Selvage Mug Rug tutorial
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Selvage Mug Rug tutoral
Are you looking for a fast and easy quilt project or gift to give someone? A little selvage mug rug is the perfect thing to make so make plenty! Keep some cute coffee cups from the Dollar Store and cookies or a treat so you’ll always have a quick gift if needed. If you don’t have any selvage pieces just use some of your fabric scraps cut into 1 inch or 1 ½” strips.
First thing to do:
Pull out your selvage pieces, if you are like me…..you’ll have plenty. I try to keep them neat which means when I have new ones I just put them on top of my container until I have time to put them in the box neatly. I even keep all of my ribbons from fabric bundles which can be used for pillows!
I decided to make a selvage mug rug in some peaches and greens.
Add your selvage strips to a muslin foundation piece. Cut a piece of muslin 6″ x 9″ or if you like bigger – cut the size you like. Add your strips, I usually sew right along the edge of the selvage strip and overlap about 1/4″ when I add the next strip.
Oops….I goofed! I forgot to put a piece of 6″ x 9″ batting on top of the foundation fabric! Normally I do that and make a “quilt as you go” sandwich like these batik placemats. No big deal, I’ll go to plan B!
Something I wish I had done differently – see the green selvage on the bottom that says “Quilt with Kids” – I should have used that a little higher in the selvage mug rug and maybe just used a strip of fabric without a selvage edge as this doesn’t show when the mug rug is done.
I found a lime green fat quarter in my stash that I could use for the backing. I cut the batting 6″ x 9″ and the backing just a little bigger.
Lay your selvage mug rug right side UP on your table, place the backing right side DOWN on top of it and then add the batting.
Sew with about a 1/4″ seam allowance and make sure you leave an opening to turn it right side out.
Trim tthe backing and corners, I leave a little extra backing on the section that is the opening. Backstitch at the opening.
Turn it right side out, press and top stitch to close the opening.
Stitch across some the selvage rows to give your scrappy selvage mug rug a quilted look.
I went ahead and put all of the other selvage scrap pieces away on the bottom shelf that hides behind my DIY sliding design wall. Do you realize how many mug rugs I could probably make!
I didn’t have any cookies to put on my mug rug but I always have coffee!
A yellow mug looks cute too! I pick up mugs like these from Dollar Tree all the time. 
Have you made any selvage mug rugs? You know I always resize my photos in Photoshop and sometimes I play. Want to see other colors of mug rugs? Wouldn’t it be fun to have all of them made up with matching coffee cups!
Here are some other posts that will inspire you:
- Diagonal Selvage Mug Rugs
- QAYG string tutorial
- Skinny Runner tutorial
- Tree Runner resized tutorial
- Summer Runner tutorial
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Hi Connie,
I love all your ideas for mug rugs, such a good way to use up small pieces of fabric and selvage strips. After you have saturated your (and your friends’ and relatives’) need for rug mugs, another good use is to use your scraps, selvages, etc. to make square potholders, using the same methods. I make them square(ish) 7-8 inches long and wide. This is also a good used for the occasional orphan quilt square(s) that we all accumulate. Using them while baking always make me smile. Another potholder idea: I cut squares from a Hawiaan shirt (that was hopelessly stained down the front) as a momento of a wonderful trip.
I just cleaned out and passed on 6 bags of fabric scraps that don’t feel I will use. (of course I will want one as soon as I give them away). I give them to 2 friends who make quilts for charity and Project Linus. I have been known to ask for a group of fabric return to me I gave her. Now you have given me something else to collect and save! Love the mug rugs made with selvages. All of those go into a bag for a lady who makes dog beds with them and other small pieces no big enough for quilts. I have a small bedroom I quilt in so everything has to be kept organized. I’m always reorganizing. So I guess I will start saving those selvages. I love making, using and gifting mug rugs.
Hi, Do you always leave fabric on the edge of salvages for the mug rugs.
I usually bag my salvages and use them to try up tomato, pepper plants and any other veg. plant. I share them with my neighbors too for their gardens. They sure appreciate them since they don’t sew.
I made some of your mug rugs a couple years ago. I guess it’s time to make some more. I have lots of scrap pieces of batting I saved for this purpose.
This is a great use for selvages. Thank you for linking with the Tips and Tutorials Festival!
I love this project! I feel like it is one I could actually accomplish for homemade gifts!
Oh, that’s so cute! Perfect gift for a quilter 🙂 I always keep every scrap possible… so I could easily make up a few of these! xx
This is a fun and cute project, Connie! Now I can start saving the selvage edges!! Thanks!
Great idea for using those fun and informative selvedges from fabrics. A mug rug for every cup and what a great idea for gifts.
Super little tutorial, always nice to know about plan A and plan B so I can choose. 🙂 I rarely have selvages because I mostly use batiks and trim them very close to the edge, but I know what t can do with the few I do have. Thanks.
Hi Connie, that’s a great little tutorial. I made my first project with selvage pieces last month. This is also a great idea. Thanks!
I love your mug rugs! as for the cute selvedges on the bottom… just add a strip of plain fabric and a muslin backing and sew down the selvedges on top of it. I am going to make a selvedges mug rug for my sister. thanks again!
Hello Connie; Your Mug Rug is so cute! I have never saved selvages, but I think you must have saved them for me! LOL….HaHaHa Aren’t I just the funniest smarty pants every so often! I do however save scrap strips that are 1 inch and up. Scraps are so much fun! I think your gift idea is fabulous and will have to remember it and start picking up some cups and making some mug rugs. Thank you so much for sharing and have a fantastic day!
So cute! I think selvages are very “happy” looking in projects. This makes me want to finish the selvage bag I started last year. LOL
Wonderful little project! I hate when I forget the step that makes it easier….but plan B worked well.
LOL, great minds think alike Connie! The class I will be teaching, I will have them make a mug rug to get the concept. I will give them 3 choices: turn like a pillow as you did, regular binding like a quilt, or curve the corners and do with bias binding. I have the class samples made already. If there is time, I will teach a zippered pouch too.
Those are cute and makes that cup of coffee extra special.