Choosing FabricsYou can get a variety of looks depending on the fabrics you choose. I made one with a contemporary twist on a favourite design (left) and a more traditional version (above).

To achieve the style on the left you'll need to choose bold fabrics and carefully differentiate the background from the star. I’ve used a plain red shot cotton with large floral fabrics for the diamonds in shades of pink, red and orange. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bold colours for a modern style! If you prefer a more traditional look, like the one in the picture at the top, use small floral prints in pretty pastels on a small print background. Small spots, ginghams or candy stripes would look great too.

But let’s be honest, we’re talking tiny amounts of scrap fabric, so if you cut some out and decide you don’t like your original choice, it won’t be the end of the world: just cut some more!

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The Star Mug Rug

For 1 Coaster You Will Need:NB: Wash and iron all fabrics before you begin any cutting or sewing.

• Variety of cotton fabric scraps to cover 6 diamonds• 1 piece of cotton fabric cut to 5.5” square (front)• 1 piece of cotton fabric cut to 5” square (back)• 1 piece of wadding (batting) cut to 5.5” square• Tacking thread

• Matching cotton sewing threads• Hand quilting thread• Tailor’s chalk• Pencil• Pins

• Sewing needles (I use Crewels)• Scissors• Paper templates (cut 6)

TemplatesUse the template below to cut out 6 diamond patterns on scrap paper. The template’s the correct size so there’s no need to enlarge or reduce it.

1. All design and content is © Stephanie Boon, 2013 and may be downloaded and used for your personal use only.

Hello! Thank you for downloading this free patchwork and quilting pattern

designed by Stephanie Boon. The Star Mug Rug is one of four coaster designs for

hand sewing that measures approximately 4.75” when finished. These little coasters are really rewarding to make: simple, pretty  and  practical! This one is an ideal

introduction to English paper piecing for the beginner, or a great way to bust some scraps.

There are links to detailed tutorials on my blog throughout this pattern that

explain any techniques you may need. I hope you find everything here to make

your Star Mug Rug, but if you have any questions feel free to drop me a line by clicking on the link to my website above. Happy sewing!

Cutting OutLay a diamond pattern on the fabric you wish to use and draw round it. Cut it out adding a 1/4” seam allowance all round. Do the same for all 6.

BastingOnce you have your fabrics and paper patterns cut out, the next step is to baste the fabrics over the patterns:

1. Pin a paper pattern centrally onto the wrong side of a fabric diamond so that the seam allowance is even all around.

2. Next, baste the fabric to the paper with tacking thread. Follow the instruction in my tutorial for sewing stars, which includes photos and full details. Tip: don’t trim the points as this can result in fraying.

3. Once all your diamonds have been prepared, lightly press them on the fabric side to ensure crisp edges for oversewing.

4. Now arrange your diamonds into a star, positioning them into a pleasing pattern.

All design and content is © Stephanie Boon, 2013 and may be downloaded and used for your personal use only.

www .DawnCho ru sS tud i o . c om

2.

The Star Mug Rug

Sewing Together Oversew (whipstitch) the diamonds together in two sections of three diamonds, then join the two sections together with one long seam across the centre. Full details and photographs are in my tutorial for sewing stars. Do not remove the paper templates.

AppliqueUsing a matching thread stitch the star to the background fabric:

1. Make sure you place the star centrally by folding the background fabric into quarters and pressing so that the centre lines are marked with a crease.

2. Centre the star over the crease lines and pin in place with 6 pins.

3. Make a knot in your thread and bring the needle out between the seam allowance of one of the diamonds. Tip: start along an edge, not at a point

4. Oversew (whipstitch) along the creased edge, bringing the needle out through the crease, with small even stitches, continuing around all sides in the same way and removing the paper templates as you go. Don’t forget to remove the last template before you stitch down the last side!

5. Press lightly from the front.

Quilting1. Place the applique star piece on top of your wadding

(batting) right side up and secure with a couple of pins. There’s no need to add the backing fabric just yet.

2. Using a hand quilting thread (or no. 8 perle cotton if you prefer) and a quilting or Crewel needle, make small running stitches through the top fabric and the wadding

All design and content is © Stephanie Boon, 2013 and may be downloaded and used for your personal use only.

www .DawnCho ru sS tud i o . c om

3.

Making UpTrim the quilted top to 5” square,

place right sides together and make up the mug rug following the simple Making Up a Mug Rug tutorial on my blog. This tutorial was written specifically to go with the four mug rug patterns in this series, so you can follow it exactly.

Once you’ve done that all that’s left to do is sit back and enjoy a brew! Unless of course you’re going to make the full set, which you can download from the Pattern page at www.dawnchorusstudio.com!

The Star Mug Rug

Make a set!

Instead of making a set of coasters all in the

same design, why not have some fun and

experiment with all four designs? They all use

traditional English paper piecing and/or

applique so are ideal to work on away from

the sewing machine. They’re small enough to

practice techniques without committing to a

substantial project and fabulous enough to

give as a homemade gift.

All four patterns will be available as free pdf

patterns from www.dawnchorusstudio.com or

the Dawn Chorus Studio page on Craftsy.

Why not check out my other patterns while

you’re there?