Halloween Mug Rug

Cauldron (free pattern for a limited time!), Witch Hat, Bat & Black Cat

Designed by Ashley Hough

Create a fun foundation paper pieced (FPP) mug rug featuring a colorful Halloween motif. Print the FPP pattern page onto Sulky Paper Solvy, a lightweight water-soluble paper, to make removal quick and easy. Choose a sparkly metallic thread to add a glittery touch to the quilting and/or binding stitching.

Finished Size: 8” square

HALLOWEEN MUG RUG SUPPLIES

• Halloween Mug Rug Pattern (choose from the Cauldron, Witch Hat, Bat, Black Cat or all four) NOTE: Cauldron Pattern FREE for a limited time!
• Fabrics
  • Various black, white, purple & green fabric remnants (top)
  • 9½” square of quilting cotton fabric (backing)
  • 2½” x 42” fabric strip (binding)
• Sulky Paper Solvy™
• 9” square of heat-resistant batting
• Sulky Thread
  • 50 wt. Cotton (piecing & quilting)
  • Holoshimmer™ (quilting and/or binding)
• Organ® Needles
  • Size 70/10 Universal or Quilting (piecing & quilting)
  • Size 90/14 Top Stitch or Metal (quilting and/or binding)

ABOUT THE HALLOWEEN DESIGNS

There are four Halloween Mug Rug designs to choose from: The Witch Hat, Bat, Black Cat and Cauldron. (The collection of four is also available because who can make just one?)

GRAB THE CAULDRON HALLOWEEN MUG RUG PATTERN FOR FREE DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER! FREE PATTERN IS ONLY VALID UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2024. CLICK HERE FOR FREEBIE >>

NEW TO FOUNDATION PAPER PIECING?

Print out the Cauldron Paper Piecing Templates onto Sulky Paper Solvy. Paper Solvy is suitable for use in copy machines, ink-jet printers or bubble-jet printers. It is the PERFECT paper for paper piecing! Paper Solvy does not gum-up needles, is non-toxic and bio-degradable. You can also trace designs onto Paper Solvy using pencils, permanent-ink markers or heat transfer designs using Sulky Iron-On Transfer Pens.

Cut apart the lettered sections along the outermost (thinner) line. Shown below is section E. The thinner line represents the seam allowances beyond this section.

Reduce the stitch length to 1.8mm or 2.0mm.

Cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover section A1 with at least ¼” of fabric extending beyond the seamlines on all sides. Position the fabric with the wrong side of the fabric against the wrong (unprinted) side of the paper over the A1 section and pin in place. (The image below shows a different pattern, but the technique is the same!)

On the right (printed) side of the paper, fold along the line between sections A1 and A2. Trim away any excess fabric that extends beyond ¼” from the fold.

Unfold the paper and turn it over so that the wrong side of the paper faces up. Cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover section A2 with at least ¼” of fabric extending beyond the seamline on all sides. Position the fabric right sides together over piece A1, aligning the fabric edges between the A1 and A2 lines. Stitch on the line between sections A1 and A2, beginning and ending 2-3 stitches beyond the seamline. Fold the fabric open along the seamline to cover section A2 and press.

Using this flip-and-sew method, continue adding the remaining A pieces in numerical order, and then repeat the same method to piece the remaining lettered sections in numerical order.

Once pieced, trim away any excess fabric that extends beyond the outermost (thinner) line of each section.

Tear away the paper from the larger pieced sections. For smaller areas, moisten a Q-tip or cotton swab and run it along the stitching line(s). Then, lift the paper to remove.

Alternatively, leave all the Paper Solvy intact until the Halloween Mug Rug is complete, and then wash away the paper in a rinse and spin cycle.

METALLIC ACCENTS

For a hint of glitz and sparkle, stitch the Halloween Mug Binding using Sulky Holoshimmer Thread. The holographic effect that this thread has gives a spooky yet stylish finish to the Mug Rug project.

For a different look, try quilting with Holoshimmer Metallic by adding straight stitching just inside or outside the main Mug Rug motif.

Use a larger needle (size 90/14) and slow the machine speed to reduce friction. Make sure the thread winds off the spool in a horizontal orientation facing the needle path to reduce twisting. Holoshimmer is a flat, ribbon-like thread, so you want the thread to remain flat without twisting as much as possible. Practice the stitch you plan to use on scrap fabric to ensure desired results.

Which Halloween Mug Rug will YOU create?