Saturday, March 21, 2015

Celebrate Worldwide Quilting Day

Happy Quilting Day! We're quilters and we get our own day, how about that? Whatever you do to celebrate today, have fun.

I'm inviting you to sew along with me today. You know I love making small projects and sometimes it's just the thing to get your creativity going. I've been working on some star blocks this week for a different project and decided to use 2 of the blocks for a couple of mug rugs. Aren't they cute? A mug quilt is something I'll always use and it's always nice to have a few extra lying around just in case. What fun to serve someone a cup of tea with a cute mug rug and see them smile and say "Oh, how sweet!"  Here's how to make this one yourself.




I have to say I got a LIFT from making these.

Ready? First, you'll need some good scraps. Choose some of your favorites and put them aside for cutting. You know how partial I am to blue but if you're not, use another color for your theme. Or, just make it all scrappy. If you prefer light prints, then make it with a light color instead of the black background. I hope some of you do this and show me. I'll be waiting for pictures.



Scrappy Star Mug Rug

Cutting

For the background of the star (I used black prints), cut 
           4 squares that measure 1 1/2"  x  1 1/2"
           4 rectangles that measure 1 1/2"  x  2 1/2"

For the star points (colorful assorted prints), cut
           8 squares that measure 1 1/2"   x   1 1/2"

For the star center (purple), cut
           1 square, 2 1/2"   x   2 1/2"

For the side borders (blue), cut
           2 strips, 1 3/4"   x  4 1/2"

For the backing, cut 
            1 piece of fabric, 6 1/2"  x  8 1/2"

For the binding (brown), cut
             1 fabric strip, 1 1/4" wide

Piece of thin cotton batting, 6 1/2"  x  8 1/2"

Make the Block 

1.  Draw a diagonal line across the back of each 1 1/2"  x  1 1/2" scrap square you've picked for the star points.

2.  Place one 1 1/2"   x  1 1/2" scrap square on top of one end of a BLACK print 1 1/2"  x  2 1/2" rectangle, right sides facing. Sew on the line and trim to a 1/4" seam allowance. Press the triangle toward the corner.


Place another 1 1/2"  x  1 1/2" scrap square on the other end of the rectangle, right sides together, and again stitch on the drawn line. Be sure that the diagonal line is oriented in the opposite direction from the first piece. Trim to a 1/4" seam allowance and then press the triangle toward the corner. Make four of these flying geese units.


3.  Sew a black 1 1/2"  x  1 1/2" square to each end of two of the flying geese units and press the seams toward the squares. Sew the remaining two flying geese units to each side of the 2 1/2"  x  2 1/2" center square, and press the seams toward the square. (Here's a sample I just stitched up using a red center square.) Sew all of the units together as shown below.



4. Trim your star block to 4 1/2"  x  4 1/2". Sew a blue fabric strip to each side of the block. Press.  

5.  Layer the quilt top, batting and backing, and baste or pin the layers together.

6.  Quilt as desired. I quilted an X through the block and a square in the center. Then, I divided each border into 4 segments with a washable white marking pen and quilted an X in each segment for a diamond motif. 

7.  Add 1 1/4" binding using your favorite binding method. 


These were so much fun I had to make two. Have fun! When you're all done, sit back, put your feet up and have a cup of tea or coffee and say "Ahhh, I love being a quilter." 


31 comments:

Huckleberry stitches said...

How darling! Was cutting fabric last night and had several scraps! WOOHOO! Happy National Scrapping Day!

Jennifer M said...

Kathy I love it!!! I will be making a few I'm sure:) Thank you so much, so inspiring!

Ann in PA said...

Kathy, What a great way to celebrate National Quilting Day! Thank you for the sweet pattern - it will be perfect for my quilting mug. :)

Alcea Rosea 31 said...

Happy National Quilting Day, I love your coasters, something else to go on my to do list. I am EPP.

Sharyn Mallow Woerz said...

Cute! I'll be machine quilting Grand Illusion this morning and afternoon or evening stitching will be diamond english paper piecing style which will be the background for applique. Life is good, "I am quilter"

Carla said...

Thank you!! I will start tomorrow and make them on my Feitherweight!
Lots of love from te Netherlands and Happy Quilting Day!!!
Carla.

Unknown said...

Happy Quilting day, thanks so much for this pattern, I'm sure I will make a couple, from Canada!

LesQuilts said...

Thank you Kathy! Happy Quilting Day! Take care, Leslie

Scrappy quilter said...

So cute! And yet I'm quilting the day away.

Anne-Mettes Oaser said...

Thank you for sharing those lovely mugrugs with us. Haven't been sewing for a long time, but those cute mugrugs make me want to start sewing Again :-).

gayle said...

It's perfect! Thank you for a lovely project.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, I appreciate the time and effort you gave us with this little gift. Happy Quilting to you too.

sue bennett said...

Kathy
I love them. I am not at home right now but will be making these. Love stars.

sandi s said...

They are so cute. I'm machine quilting a baby quilt this morning and will take a break after lunch and make one of the mug rugs. Thank you.

CrookedQuilter said...

I am stitching my mug rug already, thank you! However, in Step #2, place square on top of BLACK (not BLUE) print rectangle... I know you are partial to blue. Thank you for a great way to celebrate!

Kathleen Tracy said...

Thanks! Mistake noted, Correction made.

Yvonne said...

I love your mug rugs! So Cute! we spend our World Wide Quilting Day here in the Netherlands with an Dear Jane Day with our quilting Bee!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the sew a long. I love mug rugs. I think I'll sew 3 of them. One for me and two to share with my quilting buddies.

Pauline

Kate said...

Thank you! :)

cahirasnana said...

Thank you Kathy, these are just gorgeous.

jane nj/wi said...

Hehehe.....a true quilter friend would pop that nice pile of scraps you have in lead picture into an envelop and save a desolate quilter who is far from the Royal Stash in Wisc.....probably knee deep with small Bears snoozing on it.

Super fun project....all my favorite ingredients, traditional colors, star motif Centered!!! And a nice finish size. And clear directions for those of us that sometimes let our minds drift.... :0)

Jane.....bugland

Lois McCoy said...

Kathy, I didn't get to quilt today, but did get to help with a quilt documentation event. and did buy some more fabric for some new small quilts!

Leratdesfils said...

Merci beaucoup, j'adore!
Thank you very much.

Carmen y Prady said...

Perfecto trabajo y muy bonito. Gracias por las explicaciones de su ejecuciĆ³n.
Un beso

Judy said...

Happy Quilting Day to you! Thanks for taking the time to write out the pattern for the fun mug rugs. They make great gifts and you're so right, they are nice to have all around the house.

Kathleen Tracy said...

Thanks for all the kind comments. Glad you had a little fun!

Susan said...

Love these mug rugs! Such a great quick and easy project!

Alcea Rosea 31 said...

Thank you, I enjoyed making my mug rug and finished the binding today. Some of my points are missing but my cup of tea is sitting on it quite happily now.

Linda said...

Thanks for this... I made mine and posted it on FB...quick, fun and satisfying!!

Granny's Button Box said...

How wonderful, National Quilting Day on 21st March, my birthday, first day of Spring in the UK, now my best friend's daughters Wedding Day as of yesterday where I spent my birthday at a lovely family wedding in a very old English Church then onto a large Country House Hotel. Will have to do some quilting to celebrate. Regards Sharon x

Karen said...

Thank you for the fun tutorial! I really enjoyed making one from my scraps. Bring on Spring!