Olympic Rings Mug Rug (Flashback)

Anyone else have Olympic fever?  Goodness ... I am getting nothing done in the evenings this week.  In fact, I am watching the women's gymnastics competition as I type this!

I was reminded that I made an Olympic Rings mug rug for a swap back in 2012 and thought I would share it with you all again.

See the full post here where I talk a little about the process of making this cute mini. :)

Happy Sewing! :-)

Merry Mug Rug Blog Hop - Pleated Tree

Hey there!  When Jennifer of Ellison Lane asked me if I'd like to participate in her Merry Mug Rug Blog Hop I was happy to oblige!

I thought it would be fun to make a smaller version of my pleated tree block.

The original block is 8" x 10", but you can make this block pretty much any size and even a little wonky if you like!  I'm including some pictures from my original tutorial below - feel free to check out the complete tutorial here. 

For the smaller version, I pleated a 4" x 10" strip off a layer cake square.  Your pleated piece should look something like this ...

In my original tutorial, I used a solid white background.  If you are using a print, you'll need to cut two 6" squares.  Cutting each one on opposite diagonal angles to get triangles for the sides.

Sew the sides on one at a time and then add a trunk section along the bottom.

Trim to the size you want and add a border if you like.  I chose to add a scrappy-ish border of red prints from Miss Kate by Bonnie & Camille.

I used a red layer cake square for the backing and self-binding of my little mug rug.  It's quick and simple!  Check out this tutorial here that shows how I do this binding technique.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  If you make a pleated tree project, I'd love to see it!  Link it up or tag me @sewlux on Instagram.

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Spool Mini Mug Rug

Hi friends!

Did a little sewing in between continuing to sort out my stash and attempting to get my sewing room back in some kind of order.  :)

I came up with this little spool mini, which is the prototype for the mini mug rug pattern & kit included in the Customer Appreciation Goodie Bag.  The kit's design is slightly different and you'll actually have enough fabric in the kit to make two of these (colors & prints may vary) - one to keep and one to share with a friend!  :-)

Happy Sewing!  :-)

Tutorial : Sending a Little Sunshine Mug Rug

Happy Monday!  It's time to share the Sending a Little Sunshine Mug Rug Mini Quilt tutorial.  Ready?

Supplies Needed:

• Three aqua 5-inch charm squares
• Four yellow/gold 5-inch charm squares
• One white 5-inch charm square (this won't be seen, so it can really be whatever color/print)
• One 6-inch orange square
• One 6-inch square of lightweight interfacing
• 2 x 12 inch square batting
• 12 x 12 inch square backing fabric
• One 2.5 x WOF strip for binding (I used a turquoise print)
• Dresden ruler or template (I will link up a template file shortly.)
• Basic sewing supplies (machine, thread, pins, scissors, etc)

Kits are still available here while supplies last.  :-)

Note: if you purchased a kit, please trim your yellow, aqua and white fabric squares to the appropriate size - we cut our squares a little wide. :-)

First step ... make a four patch.  

Then, cut and stitch your dresden blades.  Cut two blades from each of the four yellow 5-inch charm squares.  I am using the 5-1/2 inch line at the top of my blade. 

Then chain stitch the blades as shown.  Fold in half right sides together and stitch along the top edge. 

The clip the corner - don't cut the seam!  Press and then turn right sides out and re-press.  (Photo shows progression of this step.)

Then arrange them in the order you would like and start stitching them together.  (Line them up right sides together and stitch - backstitching at the top.)

Once you have all 8 pieced together, its time to pin to the background four patch unit.  Follow my placement - points of blades are about 3/8 off the edge and about 1-1/2 inches from sides.

Pin the dresden unit down.

And stitch about 1/8 inch from the edge.

Next, grab your interfacing and place it on top of the white corner.  Use a marking pen to rough out your sun shape.  I changed my mind a little - you see I have a lot of lines!  :-)  Draw the curve how you like it.

The fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of your orange square.  (I rotated mine a little to get the pattern of the print going in the direction I wanted.)  I do Fraycheck the edges of my appliques.  This is optional.

Pin your sun center in place.

Next, put your machine on zig zag and make the stitch length shorter and narrower.  Here's my settings on my Bernina. 

Using a coordinating thread, stitch the orange center down.  

A few tips .... (1) Keep the needle in the down position.  (2) Use a clear foot if you have one so you can see where you're going a little easier.  (3) You want the needle to come down just on the outside of the piece you are appliqueing. (4) When you need to turn or pivot, stop with the needle down on the outside of the piece, lift the presser foot and turn your fabric a little.

It should look like this when you finished.

Looking good!  Now, its time to trim away some of the background.  Carefully cut away the bottom layer to reduce some of the bulk. 

It should look like this (below).  (I also trimmed away the white, but forgot to take a picture.

Layer your top, batting, and backing and pin.

Quilt as desired and then trim to 9.5 in x 9.5 in.

You can see my quilting a little better here. 

Fold your binding strip in half right sides together along the long edge to make the binding. 

Start in the middle of one of the sides, leaving a tail, and attach the binding. 

When you get back to the beginning, fold one edge under and tuck the other inside. 

Pin and then finish stitching it all down. 

Note:  I wouldn't normally finish the ends of my binding this way.  But for a mini/mug rug its quick and easy.  :-)  More detailed info on binding here.

Press the binding open and hand stitch to the back.   If you prefer to attach your binding completely by machine - go for it!

Here's the finished project. 

How about another color way?

Since I went scraptastic on this, I used a solid backgound piece instead of a 4-patch. 

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial!  If you have any questions, please ask in the comments or send me an email.  If you make one, please link up - I'd love to see it!

Happy Sewing!  :-)  

Sending a Little Sunshine Your Way

Happy Friday, y'all! It's nice and bright out today .... a tease for what is supposed to be a stormy weekend.

I thought I'd share a special mug rug I made last month for a woman I've never met. She had sent us an email to let us know how much our packaging brightened her day at a time when she really needed it. I was reminded that a little bit of attention to detail can mean so much.

I was inspired to make this little mini ... compelled really, to create a little something for her.

I really loved this little piece and am working on putting together a tutorial to share with you all in hopes you'll spread a little sunshine as well.  :)

If you're in our Moda FQ club, you'll get a kit for this (in similar fabrics) as your bonus mini kit for the 1st quarter.  Hope you like it!  :-)

Happy Sewing!  :-)

EPP Mug Rug

So last month I finished up a Scrappy Mug Rug swap ... I was just going through some pictures and realized that I never posted the a.maz.ing mug rug I received ...

Robyn, at Coffee & Cotton, made this awesome mug rug for me.  I love the English Paper Pieced star on this.  It's really super fun.  I admire the people who have the time (and patience) to make all those beautiful EPP blocks.  One day, I tell myself, one day.  :-)

Look at the detail on the quilting.  Goodness!  It's really so lovely.

Robyn makes some amazing things ... check out her blog here.  :-)

Happy Sewing!

Picture Post: Olympic Rings Mug Rug

Hi there.  I am back tonight with pictures from my Olympic Mug Rug project that I briefly shared the other day.  My secret swap partner in the swap mentioned that she enjoyed the Olympics and I thought the rings would be perfect for commemorating the summer of 2012 with "summer" themed challenge this round. 

I started by tracing some rings onto interfacing.  Then ironing them to different prints, cutting them out and fray checking the edges. 

I laid out the rings using a picture from the Internet as a guide for how they connected.  I cut each ring in one place and tucked them under and over each other, hiding the cut ends under the adjoining ring.  I used a little bit of Stitch Witchery to tack the rings in place. 

Next, I used matching thread and a short (and narrow) zig zag stitch to applique the pieces in place.

Add some borders ... I used a linen-look fabric.  

Quilt and bind as you like. I kept it simple.  :-) 

I even made a little label for the back.  (Forgot to take a photo of the back.)

There it is ... hope you enjoyed my process picture post.  

Happy Sewing!  :-)