Snow Glad We're Friends Mug Rug

 

Finished mug rug

     I found this really cute mug rug at Designs by JuJu.  I made a pair for my friend Pat and her husband.  I bought some mugs to match for a fun wintertime treat.  I did not stitch the snowflakes as suggested since my fabric had snowflakes already on it.

Prepared snowman fabric

Prepared backing

Hooped mesh stabilizer

Stitching placement line

     I prepared my fabrics as directed including applying fusible web to the back of the flannel for the snowman. I also prepared the back piece with some fusible web that would be used to close up the project at the end.  I did my first stitch line directly onto the woven mesh stabilizer.

Fleece and first fabric

Trimming out the center

Placing the second fabric

Stitching down the center piece

Trimmed center piece

     I laid the fusible fleece in the center of the stitched line, glue side up.  I liked how they had you round off the corners before putting it down.  Then I laid the first fabric over that and stitched the tack down stitch and then the center frame.  I trimmed out the center, placed the second fabric down and stitched the tack down stitches and the quilting lines, then trimmed it up.

Snowman fabric in place

Trimming the snowman

     The next piece was the flannel that I used for the snowman.  I removed the paper from the back of the fusible web and laid it in place, stitched around and then trimmed it.  I think the fusible web helped prevent the background fabrics from shadowing through the white fabric.  Then all the decorative stitching was done.

Backing taped down

Trimming off the extra

Trimming the corners

     I taped the backing piece in place and did the final stitching.  I removed it from the hoop and trimmed the edges.  The directions called for 1/4" seam allowance but that felt a little skimpy to me so I cut 3/8" seam allowance.  Trimmed the corners and then turned it right side out.  I removed the paper from the fusible webbing in the back pieces and pressed everything.  I liked the fact that the fusible fleece was not in the seams so it made the turning very easy and after pressing, the edges were nice and flat.

     The directions included with the design were very good but not many photos.  One thing I did not do was use spray adhesive during the different steps as suggested.  I did not find it necessary, my pieces stayed okay.