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Happy Galentine’s Day Mug Rug Tutorial and more Fabric Baskets!

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Do you enjoy making small quilted gifts? You’ll want to make at least one of the Happy Galentine’s Day Mini Strip mug rugs. I have a couple of fast and easy mug rug tutorials that are perfect for the holidays.

I bet some of you are thinking that I misspelled Valentine’s Day…..right? Nope, there is a new “holiday” called Galentine’s Day and all of the Island Batik ambassadors will be sharing cute little mug rug projects to celebrate it using the beautiful batiks from our new goodies box.

Mug Rug tutorials for Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day

What I’m sharing today is this fast and easy tutorial to make a little Happy Galentine’s Day Mini Strip Mug Rug that goes perfectly with my fabric baskets.

Galentine's Day Mini Strip Mug Rug

I got a little carried away……..imagine that! I decided I wanted to make a couple of new fabric baskets using my tutorial and before you knew it I had several done and realized I had better get to work on my mug rugs before I ran out of fabric!

I forgot to explain Galentine’s Day! I’ll give you the Urban Dictionary definition.

February 13th, the other half of valentine’s day, when you celebrate your love for your lady friends! single or no.

It is also my best friend’s birthday! How perfect! It is also the 16th episode of Parks and Recreation which I haven’t watched.

Free Printable Cards

Download these FREE printable cards! They could be used for Galentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day.

Free downloadable cards for Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day

I started out with this group of beautiful batiks. I also used the Fantastico thread from Superior Threads for my free motion quilting and the red Aurifil 50 weight thread for my piecing.

Galentine's Day Island Batik fabrics aurifil thread and Superior thread


After I finished making the fabric baskets I cut some of the leftover batiks so I could make a mug rug or two.

Happy Galentine’s Day Mini Strip Mug Rug Tutorial

Directions

Size is 6 ½” x 9 ½”

Cutting:

  • Cut strips of the pink/red batiks that are 3/4″ wide – I varied the length – anywhere from  4″ to 5″.
  • Cut strips of a neutral batik 3/4″ wide – most of these I cut around 5″ to 6″ in length.
Cut batik strips for the mug rug

Sewing:

  • Sew a neutral strip to each side of the pink/red strip.
  • Press to the dark side.
  • Lay the strips out and stagger the strips as shown below. (notice I have made this before – when I find that post I will put a link to it).
Mug rug strip sets laid out
  • Sew the strips together with a 1/4″ seam allowance or smaller.
  • Carefully press the seam away from the edge that you will sew the next strip to (the next strip would be added to the right side).
sew the mug rug strips together
  • Your piece will be a lot narrower than you may expect. This is the size of mine after sewing all of the strips together.
mug rug string strips all sewn together
  • Add more strips to both sides until you have a piece approximately 6 ½” inches tall.
  • I didn’t care about the width of the mug rug as a certain size. I just trimmed the piece to 9 ½” wide.
trim edges of string mug rug

Assembling:

  • Add a backing and batting.
  • This is a great time to use up your batting scraps.
  • I usually take my batting scraps and zig-zag them together into pieces that will work for mug rugs and other small quilt projects.
Cut batting and backing for mug rug

Quilting

This is a perfect time to do some straight stitch quilting.

I used my vintage 15-91 Singer sewing machine and didn’t use a walking foot…..just my regular foot.

Binding

  • Cut your binding strips 2 ¼” instead of the normal 2 ½”.
  • Fold the strips lengthwise and sew to the mug rug. One strip the width of the fabric should be enough for the binding.
  • Finish your binding by machine using this tutorial.

Here is the finished strip pieced mug rug, isn’t the back beautiful!

Finished quilted mug rug and view of back

Larger Strips Mug Rug

I had more leftover batiks after I finished the Valentine’s Day baskets so I made another little mug rug.

Another batik mug rug

Directions

Larger Strips Mug Rug
7 ½” x 8 ½”

Here is how I made it – my design came about simply because of what fabric I had left.

  • Start out with a 4″ x 7 ½” centerpiece.
  • Add a 2″ x 7 ½” strip to each side of the centerpiece.
  • Add a 1 ½” strip to each side.
  • Add a backing and batting.
  • Quilt as desired.

Binding

  • Cut your binding strips 2 ¼” instead of the normal 2 ½”.
  • Fold the strips lengthwise and sew to the mug rug. One strip the width of the fabric should be enough for the binding.
  • Finish your binding by machine using this tutorial.

I did some easy free motion quilting on this mug rug. Hopefully, you can see what I did.

Closeup of free motion quilting on mug rug

Crazy Heart Mug Rug

This is another little mug rug I made that I made using some teeny tiny little scraps.

I pieced some together and then cut out a heart applique shape. There are so many types of mug rugs you can make with scraps.

Mug rug with crazy pieced heart

Directions

  • Draw a small heart on paper.
  • Start with a small piece in the center and then add a strip to one side.
  • Continue adding strips to cover the heart shape.
  • Cut out the pieced heart.
  • Cut a 4″ x 6″ piece of cream batik
  • Either use glue or Heat nBond Lite to keep the heart in place.
  • Applique as desired.

I also added some half-square triangle corners to it. It was still a little small so I added 1″ strips as a border.

Binding

  • Cut your binding strips 2 ¼” instead of the normal 2 ½”.
  • Fold the strips lengthwise and sew to the mug rug. One strip the width of the fabric should be enough for the binding.
  • Finish your binding by machine using this tutorial.

There are so many different ways you can make a mug rug! Do you like making them?

This post is getting a little long…..I’ll share the Valentine fabric baskets tomorrow including the size I made them.

I hope you have enjoyed the Happy Galentine’s Day Mini Mug Rugs.

Other quilt projects that are perfect for Valentine’s Day

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24 Comments

  1. Doreen Sherk says:

    I really like your salvage mug rug, nice idea. I usually toss them but maybe I may start saving them..
    Thank you for the free tutorials on your other mug rugs.
    Doreen Sherk

  2. I feel bad for Mr. Mickey. I hope the vet can help him and that he gets better soon.I also love you Galentine Mug rugs ans baskets!! Such a sweet gift!

  3. Wow you have been busy, all great projects. I know where to look when I am need of a fabric basket tutorial.

  4. I love those mug rugs! I’ll have to make a few to add to my growing collection. 🙂

    1. LOL, I know what you mean…..I always enjoy making mug rugs!

  5. Wow I LOVE all this Island Batik red and pink fabric and what you have created. I always love the fabric boxes and they make wonderful gifts…especially filled with chocolate. Mug rugs are just what I am needing to make. I joined a swap and have never made any so I must sew and learn NOW. Thank you very much Connie. Happy Valentine’s to you and yours.

    1. Thanks so much Sherry! Mug rugs are always a fast and easy quilt project, you will have fun! Happy Valentine’s Day!

  6. Your mug rugs are great! The skinny straps would ocean waves with my sewing. Your batik baskets would make cute gifts. The box of batiks and threads is to die for–such a box of goodies!

    1. Thanks Miriam, they are really fun to make, just switch directions for each row and you won’t have waves!

  7. Monica Kostak says:

    Well … you have just given me next years valentine idea!! It’s so good to be ahead of the game! ? So cute cute !! Thanks !

    1. Thanks Monica! I should have had this post up earlier, pin it for next year! Happy Galentine’s Day!

  8. Very cute design, Connie. I love the skinny strips in your mug rug and it’s a great way to use up those left overs! Thanks for sharing.

    1. Thanks Julie! If we used little skinny strips like this all the time……..we would never have left overs! Happy Galentine’s Day!

  9. Everything is just adorable. Makes my heart happy just looking at them. I’m definitely going to have to play with those narrow strips here!
    🙂

    1. I can’t wait to see what you create Joan, I bet it will be with Island Batik fabrics! Happy Galentine’s Day!

  10. That is such a pretty mug rug. Galentines Day…..great idea. I like it! Happy Galentines Day to you.

  11. Love these mug rugs Connie. Those sure are skinny strips you’ve used. Wow. If I make these, I’ll probably need to make them from red fabric to hide the blood from sewing my fingers. LOL

    1. LOL, that gave me a giggle Vicki!! Are you sure you wouldn’t make them in your favorite color…….purple? Happy Galentine’s Day!

  12. Sally Dea says:

    Love,loved, love the mug rigs…wish I had time to make a bunch before tomorrow. Love all you do . thank you.
    Happy Valentone’s Date

  13. They are all wondeful Connie! Especially in batiks!!!! Have a great Valentine’s Day as well as Galentine’s Day too.

    1. Thanks Daryl and Happy Galentine’s and Valentine’s Day to you!

    1. Thanks Vicki, they end up being a 1/4 inch strip! Fun to do though.