Mug rugs are extra large drink coasters or smaller versions of placemats that hold a cup of tea or coffee with room for a pastry or treat. They’re a great way to polish up on your quilting and sewing skills (and learn a new technique or two), but they also a creative way to use up scraps (and bonus! they’re totally gift-worthy too). Here are nearly 30 different patterns and tutorials that show you how to make them, keep in mind I update project pages regularly here on Tipnut so watch this page for new additions. Enjoy!
Little Bits: Features a colorful pieced ring center, tutorial available via free pdf download.
Time For Tea: This design has the word “tea” appliqued on one side and a cup & saucer on the other (free pdf templates).
Butterfly Applique: Made with about 10 scraps of fabric, Heat & Bond Lite (for applique), batting and binding.
Basic Quilted: Finished size is about 6″ x 9″ and features free-motion quilting.
Scrappy Stack: Quilted, finished size is about 10″ x 7″ and made with assorted strips of fabric (for patchwork rectangle, sashing and binding), backing fabric and batting.
Reversible Java Rug: Made with a jelly roll (or other 2.5″ strips), a piece of batting, iron-on fusing and contrasting fabric for letters (to spell Java or whatever you like).
In The Garden: Sweet & colorful featuring a bird and flowers (hand drawn design, jpg file can be downloaded as a guide), quilted.
Stripey Egg: Fun & cheery “Easter Egg” style made with colorful strips of fabric (includes pattern pieces to download).
At Home Mug Rug: Charming “house” made with scraps of fabric that is adorned with decorative stitches and bits of lace and trim.
Wonky Starburst: Scraps of fabric are sewn together on the diagonal then quilted to make a mat (fabric binding around the edges).
Starbright: Lovely quilted mat with mitered corners and a ribbon loop for hanging.
Scrappy Color Block: Top is made with 9 scrap pieces in assorted colors, a fat quarter (in a neutral solid fabric), backed with batting and fabric.
Mug Rug Tutorial: Assorted scraps of fabric for the top, backed with quilt batting or fleece and a piece of fabric for the back. You’ll find the 2nd part of the tutorial here (for binding).
Semi Dresden Design: A quick tutorial showing how to sew wedges together to form a semi-circle shape, layer with batting and white fabric then attach a half circle shape. Suitable for Intermediate to Advanced sewers.
Little Cottage: Includes a free template to download (pdf), basic instructions provided.
Template: Pieces are cut (8) then assembled and sewn together, lined with fusible fleece, quilted then trimmed with bias tape.
Moustache: Fun! There’s a template you can download with four different moustache designs.
Subway Art: If you do not have an embroidery unit, you can hand embroider or applique words onto the piece.
I’m looking for instructions for a “Mug Rug” made from that plastic with the SQUARE holes on it.
My Aunt gave me one YEARS ago that looks like a miniature, fringed rug and it says MUG RUG, centered. It has a fabric backing, made with yarn & measures 4″ (without fringe) X 3.75″. I wish I could put a photo of it here. It so darn cute! But mine has seen better days. I must have washed it a million times just by swishing it around in soapy water. Rinses & dries fast!
Anyone? Thanks!
I googled “square plastic canvas mug rug” and several patterns came up, some with fringe, but I’ve never seen fabric backing used with it. We used to make coasters and things out of that stuff when we were kids, the same way you would cross stitch but with yarn.
These are great projects for young kids
Hi! Absolutely adore the mug rugs…very happy, cheerful AND useful. Do have a question though…does no one else dribble their hot chocolate and cocoa down the side of their mug except me??? Both are very hard to get out. And as far as laying a sandwich, cookie, etc. on them…don’t you have to wash them every time you use them? Know you could use a saucer but, to me, that defeats the purpose of the mug rug. Do you all know something I don’t??? 🙂 🙂 🙂
Would Scotchgard be beneficial??? Thanks
Thank you so much for including my tutorial too! Some fab designs in that list.
Wow, thanks so much for including my butterfly mug rug! I’m truly in some really great company!
Great post – thanks for including my tutorial! I’m flattered. 🙂
Thanks for including my mug rug tutorial in your list! People have been hopping over, and also downloading my Lady Bug Mug Rug pattern.