Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching and what better way to show you care than by stitching up a handmade raw edge appliqué quilted heart mug rug?
The best part?
They’re super easy and quick to stitch up, making them the perfect last-minute gift idea 😉
This isn’t the first time that I’ve shared heart mug rugs, but I’ve added a little twist that I’m excited to share with you today!
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Quilty Play Time
I had an entirely different project in mind for you, but I just couldn’t resist exploring this idea that kept popping up.
It all stems from playing in the studio with some thread that had me go in an entirely different direction! Plus, the machine was already loaded with my 12wt thread, so it encouraged me to just dive in without overthinking it too much 😉
Machine Quilting with 12wt Thread
As I was playing, I kept getting this urge to make a new raw edge appliqué heart mug rug. I’ve made quite a few of these ever since I first made one for my friend back in 2016. You can read the story here, but suffice it to say, these little cuties always bring me joy to make and always bring joy to the recipient 😊
This time around, I was curious to explore stitching the heart down using a 12wt Aurifil Thread. What I love about this thread weight is that you can machine quilt with it.
Say what?
Machine quilting with a thread you normally hand quilt with.
Yes! Amazing, right?
I’ve machine quilted with 12wt thread successfully in the past, which you can see more of in this Needle Turn Appliqué Wall Hanging I created for an Aurifil Challenge, and again in my last 30 days of Improv QAL Wall Hanging. Both of those examples show the glorious texture 12wt thread adds to your quilted projects.
What I hadn’t tried though was making the stitch work the focus of the piece. I kept getting these visions of seeing the heart filled with stitches and making that the focus of the piece.
Quilted Heart Mug Rug Details
None of this was planned, so I was making it up as I went, and making do with what I had on hand. Some things worked out nicely, others (ah-hum – cough – binding – cough) I could improve on, but the main concept of exploring a heart that’s painted with thread was a success!
Texture
I love both the texture and colour gradient the 12wt variegated thread offers. The colour variation adds an effortless detail that requires no added work on your end. Yes, please!
Fabrics & Colours
I opted to keep the background fabrics dark to place further emphasis on the stitched heart. Dark fabrics are not my typical go-to, mainly because they show any spec of fur and there’s lots of that swirling around the sewing studio because of Pips 😉 Those dark colours act like a magnet for his white fur – ha!
For the heart, I opted to go with a pinky fabric with purply undertones. If you’re low on fabric scraps or simply want to explore a different look, the base heart fabric might not even be required. You could forgo it altogether and simply draw the heart in place using the template included in the pattern and use that as a guide for your stitchwork.
Slow and Steady
Stitching with 12wt thread isn’t the quickest, but it does add some beautiful, quilted details that are worth the time. The key when stitching with heavier thread weights is to slow down.
I know, I know, sometimes we just want to push the pedal to the metal and get the job done, but that’s a surefire way to get annoyed as you’re sure to have some thread breakage.
So, slow down and you’ll keep the frustration and thread breakage at bay! Plus, I found I got into a meditative rhythm once I got a feel for the best speed at which to stitch, and the needle/thread placement.
It’s Fun!
Most of all, it was fun to be able to add so much quilty texture through my thread play just by using my sewing machine. My hands and creative ideas are rejoicing – ha!
Materials Featured
Here’s everything I used to pull this machine-stitched heart mug rug:
- Heart template – part of the Raw Edge Applique Quilt Pattern (a free download here)
- Fabric scraps in dark purple, medium purple, burgundy, and pink Ruby and Bee Solids
- Batting scraps
- 50wt Thread – for piecing and machine quilting
- 12wt thread – for machine quilting and hand binding
- Glue
- Marking pencil
- Ruler
- Rotary cutter
- Sewing machine – read my full review here!
- Walking foot
- Sewing machine needle
- Iron
- Wool pressing mat
- Clips
- Small scissors
- Needle for hand quilting
- Main thimble
- Finger thimbles – I use the large on my thumb and the medium on my index finger
- Pincushion
Learn How
During my quilty adventures, I discovered the fun to be had with thread, something I’d totally discounted the value of. I loved it so much that I signed up to be an Aurifil Artisan back in 2019 (and again in 2020, and 2021). This exploration led me to create the Quilty Texture Through Thread Play lecture and workshop to encourage fellow quilters to discover the joy to be had! It’s a combination of theory and practice, but both are well worth the creative doors it opens!
For more quilted heart inspiration, check out:
If you’re looking to make a quilty friend something to show them how much you care about them, then consider making your own quilted heart mug rug. Whether you go with machine-quilted detail or keep it to a blanket stitch, there are lots of opportunities to whip up this DIY and spread the love this Valentine’s Day.
Be sure to tag me @shannonfraserdesigns and add the #sfdheartmugrug so that I can see your makes 😊
Happy stitching!
xo
Shannon
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