Today we are having some fun with the apple core process. This is a great little project to expose you to the process of making your own template and then sewing something small and super simple with them.
The apple core mug rug is perfect for giving to others during the holidays or a house warming gift. The fake binding helps make it sew up even quicker.
You can choose to use holiday colors — really of any holiday!
Or just fun fabric combinations. As long as the fabrics have contrast, they will work just fine.
The blocks are quilted super simple and a whole bunch of these can be sewn in an afternoon.
Materials Needed:
fabric for the apple core
apple core template- don’t have one?
You’ll find a tutorial on how you can make one yourself an apple core template here
batting- 6″ X 6″ for each mug rug
backing- 7″ X 7″ for each
Apple Core Mug Rug Tutorial
1) Cut our 2 light and 2 dark apple cores, using your template
2) Find the center of one end and one valley and pin together
3) Pin the ends together
4) Sew along the end
5) Repeat with other 2 light and dark pieces
6) Lay flat the pieces and iron the curve
7) Take the two pairs and match the center seams. Pin in place
8) Iron open and trim the squares to 6″ X 6″ – the curved sides will be cut off
9) Layer the batting behind the top. Center on top of the backing.
10) Quilt with your machine around the curves
11) Fold the backing to the front and iron to set
12) Fold the outside edge again and sew in place
13) At the corner- open the fold, and then fold at a diagonal. Then fold the next side twice as before and continue sewing
Continue around the whole little piece.
If you’d like your mug rug to be a bit bigger, then join two blocks before you add the batting and backing.
For quilting, I kept it simple. I stitched 1/4″ from the seams on either side. Only on the curved seams. If you’d like you could do more quilting or even some hand quilting in the larger spaces.
Have you tried the apple core technique before? Have any hints or tips for us?
Becky Jorgensen is the creative quilter behind Patchwork Posse, the Patchwork Planner and her online quilt group Patchworkers Plus. You can find her patterns in books, magazines, and her quilt membership. Gather your quilting supplies, organize your sewing space, explore the process of disappearing quilt blocks, or finish a free quilt pattern. I'll help you use what you have, finish what you start and make your quilting journey fun!
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I have not used this pattern before but you make it look easy. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
Fabulous mug rug and great tutorial! I have never used an apple core template before – this should be fun!
Thank you SO much Becky! Super cute pattern and you do make it look like a breeze. Loved having you take part. Merry Christmas!
It is a fun pattern. Takes some practice with the curved seams, but this small of a project is perfect to practice on.