Machine Embroidery Designs at Embroidery Library!

Search Advanced Search

Inspiration Studio Lookbooks Stitchers Showcase Christmas Inspiration

Videos Fabrics 101 Helpful How-To's Search Projects Projects by Category ▾

Free Designs Gift Certificates Thread Exchange Happy Hour & VIP

Sweet Patch Mug Rug
(featuring stitch-filled Animals on the Edge)

Free project instructions to make an embroidered mug rug

Warm up your table with an adorable embroidered mug rug!

Bright fabric patches add a sweet look, with an Animal on the Edge design peeking from the border (this tutorial will show you how to position it on the edge just right).

Read on for step-by-step instructions!

Supplies Needed:

**1/4 yard cotton fabric (for front -- I used flannel)

**1/4 yard cotton fabric (for back -- I used lightweight canvas)

**Small pieces of cotton fabric (for patches -- I used homespun and quilter's cotton)

**Two-sided fusible web (for adding patches)

**Medium weight cutaway stabilizer

**Temporary spray adhesive

**Air-erase pen or dressmaker's pencil

Designs Used:
I used the small size of the Peeking Owl. Choose designs that suit your personal preference and decor. With the patches on the right, designs 4" x 4" or smaller will fit well on the mug rug. Without patches, the embroidery area on the mug rug is 8 1/4" wide by 3 1/4" high.

Finished Size:
9 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high

I began by drawing a 10 1/2" wide by 5 1/2" high rectangle on the cotton fabric (I used flannel) with an air-erase pen. Then I measured and marked 1/2" up along each side, starting at each bottom corner, and drew a line connecting the marks. I will use this line to place the design.

I like to use templates to position designs, so I created a paper template of my design by printing it at full size with embroidery software. If you are new to using templates, click here for a quick tutorial.

I trimmed the template by cutting right along the bottom edge of the design, and around the sides and top edge, leaving about 1" of excess around the design. I lined up the bottom edge of the template with the line I just drew, leaving the 1/2" space in between the template and the bottom edge of the shape.

I also centered the template side to side by measuring equal distances between the center point on the template and the side edges of the shape. I poked a hole in the center of the template and marked the fabric, and I marked the axis points.

Then I removed the template and drew lines connecting the marks.

Next I sprayed a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smoothed the fabric on top. I hooped the fabric and stabilizer together, lining up the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

I attached the hoop to the machine, loaded the design, moved the hoop so the needle was directly over the center point of the fabric, and embroidered the design.

When the design was finished, I cut out the shape. You can trim the stabilizer from the backside of the embroidery if you like, however, leaving it in place can give the fabric more support, making for a slightly more durable mug rug.

I added two decorative patches on the right side of the fabric. To do this, I cut small pieces of cotton fabric (I used homespun and quilter's cotton) to about 2 1/2" by 2 1/2" and 1 1/2" by 1 1/2". Then I added the fusible web to the back of the fabric pieces, arranging them on the fabric with at least 3/4" between the edges of the patches and the outer edges of the fabric.

I pressed them in place with an iron, following the directions on the fusible web packaging. Then I stitched around the fabric pieces with a zigzag stitch to tack them permanently in place. You can use any decorative stitch you like.

To prepare the fabric for the back of the mug rug, I laid the embroidered top piece on top of the fabric (I used lightweight canvas), right sides together, pinned in place, and trimmed the back fabric around the shape of the top piece.

Next I sewed a 1/2" seam around the top, bottom, and one short end only, leaving one short end open for turning. When I reached the design, I sewed the seam right along the bottom edge of the design.

Then I turned the mug rug right side out, pressed the seams with an iron, folded the fabric of the opening in 1/2", and pressed. I pinned the opening in place and top stitched a 1/8" seam around the entire outer edge of the mug rug, starting and stopping at the outer edge of the design (don't sew over the embroidery). And the mug rug is ready to go!

Make your tea or coffee a little sweeter with a charming embroidered mug rug!

Click here for a printable version of these project instructions.

Products used in this Project:

A Animals on the Edge Design Pack	$62.97
Available in 3 Sizes:
5.87" x 9.41" \| 4.84" x 6.89" \| 3.90" x 3.90"

A Christmas on the Edge Design Pack	$13.97
Available in 3 Sizes:
5.87" x 8.50" \| 4.78" x 6.87" \| 3.87" x 2.69"

A Halloween on the Edge Design Pack	$17.97
Available in 3 Sizes:
5.86" x 8.51" \| 4.77" x 6.88" \| 3.87" x 2.69"

Peeking Sock Monkey (Girl)	$3.99 - $6.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
8.50" x 5.00" \| 6.84" x 4.03" \| 3.86" x 2.27"

Peeking Sock Monkey (Boy)	$3.99 - $5.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
8.50" x 5.09" \| 6.84" x 4.10" \| 3.86" x 2.31"

Peeking Unicorn	$4.99 - $6.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
5.86" x 6.21" \| 4.85" x 5.13" \| 3.64" x 3.85"

Peeking Cat	$4.99 - $5.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
7.03" x 5.86" \| 5.84" x 4.86" \| 3.86" x 3.21"

Peeking Dog	$3.99 - $6.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
9.26" x 5.86" \| 6.85" x 4.34" \| 3.85" x 2.44"

Peeking Monkey	$3.99 - $5.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
9.41" x 4.58" \| 6.86" x 3.34" \| 3.86" x 1.88"

Peeking Panda	$3.99 - $6.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
9.35" x 5.86" \| 6.86" x 4.30" \| 3.86" x 2.42"

Peeking Skunk	$3.99 - $5.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
8.51" x 5.03" \| 6.87" x 4.06" \| 3.86" x 2.28"

Peeking Turkey	$4.99 - $6.99
Available in 3 Sizes:
8.50" x 4.69" \| 6.84" x 3.78" \| 3.86" x 2.13"

SIGN IN

MESSAGE CENTER

MY PROFILE

ORDER HISTORY

HELP

WISH LIST

MY CART

Products used in this Project: