Put A Little Love Checkerboard Mug Rug
We are fortunate to be able to join in our second blog hop! This is another one hosted by Carol at Just Let Me Quilt who ran the virtual cookie exchange last December. We like to stick with a good thing. ~smile~
The blog hop is called Put A Little Love In Your Quilt, and it runs from February 5 through 8. Our feature article will be published on the 8th and we will have a free pattern for a mug rug. Nothing earth shattering . . . I’ll bet if you applied yourself you could figure it out in a minute. But some people like written instructions, and some people may be new to quilting and would enjoy it. ~smile~ We thought we would share the mug rug early so anticipation for the free pattern can build and build. <big grin>
Here is the mug rug, cutely staged with my nice heart mug. Isn’t that nice that it matches so well?! This is the same mug that Sue’s mom uses every weekend for our coffee clutch. We thought this little project would be great chance to practice different stitches in each block. First, I stitched the maze block, and a few stitches were skipped. They are handily UNDER the mug so you can’t see it in the staged photo.
Here’s a better shot – see that top right square. Yup, the upper thread needed to be rethreaded but I thought it was the bobbin. Oh well, no big deal. I wasn’t ripping it out. Next up was the diagonal stitching. Still a few skipped threads and then I figured out it was the TOP thread not the bobbin. Okay. I went to the other side of the mug rug to do a completely different stitch . . . and ended up stitching the diagonal in the SAME EXACT direction. Seriously?! So I gave up after that, and limited the diversity to four different stitches. Who cares anyway?!
You can’t really see it very well in this photo, but the hearts are stitched in light pink in the bobbin thread! That is until the aforementioned issue with skipped stitches. At that point, that is when the bobbin thread was removed and replaced with the thread that matches the top (and didn’t solve the problem). Here you can better see the ‘fancy’ stitches which are pre-programmed in my Elna sewing machine. Those didn’t quite turn out how I expected either but it will do.
Here’s how this little project started out as little fabric squares that Sue lovingly cut out for me. And then how it progressed prior to appliquéing the hearts down. Are you now wondering how many fabrics were pulled out by me for consideration and possible use all from our stash?!
Checkerboard Fabric Choices
As you can see above, only a select few made the cut out of this stack. You may also be wondering why the heck is the very center square left plain with no heart??!! Hmm, why might that be? Can you guess? Read on to find out.
Truth time, I guess. Our plan was to embroider a cute little joined heart in center in red thread. Sue has been working on our Valentine’s Day quilt that has a deadline of February 8th. The embroidery sewing machine has white thread in it. I was too LAZY to change the thread! That’s the whole truth. It might run out of thread before the 8th and then it will have the interlocking hearts for the final reveal and instructions, or it might not. One more reason to come back and get the free pattern. ~smile~
See you on the 8th, if not before! There are a whole host of friends participating – I’ll share the list in early February so you can visit them! Our other Linky Parties can be found by clicking the link for more quilting fun – check out what our friends are up to. Like/follow us on our Facebook page and you can share your photos of what you’re working on. We would love to see them!
This is an adorable mug rug 🙂
Hi Lynette,
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the free pattern. ~smile~ Roseanne
Your mug rug is really cute. I don’t think anyone would notice mistakes , they would be focused on its’ cuteness.
Hi Sherry,
Aren’t you sweet?! I think we are always our own worst critic. I hope you decide to make one or at least grab the free pattern. I appreciate your visit and comment today and I hope you come again! ~smile~ Roseanne
such a cool pattern, I love how you did this quilting for this, a great way to practice different types of quilting patterns. The applique hearts are quite nice on the mugrug to. I will definitely try this.
Hi Marian,
Oh, I hope you do try it. And maybe you’ll actually follow my plan for a different quilting in each square. Thank you so much for visiting and taking time for a comment today. I hope you visit again! ~smile~ Roseanne
That is darling and the quilting is just fabulous. I’ll be back on the 8th.
Hi Mary,
It was so much fun to try some new things on the quilting, or to just stretch out a little. I appreciate your visit and commenting so much. ~smile~ Roseanne
An adorable mug rug!
Hi Anita,
I hope if you make one yourself you share it with me! I appreciate that you visited and commented today, and I hope you come again. ~smile~ Roseanne
Oh, I love it! I want to make one for everyone!
Good Morning!
I hope you do make a bunch of them! They go together so very quickly, and you can have loads of fun quilting it. Just check your threading first. ~smile~ Roseanne
So many fabrics, and such a little dent in them with this project, lol! Allows you to make just that many more. The coffee mug is perfect to go with it!
Hi Barbara,
HAHA – I never thought of it that way. Yes, it was a VERY small dent in that stack. I’m using it at work as of today. It’s nice and cheery and seasonally appropriate. ~smile~ Roseanne
Very cute! I have a hard time resisting anything that is red and white!
Hi Kate,
I brought the mug rug with me to work this morning. It is brightening my desk. I agree – I love red and white! ~smile~ Roseanne
How fun for you to be a participant in another blog hop. The project you will be sharing is so pretty. Who cares if the stitches didn’t turn out perfectly. I don’t think anyone will notice. Stitching the hearts in pink was a great idea. The pink adds a punch of color. ♥️
Hi Cindy,
My plan was to do all the quilting in the pale pink, but then the threading issue came up. Once I pulled out the bobbin, I didn’t bother with it again. Oh well! You are so sweet to comment! ~smile~ Roseanne
I can totally relate to thread and tension issues! I’ve experienced it myself on way to many occasions! Darn near brings you to tears. I’m so glad you were able to use it even if it was in a small area. 👏 My pleasure! 💃
Super adorable mug rug! Yay for another blog hop too, and I feel you on the thread changing woes. 🙂
Hi Sandra,
I should have just rethreaded both the top and the bobbin. Ah yes, next time! At least I learned something, right?! ~smile~ Roseanne
That is so sweet and a perfect heart project…love it!
Hi Carol,
I still need a little something-something in the center though. For sure by the 8th! ~smile~ Roseanne
Cute little Valentine mug rug!
Good Morning,
Thank you so much! I was fun to make but I need to fill that middle square. ~smile~ Roseanne
It is adorable!! Timely…hearts…pink…what’s better than that?!
Hi Jayne,
I was fun digging through the red/pink drawer to see what scraps I could revisit and remember how they were first used (or not, in some cases). ~smile~ Roseanne
Super sweet mug rug! I’m joining the blog hop and have my project finished, but just need to take photos and get the post written. I’ll keep myself tuned in to see what that little lonely square might become!
Hi Kathy,
I’ll be sure to take note of your post – I like to visit all the participants to see their special posts. Yes, that lonely square just has to be filled doesn’t it?!! Thanks so much for commenting and visiting. I appreciate it! ~smile~ Roseanne
Your project is adorable!
Hi Vicki,
You are too darn kind! It’s all right. ~smile~ Roseanne
You’re supposed to keep all those things secret. No need to tell on your self! But I sure did enjoy reading about it. At least I’m not the only one who has issues at times!
Hi Shannon,
Seriously! I removed the bobbin, rethreaded and then it continued to happen. Duh – try the upper thread. Oh well, it’s only a mug rug that I’m going to use. Just keeping it real . . . ~smile~ Roseanne