Projects

Snowflake Mug Rug

Created By:

Milinda Stephenson of Milinda Sews

Skill Level: Intermediate

"I love the winter holidays. It is true that the weather is a bit gray and gloomy and the sun rises later and sets early, but it is the perfect time to dream and sew. Some of my favorite projects are created from thrown-away wool sweaters. To prepare for craft projects, I stash the wool sweater into the hottest water my washing machine can produce and then toss it at the highest heat into my dryer. To get the feel of wool felt, I do it all over again.

Sewing mug rugs are one of my favorite projects. I find myself searching for one every morning as I drink my tea and read my morning news. It protects my desk and just looks warm and cozy.

I like the look of red and white Swedish embroidery and while I don't have a loom, I thought I would try for a similar look on the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000. I digitized the design using Digitizer and then embroidered it on the machine. It's perfect for a cold winter's day!" - Janome Maker Milinda Stephenson 

Janome Supplies Required

Click here to download the .JEF embroidery design. 

  • Sweater sleeve from old wool sweater
  • White embroidery thread
  • Tear-away stabilizer
  • Wash-away stabilizer
  • Janome embroidery machine with at least a 5" x 7" hoop
  • Two 14" x 18" rectangles of backing fabric
Instructions

Step 1: Prepare for Embroidery

  • Hoop the tear-away stabilizer.
  • Cut a piece of wool 10" x 8".
  • Using a spray adhesive designed for machine embroidery, adhere the 10" x 8" wool to the center of the hoop on top of the tear-away stabilizer.
  • Load the file.
  • Load the hoop into the machine.
  • Using the basting function on your embroidery machine, baste the wool to the tear-away stabilizer.

Step 2: Embroider the Design

  • Choose color 1 (the outline). This will embroider the outline for your mug rug.
  • Choose color 2 (the snowflakes). Be patient with this embroidery. I digitized it so that it looks like it was hand sewn. It will take a while to embroider. Be certain to clip threads as necessary.

Step 3: Prepare Backing

  • Fold your backing pieces in half so that your 14" x 18" pieces of fabric turn into 7" x 9" pieces.
  • Place so that the raw edges are on the outside of the mug rug outline and the folded edges are on the inside of the mug rug outline. This will form an envelope backing for your mug rug.

Step 4: Sew Envelope Backing

  • Sew color 3 (the sew down line for the envelope backing).
  • After sewing, remove from the machine, trim the edges, was away your wash-away stabilizer and turn. Voila!
Everyone is Talking about Snowflake Mug Rug
Reviews


Tako
Beautiful
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

cpindzola
Around the Table Dresden Placemats
Saturday, December 17, 2016

I like the concept, but the directions are "sloppy." Nowhere in the supply list does it mention the felt or the batting (how much?). Also, I would never use a high loft batting in a placemat, or a table runner, as I think that it would be too unstable for a glass. The next time I make these, I will cut out the batting (I use flannel) and spray baste it to the wrong side of the Dresden plate before I put the Dresden plate on the felt to cut out. I have not yet washed the finished placemat, and am hoping that the single layer of felt does not curl up, or become distorted after washing/drying.
Txmaid
Fun Great Gift!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017

MargieARK
Teatime Quilted Tablecloth
Friday, February 24, 2017

I made this today but your cutting directions need to be changed. You only need 4 of color 1 and color 3 4.5 squares for the triangles. Also the inner border, you only need 2 cuts as WOF is long enough to cut each in half to fit the sides.
MickelSews
Great Machine
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

I've had this machine for only a week now. I bought it used from a lady who makes her own clothes, but she no longer needed the machine. During the purchase, she noted that she is almost sad that it's better to give it away because of how well the machine performed. (I also bought it along side a computerized machine of another brand.} She demoed the machine for us, showing it worked and gave us everything (including the box it came in!) She took amazing care of this machine. I have used it a few times now, and the directions for threading were easy to follow (albeit my hands are quite large so the lower looper was a pain, but that is no fault to the machine or brand.) And I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to learn to serge and wants a machine that can grow with them. I will happily use this machine time and time again.
rvstan
S9 Review
Sunday, February 25, 2018

I love, love, love my S9! It's sews and embroiders beautifully and it's simplicity of use amazes me. I would recommend this machine for both a beginner and an experienced seamstress. If I would ask anything of Janome it would be to upgrade the programming to run a larger hoop size. I understand that it can't get much wider but there is most definitely room for it to go longer. That is the only limitation of this machine.
pjmnana
PJMNana
Monday, February 26, 2018

I purchased a Memorycraft 15000 a few years ago and it was the best purchase I ever made! This machine can do just about anything you would would ever want! I love the capability of using the Acuedit app to set up my embroidery pattern on my Ipad and then download it to the machine! I love how my embroidery looks upon completion and I love all the good lighting it has to light up your workspace. That way you don’t need to worry about where to set up your machine. It also has plenty of room to do machine embroidery on any size quilts! There are many decorative stitches from which to choose that are outstanding! It’s hard to choose which one to use! There are so many great features it is hard to decide what I love the most. If you want to buy only one machine to last a lifetime, I would recommend this one!
KLWash
S9 Review
Sunday, February 24, 2019

The S9 is amazing. I learned to sew by hand when I was just 5 and in my grandmothers way as she was quilting. I took seeing classes in high school until they would no longer let me sign up. The S9 makes me appreciate my current skills as well as motivate me to want to learn more. This machine is awesome.
SewSueMe2002
Horizon Memory Craft 15000
Thursday, November 19, 2020

My Janome Horizon Memory Craft 15000 is fantastic! I love, love, love this machine! When I came across the Eye for and Eye embroidery design today, I wanted to make it. However, the embroidery file is missing. Nothing downloads when I select the download button. Please help!
Jillfmischo
Treat Bag fun!
Monday, August 16, 2021

I made the Halloween treat bag for my new granddaughter and I’m sure it will last for years. No embroidery machine so I appliquéd the lettering. Need a little more skirt fabric for a better gathered look, and I used thin double-bias tape for the skirt hem, over edge stitch on skirt sides. I’m pleased with my results!
elenaz
Very helpful tutorial
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

I want to say thank you for teaching me this method of applique. I was able to do it with a small letters. This method is the best so far from all of those I've seen and tried.
plonkar
So useful
Thursday, November 30, 2023

I'd like to express my gratitude for teaching me this appliqué method. I successfully applied it with small letters, and, so far, it's the most effective among all the methods I've seen and tried.

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