Quilting Gallery Mug Rug Swap

In January 2013 Michele at the Quilting Gallery organized the Quilting Gallery's Mug Rug Swap. 

Everybody who joined in made two mug rugs - the Two Owls and the Winter Birdhouse.  Each participant made both mug rugs and swapped them with another sewist from around the globe.  This post detailed the swap and contains lots of helpful hints and tips on making a mug rug. So read on .................... 

Both mug rug patterns chosen for the swap are quick and easy - both allow plenty of variation through the use of the fabrics that you choose.   The first pattern is the Two Owls mug rug.

I made this mug rug in both a night-time and a day-time colour scheme.  The night-time version is hand sewn whilst the day-time version is machine stitched.  Both use the quick-fuse appliqué method.  If you look at the owl wings on both versions you will see the difference between hand and machine applique. 

The machine stitched pieces look sharper (above left) whilst the hand stitched pieces (above right) look bigger and softer.  Hand stitching tends to be more prominent whilst machine stitching can be less obtrusive.  I used a short zigzag machine stitch for the day-time version whilst the hand stitched mug rug was completed using two strands of embroidery cotton and a simple blanket stitch.   Both methods have their advantages but I would recommend that you use the method you are most comfortable with.

One feature I particularly like to use is to make the appliqué pieces stand slightly proud creating an almost 3D effect.  This is achieved by quilting very close around each appliqué piece.  It actually distorts the shape of the branch making it rounded and more like a branch.  It is very subtle and does not interfere with the use of the mug rug.  I like the look it creates and it is a process I have repeated recently on my Easter Cross mug rug pattern. 

 

The day-time mug rug is not quilted at all to give it a smoother, sleeker look which just goes to show that you do not have to quilt to create a stunning mini quilt. 

The eyes and beak are made of felt which is really easy to work with and the black pupils on the eyes were created using a straight stitch which was overstitched in the same place a couple of times.  This worked a treat but for all those embroidery wizards amongst you a French knot would give a similar effect. 

 

Finally I bound the night-time version in the same fabric as the background to continue the night-time look whilst the day-time version was bound using a scrappy border.  Both were bordered using the mitred border method (see Mug Rug Basics above for details).

This second mug rug included in the Quilting Gallery Mug Rug Swap is the Winter Birdhouse mug rug.

This pattern combines a simple patchwork block with quick-fuse appliqué to create a stunning mug rug.   The robin is constructed using a very simple method whereby the redbreast and body are stitched before cutting out the bird shape.  Details are provided in the pattern with full colour diagrams.  Try it – you will be surprised at how easy it is.  

The Winter Birdhouse mug rug was bound using a single fold binding (shown on left above) - details of which can be found in Mug Rug Basics.   This colourful mug rug isn’t just for winter though - you could replace the white felt roof with a fabric roof, leave off the felt snow on the birdhouse shelf and make the bird any colour you like (maybe a bluebird or a blackbird)  to create an all-year-round mug rug.  

 

Next week I shall offer some guidelines on swap etiquette, explaining a little about how to participate in a mug rug swap, what you can expect from your partner and what your partner might expect from you.  So be sure to check back then.