Clamshell Mug Rug

Clamshell Mug Rug Tutorial

Here’s a quick tutorial for the clamshell mug rug I made that I shared over on Instagram.

For those of you who don’t know what a mug rug is it’s a like a mini quit that’s bigger than a coaster and smaller than a place mat. It’s big enough to fit a little cup of something and either cookies or cake or whatever other snack you desire with your tea or coffee.

Here’s mine with some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, and a hot cup of tea. I always love a cup of tea when I’m sewing.

Mug rugs make great little gifts and are the perfect size to test new patchwork techniques out without having to commit to large project.

I though this mug rug tutorial would be the perfect match for my EPP clamshell tutorial, since some of you are just starting out.

Lets get to it!

Note: please read all the instructions before beginning. seam allowance is ¼” unless otherwise stated. It is assumed that you know already know how to make and apply binding to a quilt.

Finished size: 8 ¾” x 7 ¾”

Supplies

Assorted fabric squares (2 ½” x 2 ½”) to make clamshells with
EPP supplies, including 2” clamshell papers, template, glue
Appliqué glue
Foundation fabric 11” x 4” (this is a larger width than what I said in the tutorial as I have fussy cut wording at the top)
Backing fabric 8 ¾” x 7 ¾”
Cotton batting (I used a scrap piece bigger than my patchwork panel about 11” x 9”)
Perlé cotton no. 8 or 3 strands of floss for hand quilting (I used 3 strands of Aurifloss)
Basic sewing supplies
Any other trims and embellishments you want to add
Heat and bond (if adding a patch on the back)
Quilt basting spray

Clamshell Mug Rug Instructions

1.Using my clamshell tutorial found here. You need to cut and baste 27 clamshells and appliqué them to your foundation piece of fabric using alternating rows of 5 and then 4 clamshells. Starting with 5 and then 4 and so on until you have a patchwork panel that has 6 rows of clamshells in the following sequence 5-4-5-4-5-4.

2.Then press your patchwork panel and adhere it to your cotton batting using quilt basting spray and quilt as desired.

3.Trim your patchwork panel so it is 8 ¾” high by 7 ¾” wide.

4.Add any patches or trimmings to the back piece of fabric. I used a square piece of pink fabric 2” x 2” with a fussy cut added on top with heat and bond and a 1” piece of cotton tape folded in half and tucked under. I secured it to the backing fabric with heat and bond followed by a small zig zag stitch to hold everything in place. You could also use my Fabric postage stamp tutorial, which can be found here to add a fabric stamp to your mug rug too.

5.I then took my piece of baking fabric and attached it to my clamshell panel using more quilt basting spray and making sure everything lined up perfectly.

6.Bind it with mitred corners using 2 ¼” double fold binding by attaching it to the back and hand stitching it down on the front or finish it with binding using your preferred method.