"Fall"ing for Christmas--Reversible Mug rug

This is a reversible mugrug/placemat pattern.  One side is a pumpkin, the other side is an ornament.  There are several variations you can make with this pattern.  

You can leave the fabric all the same, or use up some scraps and make it colorful.

Both sides are identical, so be careful when cutting them out, the more precise you are, the better it will look, and your quilting will look much better.  The seam allowance is a scant ¼, but just make sure to make them all the same.

To start press and possibly starch each piece of fabric. Carefully cut out each piece and lay it out on your fabric.    I like to lay my fabric right sides together, and cut out 2 at a time, this goes faster and keeps my pieces lined up better.  This might not work if your fabric is directional, or you want to fussy cut. 

 


 


 A trick I like to use is to line up the second piece along the cut of the first.  This way I don't have to cut again, and you know the curve will be a perfect match. 






Now that you have them all cut out you're ready to sew them together.  








Most of these seams we’ll be sewing are curves, and can be a bit scary at first.  I find it’s WAY easier not to pin, but to do the hand over hand method.  By this I mean you line up the top of your seam and make a few stitches, then you hold the bottom fabric in your right hand, and the top fabric in your left.  Just cross over your hands and line the fabric up along your presser foot and sew slowly.  It works beautifully, I learned this method from sewing bra’s but it’s carried over into all aspects of my sewing.  I’ll show some pictures, and hopefully a video of this method. 


To line up curves you don't want to line up at the edges or points, but at the seam line!!!  As you can see here you'll have a wee triangle sticking out on the end.

 Then you want to go slowly.  Line the pieces up along the presser foot as you go. 










 If you're a bit confused, just lay them out as they would go, and then flip the top part over. 









If it makes it easier for the first few you can mark your seam lines with pins.










Then flip it over and match them up.  Put another pin across them to hold it all in place.

 Place your needle right where they meet.  Pull your threads to the back and hold them for your first few stitches, this way it won't get caught in your plate.  Now you just go slow and using both hands holding top and bottom separately you line them up at your mark and sew, adjusting your hands as you go and manipulating the fabric to lay on the line.   Starting with the middle piece and work out to the side.   

Then sew the middle ones together, and press everything.  It's easier to get your curves to press if you snip along the way a bit or use pinking sheers to trim your seam allowance.  Next add your 'stem' piece at the top.  You can fold it in half to get a crease and then line that up with the center seam.

Then you'll attach batting to the back of one side of your mugrug.  You can use your choice of batting here, doesn’t really matter as long as it’s attached.  You can use iron on, or just use a glue stick to hold it in place. 

Then sew your mugrug right sides together, leaving a 2” opening along one side.  I recommend pinning your seams top and bottom as well as in the middle, try and get them lined up nicely, this way your quilting will line up on both sides.

 
Almost done!!! Just press and turn in your opening close that off with a nice top stitch around the edges.  Now quilt it however you see fit.     

On the left side I top stitched down each side of the seam, on the right hand side I just did a random squiggly quilt line.  Feel free to try your own pattern.  

Click here to download pattern.