs for yourself or for gifts then check out my One Block Mug Rugs book.

JUST $9.99

And if you want to see my Splendid Sampler blocks together just pop over to my Splendid Sampler Pinterest board.

Until next time ......... 

Single Scoop Zipper Pouch

Have you seen the latest Youtube video from The Fat Quarter Shop .... it is for the Single Scoop Pouch designed by Dana Willard of Made Everyday.

And there are two $50 vouchers up for grabs for anybody who makes one .... full details over at the Fat Quarter Shop blog but be quick - closing date is 7th August.