Tree Mug Rug Tutorial

Need a last-minute gift? Want a cute, quilted coaster to decorate your winter home? Check-out our new Winter Tree Mug Rug Tutorial! This beginner friendly pattern uses the Foundation Paper Piecing sewing technique. It is a lightning-fast project. Add winter and holiday colors to your home and you have a fun (and dare I say practical?) coaster.

Tree Mug Rug Sewing Directions

Let’s get sewing! This tutorial will create one finished 7” x 7” Tree Mug Rug. We worked with the Ruby Star Society Winterglow fabric collection to make this mug rug. Below is a PDF pattern download with all the steps to create this bag.

PDF Pattern Download: Tree Mug Rug Tutorial

General Pattern Information:

This is a beginner friendly sewing tutorial. All dimensions are written in height x width throughout the directions. It is important to read all the instructions prior to beginning this project. You will need the following sewing supplies; Cutting Ruler, Scissors, Rotary Cutter, Cutting Mat, Pins, Iron, Sewing Machine, Clover Point 2 Point Tool (or pointed tool), Add-a-Quarter Ruler, Seam Roller, and a ¼-Inch Presser Foot.

This pattern utilizes a ¼ inch seam allowance unless indicated. Backstitch at the beginning and end of all seams to lock the stitches in place.

Materials Needed:

Print a copy of the Foundation Paper Templates on page 5.

3 scrap fabrics for each tree color or scraps.

3 scrap fabrics for trunk color or scraps.

10” x 10” (Layer Cake Size) Background Fabric in Quilters Weight Cotton fabric

One 10” x 10” Fusible Fleece

1/4” light weight two-sided fusible tape - 5”

Note: For foundation paper piecing projects, fabric requirements are estimates. You may use more or less as you create your blocks.

Fabric Sides:

Cutting Instructions:

Foundation Paper Templates

Prepare your fabrics by cutting each fabric piece approximately 1/2” to 1” larger than its matching number section.

Bottom Fabric & Fusible Fleece

Cut to H: 7.5” x W: 7.5” dimensions.

STEP 1: Complete Foundation Paper Piecing Templates

You will make one block of each tree size - 1 Small Tree, 1 Medium Tree and 1 Large Tree.

Little Fabric Shop has a sewing tutorial on how to use the Foundation Paper Piecing technique. Use the link below.

Link: Foundation Paper Piecing Sewing Tutorial

STEP 2: Assemble Tree Blocks

Sew together your Tree Blocks as shown in diagram below:

STEP 3: Attach Fusible Fleece

Iron Fusible Fleece to the WRONG side of Top Fabric.

STEP 4:

Place RIGHT SIDE of both Front & Back fabric together so that the WRONG SIDE of both fabrics are facing outward.

STEP 5:

Align all sides of fabric evenly. Pin to hold in place. Leave a 3” gap on one of the sides of fabric as this space will not be sewn.

STEP 6:

Sew along edge of fabric with 1/4” seam allowance. DO NOT SEW in 3” space marked by pins. Backstitch at beginning and end of seam.

STEP 7:

Using 1/4” light weight two-sided fusible tape, stick along open space in-line with sewn seam.

Remove the backing & press seams open. Repeat on the other side.

STEP 8:

Turn fabric RIGHT SIDE OUT by pulling interior fabric out through 3” gap. Use pointed tool to push out corners. Press fabric to remove creases from turning.

STEP 9:

Sew a top-stitch seam along border of mug rug. The seam will have an 1/8” seam allowance from the edge of fabric. Increase your stitch length to 3.5” to 4”. Backstitch at the beginning and end of seam.

Congratulations! You’re finished!

We would love to see how your mug rug turned out!  Tag us on Instagram @little.fabric.shop and use the hashtag #treemugrug so we can see your project and you can inspire other makers with your work.