Scrappy Tree Mug Rugs!

I am LOVING the Simply Fabulous mini quilts popping up all over Bloggy Land, otherwise known as Mug Rugs! Whatcha think? Way cute huh! Here's a tutorial on how I made some.

HERE WE GO!

I start off the same way with all my Scrappy projects. Grab a bin, turn it on it's side at my work table and start pulling the pieces I want to use.

I chose these greens and gave them a quick pressing.

I needed narrow strips/scraps. So after pressing them, I used a ruler and rotary cutter to trim the scraps into 1 1/2" widths.

After I cut a nice pile of strips. I sewed them together, then pressed the seams in one direction

I made a template in the shape of a tree. I placed it on the pieced strips and cut around it.

{update 1/24/11} this template is no longer available. And I gave these mug rugs away. I no longer have the measurements for the tree. SO sorry... guessing and looking at photos on the tutorial, I would say the bottom of the tree is approx. 4" across and approx. 5- 5.5" tall }

Here is my little pieced tree...

{the photos and my instructions are for sewing more then one tree at at time. You can totally make trees one at a time. If you have smaller scraps for your background pieces, making them one at a time would be perfect.}

Now for the background. If you have strips in your scraps or stash that are about 2 1/2" - 3" wide. Use em. Otherwise cut some strips about 2 1/2" - 3" x WOF (width of fabric) for your background.

My background is a White on White Snowflake. Sew the strip to one side of the tree, leaving about 1" between trees.

Press like this:

Then cut like this:

Your trees should now look like this:

Now trim the top as shown:

Sew the other side of the tree to another strip as shown in the photo. Again make sure you leave about 1" between each tree tip. (see photo)

Press as shown:

Now use your ruler like you did for the other side and trim the right side of background fabric.

Then you can sew the bottom piece of the background.

Using a quilting ruler, cut the tails and extra fabric off, and wah lah! A cute scrappy tree block!

I decided to use the extra pieced strips, a scrap of red with snowflakes, and my tree block, to make a Mug Rug..

I have made several Mug Rugs recently and have decided that I really like them around 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". Have you made a Mug Rug? What size do you prefer?

I grabbed another scrap for the backing;

Did a little quilting and Wah Lah! A cute and cozy little Mug Rug for a mug of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or milk, and enough room to set your cookies too! If you make a 5.5" x 8.5" rug, you'll need approximately 32-36" of binding. I have been cutting my binding at 2" in width and really like it. These were made with 2 1/4" width.

I originally used some Insul-bright for the first Mug Rugs I made. I wasn't crazy about it. Now I just use my scraps of my batting. It's a GrEaT way to use up those little batting scraps!

And looky! I remembered I had this way cute tree fabric in my stash. So I made some trees to match for the front of the Mug Rug and used the tree fabric for the back.

(This tree fabric is from Riley Blake I think the line is called "Be Merry")

Making these mini quilts is SO addicting! The possibilities are endless! Tomorrow I'll share some Inspiration with you. I've found all kinds of Simply Fantastic Mug Rugs out in Bloggy Land to show you!

K. Off you go! Create! Can't wait to see your Mug Rugs! Oh yes. Please do share. Remember I have a flickr group set up for us to share all our Scrappy Projects!

Another FUN Mug Rug from Pleasant Home
Dear Santa PDF pattern
Available HERE.