Orange Peel Mug Rug
I love making mug rugs and I think they make a great “thank you” gift. Enter my latest finish, the Orange Peel Mug Rug. This is a special thank you to a very kind and hardworking realtor who did a fantastic job for us recently.
This mug rug was easy”ish” if you don’t mind a little hand stitching and machine applique. I absolutely love orange peel designs and it’s nice when I can incorporate them into my projects.
I took photos of the process, so you can make one, too, if you’d like. There is a template for the orange peels that you can print out here: Orange Peel Template
Orange Peel Mug Rug
The groundwork for this mug rug is simple. Eight squares (1 7/8″ unfinished) are sewn together to make a 3 1/4″ x 6″ rectangle, which is then sewn to a 6″ square of linen/cotton fabric. Then you applique the orange peels onto the small squares and stitch/embroider the orange peel design onto the big square.
I used fusible machine applique for the fabric orange peels (on the left side.) You can see my tutorial for that technique here.
I made the decision to do the hand stitching in a sashiko style before basting rather than hand quilting with a big stitch after it was basted. This was a little easier for me and I like the way it turned out. I used 3 strands of Aurifil floss for the stitching.
I marked 1/4″ seam allowance with a Frixion pen as well as a grid that is 1 3/8″ apart (the same size as the finished applique squares.) I used an acrylic template to draw in the orange peels. I’ve included a template that you can print out: Orange Peel Template. Trace onto freezer paper or template plastic to make your own template. The same template is used for the orange peel fusible applique.
The Frixion Pen markings disappear with an iron after all of the stitching is done.
I used a small zig zag stitch to applique the orange peels after everything was basted. This way I was quilting and appliqueing at the same time. I added free motion quilting to the hand stitched portion by echoing the design with a matching thread.
I wish I had taken a picture of the entire gift package that I sent out. Mug rugs make the perfect platform for all kinds of goodies to add in. I included a Starbucks gift card, a box of my favorite tea, some chocolate and a cute mug. I also added this mug rug tag from Hilltop Custom Designs. It helps to include an explanation of what a mug rug is to those who don’t know.
If you’re making a mug rug as a Christmas gift, I have a mug rug poem that is perfect for that. I shared this a few years ago to go with my Christmas Pocket Mug Rug (which you can purchase here.)
I have some tips on binding a mug rug that I’ll share with you next week. For now, I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Mother’s Day!
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Thank you Julie, I have never created an orange peel quilt. This looks like a great project to creat!
What is the name of the fabric you used for the Orange Peel Mug Rug?
love it
That’s a cute orange peel mug rug! I like how you quilted around the embroidery to give it extra dimension. Thank you for sharing on Midweek Makers
Thank you for sharing the two mug rug tags. When you make mug rugs, table runners or placemats do you use a special batting? Your blogs are the best!
Julie, darling project! Love how you emphasized the orange peel design with hand stitching!
Thank you, love mug rugs and perfect pattern to try sashiko style hand quilting!
a lovely mug rug liking that you have both applique and hand stitched orange peel on it loving the poem too
What a beautiful project. I will keep it to do as soon as I have a little time
I had never really understood the concept of a ‘mug rug’ before … but this project (along with the two lovely explanatory rhymes) has made it very appealing. It also has made me realise that it is a great way to practice different designs. Thank-you, as ever Julie, for sharing. Your ‘newbie’ pupil here is still learning from you … albeit at a distance.
Warmly,
Patricia
I have given many mug rugs as small gifts, but never an orange peel one or one with a poem! Thank you for all of these awesome ideas to “up” my mug rug gifting!
It’s such a lovely project. Thank you for sharing with us. This is definitely on my “must make” list.
Just goes to show that you should read to the end of a page. Thanks for YOUR little poem I will definitely use that one.
Happy days to you and yours
Gayle
I don’t have the patience for handwork, but do appreciate it! Beautiful work, Julie. 🙂
You are so talented! Thank you for another great project idea. I will definitely be making some of these!
Sweet mug rug! I like making orange peels. They are my current ‘to go’ project. Enjoy your afternoon! XO
I Julie, I too love mug rugs. I just finished one with a saying embroidered in the middle, “Friends reach for your hand but touch your heart”. I sent it through the mail to my friend for her birthday. I wish I had had your notes on the mug rugs. Oh well – I think she’ll get the idea. I love reading your posts – they are always so encouraging.
Thank you!!