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Create a thoughtful in the hoop quilted mug mat perfect for Father's Day. This project is designed to be a special gift from children or grandchildren to their father, adding a personal touch to the celebration. Step-by-step instructions are included.
The inkjet ink is water soluble, so this project has a limited life span. If you don’t use the colorfast computer fabric you can only spot clean this mug mat. Even if you do use the colorfast printer fabric it has specific washing instructions that I’m not sure everyone would remember. But even knowing that this mug mat will have a limited life, depending on how dirty someone gets it, I think the sentiment behind it makes it a worthwhile gift.
Step 1:
Purchase a Father’s Day Mug – this one was found at Ace Hardware.
(Click Image to Enlarge)
Step 2:
Gather fabrics to match the colors in your mugs. Prepress the fabrics with Best Press or Magic Sizing twice to make them crisp.
Step 3:
(Click Image to Enlarge)
Size your picture to 3.4” wide and 4.5” in height in your computer picture editing program. This is slightly larger than the opening in the project so know that some of the picture will exceed the outlines.
Step 4:
Print the photo on the computer printer fabric. Follow the manufacturer’s instruction regarding drying time and pressing time.
Step 5:
Remove the paper from the back of the computer printer fabric. Place a rectangle of Appli-Kay Wonder or other adhesive applique backing on the back of the photo fabric and press according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 6:
(Click Image to Enlarge)
Load the design into your machine. Some embroidery formats automatically rotate this design, some formats open it in the landscape mode. If yours opens it in landscape mode rotate the design 90 degrees to put it into portrait rotation.
Step 7:
(Click Image to Enlarge)
The design should look like this on your machine screen to fit into a 12” x 7” or larger hoop.
Step 8:
Hoop poly-mesh stabilizer in your hoop and run the 1st color sequence which is an outline of the mug mat.
Step 9:
Spray adhesive spray on an 11” x 8” rectangle of Battilizer and place over the outlines.
Step 10:
Make sure the Battilizer exceeds the outline by at least ½” on all sides.
Step 11:
Run the 2nd color sequence which is a tack down line for the Battilizer.
Step 12:
Trim the top and right hand edge of the photo to ¼”. Trim the left hand and bottom edges of the photo to 1” each. You will further trim them later.
Step 13:
Remove the hoop from the machine – do not unhoop. Peel the applique backing from the photo. Place it over the placement rectangle in the upper left of the mat. Line the right edge of the photo just over the placement line. Make sure the bottom edge of the photo meets or exceeds the bottom outline.
Step 14:
Run the 3rd color sequence which is a tack down stitch for the photo.
Step 15:
Lay, right side down, your main body fabric over the photo. Line up the right side and top edges with that ¼” excess photo fabric.
Step 16:
Run the 4th color sequence which is a seam line for the main fabric.
Step 17:
Remove the hoop. Spray the exposed Battilizer with adhesive spray. Smooth the main fabric into place. Run the 5th color sequence which is a tack down line for the main fabric.
Step 18:
Lay, right side down, your contract 11” x3” strip of fabric across the top of the photo and the main fabric aligning raw edges. Run the 6th color sequence which is the seam line for the top strip.
Step 19:
Fold back the top strip and smooth over the adhesive sprayed Battilizer. Run the 7th color sequence which is the tack down line for the top strip.
Step 20:
Place embroidery or scotch tape over the areas in the margins where the fabric meet but aren’t sewn. This would be between the main fabric and the photo and at the two ends of the top strip.
Step 21:
The next nine color sequences are for the lettering. They may be sewn in what ever colors you choose. The order they sew in is: Daddy, Father, Dada, #1, Papa, Viejo, Pop, Padre and Dad.
Step 22:
After the word Dad sews remove the hoop from the machine – do not un-hoop. Turn the hoop over. Spray adhesive spray on the wrong side of your back fabric. Place over the outlines making sure that outlines are exceeded by the fabric by ½” on all sides.
Step 23:
Return the hoop to the machine and stitch color sequence 17 which is a tack down line for the mat back.
Step 24:
Color sequence 18 is the last step in embroidering your Father’s Day Mug Mat. This is the quilting. It can be done in a solid color or you may use a variegated thread. Load the thread into the top of your machine and into the bobbin. Bring the bobbin thread to the top of the work by holding onto the top thread while pressing your needle up button twice. Holding onto both the top and bobbin threads stitch a few stitches; stop the machine; trim the thread tails; continue sewing to the end of the design.
Step 25:
Due to the nature of quilting wherein the fabric is draw up by the embroidery and quilting stitches the original tack down line for the main block and the tack down stitches for the backing might have some space between them. Use the inside tack down stitches to line up your ruler on the ½” mark and trim all edges of the mat to ½”.
Step 26:
Apply binding in your favorite method. You can cut your own 2.5” strips or purchase coordinating purchased double wide quilt binding. See our free article “Binding an In the Hoop Quilt Block” if you need assistance. Press the mat again after you apply the binding to get a permanent seal between the photo and the Battilizer.
Step 27:
The one other thing that would make this Dad’s favorite Father’s Day gift is to add a few of his favorite cookies.
Award winning Digitizer, Embroidery Educator, Author and a Consultant to the Industry, Pat Williams has 30 years of experience in the embroidery industry. Pat has won multiple awards for her digitizing expertise including the 2007 Impressions Awards Grand Championship, Best of Show as well as the 1st and 2nd Place Awards. Pat’s love of digitizing has afforded her the opportunity to write numerous articles for Impressions magazine in the United States and Images Magazine in Europe. In 2001 Pat was named “Embroidery Educator of the Year.” For many years Pat taught digitizing seminars at the ISS Shows in Long Beach, CA and for Compucon software. She now resides in Tucson, AZ.
