Hello Everyone!
It is almost Easter and if you have time for some Easter sewing I have a couple of small scrap projects that you will be able to finish in a couple of hours. It is also a lot of fun to play around with what fabrics, colours and thread to use. I have made an easter version of the mug rug that I made a tutorial for a couple of weeks ago. You can find the tutorial and pattern on my tutorials page or here.
On these two I quilted a grid on the diagonal and appliquéd two egg shapes. I am very happy with how they turned out.
You can of course make these mug rugs without the appliqué. Either just using a nice fabric or you can piece some small scraps together.
I have also made two potholders using the same method as the mug rugs but with a different template that you can also download from my tutorials page or you can find it here.
Except for the shape, the main difference is the extra layer of batting. I used insulated batting for this layer. I also added a loop for hanging the potholder. I cut a 1 1/4″ x 5″ piece of fabric on the bias. I folded it in half lengthwise and pressed, then I folded the raw long edges in to the crease in the middle an pressed again and topstitched both long edges. The binding is also cut on the bias. (Don’t read my handwritten notes in the picture, the 8″ squares are not cut on the bias.)
The one with the strawberry fabric is quilted with a 3/4 ” grid instead of a 1/2″ grid.
When attaching the binding on the back it looks nicer when finished if you sew with a scant 1/4″ seam allowance on the curved corners and 1/4″ on the straight edges. I use the invisible hem presser foot when I topstitch along an edge as a guide. It is important to move the needle so it is to the left of the guide. When going around the curved corners look at the needle and not the guide.
If desired, fold the loop away from the potholder when topstitching from the front and stitch through all layer to keep the loop in place.
It is very easy to alter the size. Cut a square in the size you want out of cardboard and round the corners with a cup or other round object in a similar size.
Happy Easter to you and your family.
Until next time happy sewing and take care.
Annika