Did you buy this year’s 2022 Jolly Box from Fat Quarter Shop? I have purchased this box two years in a row and have enjoyed each specialty box. This year’s box was pricier but packed with so many amazing goodies.
One of those goodies in this year’s box was an exclusive Kimberbell Cup of Cheer fabric panel. It also came with two companion Cup of Cheer charm packs. Although the included pattern for the panel and fabric is nice I didn’t want to make the included project.
If you are like me and didn’t want to use the panel for the included project stick with me.
Instead, I wanted to make mug rugs with pockets. It is the Cup of Cheer fabric line after all. I also decided to share with you and give a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a mug rug with a pocket.
Supplies Needed
1 – Cup of Cheer Jolly Box Exclusive Panel
1 – Charm Pack
Lightweight Fusible Interfacing (Optional)
Batting
Backing fabric
Binding Fabric
Mug Rug Tutorial
- The first step is to cut up the entire panel. I cut 1/4” around all the panel designs including the wording on the selvage edges.
Decide what phrases you want to use for your mug rugs. Make sure to have 1/4” space between your phrases so you don’t cut off the first letter in your phrase.
2. Now that you have cut up your entire quilt panel. Choose one of the large panel designs and cut directly on the top edge of the design.
Now decide what fabric colors you want to pair with this larger panel. I chose to use the blues from the charm pack and paired them with the large mug design.
3. Cut 4 – 2.5” strips from your chosen colors. Pair these strips up and sew them together. Press towards the darker fabric.
4. Cut your fabric strips into 4- 2.5” x 4.5” rectangles. Lay your rectangles out making sure that your fabrics will nest with each other.
5. Sew your rectangles together and press these seams open. Set this aside with your large panel design for later.
Make your Mug Rug Pocket
1. Cut 2 – 2 1/2” squares of contrasting fabric from another 2 charm squares. Sew these two squares together pressing your seam open.
2. Take one of the smaller rectangles designs from the panel and trim this to a 4 1/2” rectangle. Sew this to the top of the 2 1/2” x 4 1/2” rectangle squares. Press the seam to the panel.
Optional:
3. Cut a 4.5” square of lightweight fusible interfacing. Iron this to the wrong side of the front of your pocket. This will give the pocket a stiffer feel that I prefer to have in a pocket that will not be quilted.
4. Choose a lighter fabric and trim this down to 4 1/2” wide x 4 3/4”. Sew the 4 1/2” side to the top of your pocket. Press whichever way you want and fold in half on the seam you just sewed.
5. Sew 1/8” on the top folded edge of your pocket. You now have your completed pocket. I forgot to do this step for this mug rug but didn’t forget the other pockets. Oh well, its not the worst quilting/sewing mistake you can make.
Set this aside with your strip of patchwork and large fabric panel.
Add Some Holiday Wishes
1. Next choose a phrase from the fabric panel to add to the top of your mug rug. Sew Fabric to both short ends of the phrase and press open. Depending on the phrase you will either need to add more or less fabric to either end of the phrase.
This will make the fabric with the phrase long enough to attach to the top of the mug rug.
Bring it all Together
1. Lay your large fabric panel with the right side of the fabric facing up. Lay your pocket you just made with the inside pocket lining facing up towards you.
2. Next Lay your large 4.5” patchwork rectangle on the same side with the right side of the fabric facing the inside pocket lining. Pin all of this together.
3. Sew all three layers together and press the bulky seam towards the large fabric panel.
4. Fold your mug rug in half finding the center of the mug rug. Fold your phrase in half finding its center and line these both up.
5. Pin the phrase to the top of your mug rug. Sew the phrase and press the seam towards the phrase.
Sandwich Time
Although a sandwich would be a satisfying snack. I am talking about making a quilt sandwich.
Choose a backing fabric making sure this fabric is larger than the mug rug.
Lay the batting on top of the wrong side of the fabric backing you have chosen. Lay your mug rug on top of the batting.
I spray-baste my sandwich together but you can also pin-baste this project together. If you do choose to pin baste make sure you DO NOT pin the pocket to your mug rug sandwich.
I used a Hera marker to mark my quilt lines on my mug rug. I just did a basic criss-cross or sometimes called cross hatch look to the mug rug.
Attach your walking foot to your sewing machine and quilt your soon to be mug rug.
Make sure that you DO NOT sew over your pocket. Get as close to the pocket as you can and backstitch so your stitches don’t come undone. This might mean you need to move the pocket out of the way depending on which side of the pocket you are quilting.
When sewing small projects make sure you’re stitching is much closer than you normally would quilt with larger projects. This will help keep the project stable when you need to wash the mug rug. I quilted this with my stitches about 1 1/2” apart. This is the farthest distance I would quilt a small project.
Now that you have quilted your entire mug rug. Trim off the excess backing and batting around the project.
Attach binding as you would with any other quilt project. You now have a completed Mug rug with a pocket.
Congratulations!
Your mug rug should measure about 12 1/2″ x 9 1/2″.
The Mug Rug with a pocket is a great Christmas time gift or a treat all for yourself.
Didn’t get the Jolly Box this year? No worries! You can still make a mug rug with a pocket if you purchase the Cup of Cheer Fabric Panel which comes with 12 large panel designs instead of just 4.
If you don’t want to purchase a panel but still want cute a mug rug with a pocket. You can still follow my tutorial just substitute the panel for your favorite 8 1/2″ quilt block. Tada!
I know that I am making some awesome gifts for friends this year. What are some of your favorite small gifts to make for friends? I would love to know in the comments below.
If you found this tutorial helpful please share it with a friend.
