A Rug for my Mug

I have a very small "finish" to share with you today. Last week for my "Start to Finish" class, I needed something to use for demo-ing how to do a proper binding with mitred corners. Since I didn't have a project ready for binding, I decided to just make up something small. What to do? While looking at someone else's blog, I saw Mug Rugs. The perfect thing! Small AND quick!! (For those of you who have never heard of a mug rug- it's basically just an oversized coaster- large enough to set your mug and a few cookies on...) Can you believe I had never made a Mug Rug?!!
Using selvages is another popular "thing" these days - something else I've never done. So I thought maybe I'd combine the two. When I started looking through my Christmas-y fabrics (which, surprisingly I don't have many of) very few had interesting selvages. I found one with lots of color dots and I did use it on this "prototype" but decided I'd save the rest in case I make a few more of these.
I had no idea what size to make the Mug Rug, it seems they vary in size, and I didn't want mine too large as I usually use a small mug anyway. I had some  scraps of Stiff Stuff ™ to use for the batting so the width of those scraps determined the size. I simply chose some scraps and a few already cut strips of Christmas fabrics and a red and green or two, and quickly stitched up the top (stitch and flip method, right through the Stiff Stuff™), then layered and quilted in the ditch with  a red metallic thread for a little sparkle. Not bad for 15 minutes work. I chose a nice bright red polkadot for the binding, and it was the perfect size for a demo for the class.
So there it is - finished. It measures 4.5" by 7.5". Of course I needed some cookies as "models" for the photo shoot, and I haven't done any Christmas baking yet. So I had to go to the Goody Shop (local bakery) for a few Almond Fingers. Oh, the sacrifices I make for this blog!!  wink wink
So if you're looking for a quick and easy something for a small gift for someone, why not make them a  Mug Rug or two. Of course you can get fancier than I did, and do some appliqué or what have you. A couple of years ago a member of our Guild brought in some sweet ones she had made. Barb pieced a very simple tree (triangle with a trunk) then used the color dot selvages to "trim" the trees diagonally like garland. Now how cute would that be??!!

Piece!
Linda

I'm working on my PhD in quilting - Projects Half Done!