Mug Rug Gift Pattern

Mug Rug Gift Pattern

This free mug rug pattern is my gift to you. It can be used to make a mug rug, along the side of a placemat, or even in a table runner. It’s fast, fun, and easy to make! To get the free pattern, fill out the form below. To print this entire page, use the green Print Friendly button at the very bottom of this page.

How to Make the Mug Rug Gift

What is a mug rug?  It’s an oversize coaster that you put on the table to hold your beverage and a small snack. It’s not quite as big as a placemat – it can range from 4″ to 10″ and any shape that suits your creativity. Its primary job is to look cute and provide you with sustenance during those long sewing sessions.

Fabric Requirements

  • Background: (2) 2-1/2″ squares; (2) 1-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ rectangles; (1) 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″ rectangle.
  • Red: (2) 2-1/2″ squares; (1) 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″ rectangle; (2) 1-1/2″ squares
  • Green: (2) 2-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ rectangles; (2) 1-1/2″ × 2-1/2″ rectangles
  • You don’t NEED the Quilt-in-a-Day Mini Rulers, but they will make things easier for you:
Mug Rug Gift Fabric Choices
These are my fabric choices.

The Traditional Method of Making Flying Geese

A flying goose quilt block is always twice as wide as it is tall. That makes it easy to figure proportions. While there are methods of making four flying geese at a time, I am showing a more traditional method because you only need two small blocks.

To make the larger flying goose in this pattern (the bow), use the 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″ background rectangle and both 2-1/2″ red squares.

Step One: Draw a line on the diagonal on the wrong side of the sky square (shown in red below.) Lining up the corners of the square with the edges of the goose rectangle (shown in cream below), pin carefully and sew on the drawn line.

The First Step in Making a Flying Goose Quilt Block using Squares

Cut off the excess and press.

The Second Step in Making a Flying Goose Quilt Block using Squares
I used one of the Quilt-in-a-Day Mini Rulers, both to help me cut an exact quarter-inch seam allowance and later to square up this block.

Step Two: Do the other side, overlapping the first square. Press and trim all loose dog ears.

The Third Step in Making a Flying Goose Quilt Block using Squares

Press and square up to 2-1/2″ × 4-1/2″.

The Fourth Step in Making a Flying Goose Quilt Block using Squares

Sew a 2-1/2″ square to both sides of the unit. Press to the dark. It should measure 2-1/2″ × 8-1/2″.

The ribbon block of the Mug Rug Gift Pattern

To make the smaller flying goose in this pattern (the ribbon), use one of the 1-1/2″ × 2-1/2″ green rectangles and both 1-1/2″ red squares and follow the directions above.

Press and square up to 1-1/2″ × 2-1/2″.

Sew the second 1-1/2″ × 2-1/2″ green rectangle to the bottom of the small flying geese unit. Press to the green rectangle and square up to 2-1/2″.

The small ribbon block of the Mug Rug Gift Pattern tutorial

Sew the block you just made to one end of the red rectangle. Sew THROUGH the X made by the seams of the Flying Goose block. That will help keep your points sharp. (I darkened the X with a pen in the picture.)

Creating the Mug Rug

Sew the gift in columns. Press to the center. This unit should measure 6-1/2″ × 8-1/2″. Then sew the ribbon on top and press to the block again. The whole block should measure 8-1/2″ × 8-1/2″.

The layout for the Mug Rug Gift Pattern
.

Bonus Idea: Quilting the Mug Rug Gift

I decided to experiment with quilting this single block. I used black batting so you could see my quilting. It’s not perfect, but it was great for a tryout.

First I basted the batting to the back of the block
Then I quilted from the front. The batting was sturdy enough that it did not get caught in the feed dogs. I removed the basting after this step.
I placed an 8-1/2″ square on the front of the quilted block, right sides together. Sew all the way around the outside (leaving a space for turning) and clip the corners.
Finished Mug Rug Gift
Here is the final product. I think I would have liked this better if I had quilted the center of the ribbon and maybe poked the corners out a little bit more. But overall, not bad for an experiment!

Please add kris@scrapdash.com to your contacts list to make sure you get the confirmation message. Drag the confirmation message from the Promotion tab to the Primary tab if you use Gmail.

If you are already a subscriber, it’s okay to fill out this form. You won’t be put on the mailing list twice.

Have another tip to offer? Send it to me or reply below and I will add it here.

Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter! Once a week, I send updates on quilt-related information I have found while wandering the web. This might be an inspiring article, a tip or tutorial I have discovered (or written), and occasionally exclusive offers & discounts as well as immediate access to the secret page of free patterns, guides, and printables. You can follow my page on Facebook, or join the Make Believe Quilters group, too.

23 thoughts on “Mug Rug Gift Pattern”

  1. This is such a clever idea and so perfect for a stocking stuffer too. Thank you for taking the time to write a tutorial and sharing your talent in the No Ring November Blog Hop.

  2. Now that’s a holiday gift that keeps on giving! Thanks for walking us through making it. I had to chuckle…just yesterday I cut into that red fabric you used for the bow, for a project I’m working on. It is gorgeous fabric.

  3. So sweet of you to offer us this lovely holiday block pattern and tutorial. This blocks potential is endless. Thanks

Comments are closed.