My friend Wendy was hosting the Disney Mug Rug Swap on Instagram and I just couldn't resist joining in. Easy peasy: Buy a mug, make a mug rug, include one extra. My partner listed a variety of Disney interests and I dialed in on Finding Dory, especially after I found this adorable mug.
I immediately visualized an improv pieced ocean for Dory (and friends?) and eventually decided on purchasing a little bit of yardage of Finding Dory fabric by Camelot from Fat Quarter Shop. I started by shopping my stash for an ocean fabric pull.
Then I went for it with my first improv curved piecing. It all went together pretty well. The batik (second from top in the finished piece) was a little tricky, since it doesn't have as much stretch to it. I simply overlapped the fabrics I was piecing and freehand rotary cut a curve through both at the same time, then I eased them together with a 1/4" seam allowance as I machine pieced them together.
Generally I press my seams open when piecing, but this is one of those times that pressing open didn't make sense. I pressed to the blue on my first seam, so I just continued pressing up on all my seams. Here's the finished piece, front and back, before I trimmed it down.
At this point it was more placemat sized than mug rug sized, so I had to trim it down. I decided on vertical so I could arrange my characters in a way that they mug wouldn't cover them up. I trimmed down to just over 8" x 11".
My next step was to add the characters. I used fusible web to attach Dory, Nemo and Hank, then stitched around the edge of each.
Then I went to town quilting. I used my walking foot and quilted smooth curves to complement my piecing using a variety of blue threads (all 50 wt. Aurifil).
I was able to find a piece of remnant binding (from Finally) that was large enough to avoid a scrappy binding and worked with my color palette. I think this quilt would have been lovely with a faced binding, but I just didn't have the time to learn a new skill at this stage of the process. :-)
I opted to back the quilt with the licensed fabric, but I placed it in the horizontal direction. I liked the repeat better that way, and this gives Lisa options for a vertical or horizontal mug rug.
For my extra, I opted to make a large Open Wide Zippered Pouch (free tutorial by Noodlehead). (Shown in first picture.)
Lisa and I happened to be assigned each other for the swap. Here's the super generous package she sent me. She chose a nifty mug that has an electric mug warmer to go with it and made me a bag and a keychain. Plus she decorated the tote box and sent a Mickey Mouse raglan t-shirt pattern plus a bunch of other little goodies. So sweet of her!
Thanks for visiting! I'm linking up to TGIFF, Finish it Up Friday, and Needle and Thread Thursday.
Linking up to the Q4 Finishes Link-Up. See my Q4 list here.
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Now I know why you were looking for water / sea inspired fabric pull! I like how the mug rug you made is reversible. What a fun swap and how interesting you made for each other. :)
sarah
Post authorYes! I didn't want to show too much on IG so it would be a surprise to my partner. It was fun. There's some great stuff on the #disneymugrugswap hashtag on IG.
Amber
So so so cute!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Amber. It makes me want to do more little cute things. ;-)
Vicky
You make those improv curves Sound (and look!) so easy. I actually Need to include this technique for a quilt I have planned, but fear this a little! You made a lovely mini quilt, the wave design is just perfect!
sarah
Post authorThank you so much, Vicky. I had taken a class on piecing precision curves, like drunkard's path blocks and whole circles. And I'd done some reading on improv curves. So I just went for it! Grab some scraps and go for it! :-)
Bo
You really captured the feel of the ocean with your wavy pattern and the colors!! I really like the gift Lisa sent to you. Cute quilt!! I am a Disney fan truth be told!! :-)
sarah
Post authorThank you, Bo! I never knew that about you! What's your favorite movie? (Mine is Aladdin!)
Laura Mendez
Really cute! I love the way it all came together. Great choice of improv curves.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Laura! It's always nice when a vision becomes a reality. :-)
Bo
Oh goodness...there are so many Disney movies that I enjoy but animated ones would be Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs...Aladdin too!! the Lion King!! Oh heck, I enjoy them all!!
sarah
Post author:-) There are many good ones to choose from!
Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts
Cute little bag and quilt! Thanks for linking to Finished or Not Friday!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Myra!
Gemini Jen NZ
Very cleverly done - it looks really awesome, well done!
sarah
Post authorThanks, Jen. I'll be playing with improv curves in the future for sure!
Kate Heads
You made a great job, I love it, and I love how you made it reversible in landscape too, very clever.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Kate! Options are always good. :-)
tisha @ quiltytherapy
Super cute project Sarah!
sarah
Post authorThanks, Tisha!
Anja @ Anja Quilts
Your mug rug is awesome. I love that Noodlehead pattern (actually just made it again last night). And you received some wonderful goodies in return.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Anja! I have lost count how many times I've made the Open Wide Zippered Pouch. I love that it can be effective in the super fast single fabric option, or you can piece decorative panels for the outside. And it can be dressed up with quilting on the outer panel. I prefer fusible fleece for lining the outer fabric. It gives it a great structure.
Debbie
Super cute! On behalf of the FAL hosting team, thanks for sewing along with us!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Debbie!