Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Life's A Charm: Valentine's Mug Rugs

Hello Everybody, I'm finally starting to feel back in the swing of things and it's a good thing since it's that time again for "Life's A Charm," our monthly series where we create a quick pattern using either a mini charm pack or charm pack.  Last month, we featured a table topper with nothing other than snowflakes, check it out here.  I'd also like to welcome visitors from the linky parties we're participating in today:


February is all about love and what better way to share something with the one you love than over a hot cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa ... you get the idea.  There is one way to make it better, by using matching mug rugs featuring a pieced heart in the corner!  This month's "Life's a Charm" is a pattern for two matching Valentine's Mug Rugs.  This has to be one of my favorite projects I've ever made and I love using my mug rug, it's such a nice addition to my desk.

Valentines Mug Rugs

What You'll Need:
  • (1) Mini Charm Pack (we used Odds and Ends by Cosmo Cricket)
  • (1) scrap of cream fabric (we used a 10" x 10" extra from a layer cake and had plenty left over)
  • (2) 8" x 12" pieces of batting
  • (2) 8" x 12" pieces of backing fabric
  • (2) 2 1/2" x 50" pieces of binding
  • A ruler with a 45 degree angle such as this one
Step 1: We're going to start by assembling the pieced heart blocks. You will need to cut

  • A - 6 red mini charm pieces into (24) 1" x 1" squares; 
  • B - 2 red mini charm pieces into (4) 1" x 2" strips; 
  • C - 1 red mini charm piece into (2) 1" x 2 1/2" strips; and 
  • D - 1 red mini charm piece into (2) 1" x 1 1/2" strips.  
From your cream scrap fabric, cut

  • E - (12) 2 1/2" x 1" strips; 
  • F - (10) 1 1/2" x 1" strips; 
  • G - (4) 1" x 1" squares; and 
  • H - 2" x 1" strips.


Step 2: Next it will be helpful to lay your hearts out with all the pieces where they should be.  In the order listed below (from left to right), lay out your rows.  You can see from the picture below how I did mine.

  • Row 1: E -> E
  • Row 2: F -> A -> A -> A -> F -> A -> A -> A-> F 
  • Row 3: G -> B -> B -> G
  • Row 4: F -> A -> C -> A -> F
  • Row 5: H -> A -> D -> A -> H
  • Row 6: E -> A -> A -> E
  • Row 7: E -> E

Step 3: Rows 2, 4, 5, and 6 all have half square triangles to create "curved" edges of the heart.  This is when you will need a ruler with a 45 degree angle.  For Row 2, place the first F and A right sides together, and mark a 45 degree line on the red fabric's back side from the upper right hand corner diagonally towards the bottom left hand corner (see Picture 1 below).  Next, using the center F piece mark the same as previously stated with the right side A piece.  Sew both pieces and press towards red fabric.  Cut off excess fabric on back side so there is 1/4" seam (see Picture 2 below).

Finishing Row 2, place the left side of the center F piece and mark a 45 degree angle from the upper left hand corner diagonally towards the bottom right hand corner (see Picture 3 below).  Repeat with final A and F pieces. Sew both pieces and press towards red fabric.  Cut off excess fabric on back side so there is 1/4" seam (see Picture 2 below).

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3 
Step 4: For rows 4, 5, and 6, the left hand side of the heart's angles will all be the same and the right hand side of the heart's angles will all be the same.  For the left hand side place red fabric right side together with cream fabric and draw a 45 degree angle from the upper left hand corner diagonally to the lower right hand corner on the back side of the red fabric.  Sew both pieces and press towards red fabric.  Cut off excess fabric on back side so there is 1/4" seam.

For the right hand side place red fabric right side together with cream fabric and draw a 45 degree angle from the upper right hand side to the lower left hand side on the back side of the red fabric.  Sew both pieces and press towards red fabric.  Cut off excess fabric on back side so there a 1/4" seam.  Once complete lay out your rows with angled pieces in place.

Step 5: Sew your rows together and your pieced hearts are complete. Next lay out the rest of your mug rug pieces and arrange as desired.  Row 1 will consist of 5 mini charm pack pieces; rows 2 and 3 will consist of 3 pieces across, finished with the pieced heart block.

Step 6: Sew all pieces across for rows 1, 2 and 3.


Step 7: Finish by sewing pieced rows 2 to 3, then sew to the pieced heart block.  You will need to proof this piece to 4" wide!  Finally sew row 1 to rows 2 and 3.  Quilt and bind as desired, your mug rugs are complete!


Hope you enjoy making and using these, thanks for stopping by!

Megan

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