When I have decided to do an embroidery project and I have picked the embroidery designs and intended fabric(s), I like to do a test stitch out of at least one of the designs. This gives me a chance to make any needed adjustments to my choice of stabilizer(s) and to see if the design will work with the fabric(s) I want to use. This process is particularly useful and is a major frustration reducer when the embroidery design is one of a set of designs from a design set on a commercial CD. Usually, all the designs in a coordinated set from a commercial source will have similar stitch densities.

Determining that the stabilizer-fabric combination is a good match before starting the real project is, for me, a kind of stress avoidance insurance. Sometimes (probably most of the time) my project and use of the designs are not like the tutorial project in the design pack.

The problem is what to do with the accumulation of test stitch outs. Before you ask – Yes, there is a plastic tub for those stitch outs.

When I got the Anita Goodesign Christmas Free Motion Quilting design CD, I hooped water soluble stabilizer and stitched out the placement line for a design of interest. I measured the size of the placement square. Then I cut 2 pieces of quilt fabric about 2 inches larger than the placement line and a piece of batting the same size as the placement line.

I started creating a quilt sandwich by placing a square of quilt fabric wrong-side up on the stabilizer and stitching out the placement line again. Then a layer of batting was placed inside the placement line, and I stitched out the batting tack down stitch. Then a square of quilt fabric was placed right-side up over the batting, and I sewed the tack down stitch again. Finally, I sewed the embroidery design, removed the sample from the hoop, and rinsed the block to dissolve the stabilizer. I liked the finished results, but now what do I do with this 8 inch square block. (This one bypassed the tub and went directly to the ‘continuing project’ zone of the workbench.)

Mug rug?? An 8 inch square is a bit small, but if I added some fabric and batting to the sides it would be perfect. Here is the way I added fabric and batting to the test block.

Supplies:

8 inch square finished block, your block size may vary from this

¼ yard of coordinating fabric

batting

batting spray adhesive

Cutting:

coordinating fabric: 4 pieces – 3 1/2” x width of block

batting: 2 pieces – 3” x width of block

Instructions:

1. Trim block leaving a 1/2” seam allowance from the placement line all around. Measure the size of your block fabric, mine measured 8 1/2” square. Where I mention 8 1/2” you must substitute the width of your block.
2. Place one 3 1/2” wide x 8 1/2” strip of coordinating fabric right-sides together to back side fabric of block. Pin the short ends.
3. Flip the block over so you can see the placement stitch on the front side fabric. Sew through the front, back, and  add-on fabric layers.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to attach the add-on fabric to the opposite edge of the back side fabric.

5. Attach batting to the wrong-side of the other 2 coordinating fabric pieces, lining the batting up with one long edge of each piece. This will leave a 1/2” seam allowance without batting.

6. Place the fabric with the batting right-sides together on the front side fabric of the block along the edges that already have an add on piece. Pin the short ends.
7. Stitch from back side so you can stitch on top of the previous stitching line for each edge.

8. Fold out the fabric pieces and press.
9. Baste end pieces 1/2” from all raw edges.
10. Trim 1/4” from basting line on all sides.
11. Attach binding all around using your favorite method.
I like the fact that the mug rug looks good on both sides.
One more gift off my list. How are you doing on your list?