Christmas Tree Mug Rug Pattern! It's Reversible

Holiday Mug Rug Tutorial to Get You in the Christmas spirit!

Learn how to make a fun holiday mug rug with this easy tutorial.

If you want to make a mug rug for Christmas, use this free Christmas Tree Mug rug pattern and holiday fabric scraps from your stash.  Then, brighten up your holiday or winter coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or snack time with this cute mug rug.

It also makes a fabulous handmade gift! Pair it with a mug, a mug-worthy beverage, some yummy candy,  a gift card or some other mug fillers for a heartfelt gift! 

This festive Christmas tree themed mug mat features a Christmas tree on one end, and a mat on the other.  It's reversible.  You can use the same fabric for the front and back of the mug rug or use different fabrics on the front and back for two different looks.  

This free mug rug pattern is finished without a binding making the project super quick and easy to complete in about an hour. Yep!!! You really can make this mug rug without binding.

Instead, the pieces are sewn together, all layers then flipped so that everything is right side out and the opening that is left is sewn together by hand. 

Follow this free mug rug pattern with our full photo step-by-step tutorial and you’ll have a Christmas tree mug rug made quickly. In addition, we have provided a video tutorial you can follow by simply clicking on the link below to go to a YouTube video tutorial.

Mug rug patterns are one of my favorite scrap busting and gifting projects.  For more free mug rug patterns scroll to the end of this article.

What Size is Finished Christmas Tree Mug Rug?

The mug mat measures approximately 6" by 12" inches.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CHRISTMAS TREE MUG RUG

Step 1: Cutting pieces

You’ll need to cut the following pieces:

(2) 10” x 6 ½” main fabric
(2) 7” x 7” square from tree fabric
(2) 2” x 2” square from trunk fabric
(1) 14” x 7” rectangle of batting When cutting the main, tree and truck, you will cut two pieces at the same time.  Make sure the fabric is wrong sides together when cutting.

If you are using different fabrics for the front and back, when cutting the rectangular pieces placing the pieces wrong side together before cutting is very important.

Step 2: Cutting tree pieces

Stack the two 7” x 7” pieces on a cutting surface with the wrong sides together.

Place the plastic triangle ruler on top and use a rotary cutter to cut along all the sides.

You now have two triangle pieces which will be the mug rug trees.

Step 3: Prepare rectangle pieces

Stack the two 10” x 6 ½” pieces on top of each other with the wrong sides together. Remember: Stacking these pieces, wrong sides together, when cutting is very important.

Align the straight edge of the recs tool ruler with the top left corner of the fabric.  Cut along the diagonal side.

If you are right-handed, you may want to twist the fabric so it is easier to cut. Let’s refer to these pieces as the mat fabric.

Step 4: Sew tree to mat

Lay one tree triangle on top of one mat fabric, right sides together.

Make sure that the bottom tip of the tree triangle extends ¼” beyond the bottom edge of the mat fabric. This ¼” is a must or the bottom of the tree and mat will not line up when opened. Sew a ¼” seam.

Repeat with the other two pieces – triangle and rectangle.

When both pieces are completed, press the seams in opposite directions.

Step 5:  Sew tree trunk

Align the edges of the two tree trunk fabrics, with right sides together.  Sew three sides with a ¼” seam.

Clip the corners and turn right side out.

Use an iron to press the tree truck flat.

Step 6:  Sewing Mug Rug

Layer the mug rug sandwich as follows: 

1) the batting,

2) one tree mug rug piece with right side up,

3) position the tree trunk piece in the middle of the tree with raw edges even and the tree trunk extended toward the center of the tree,

4) align the second tree mug rug with wrong side facing up.

Pin the layers. This stacking order is very important because once you are done stitching you will turn the mug rug inside out and the batting will be hiding in between the top and back with the tree trunk extending down.

Sew a ¼” seam around the mug rug leaving a 3” opening for turning along the bottom.  Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam so the seam won’t rip when turning the mug rug right side out.

Trim the excess batting.

Step 7: Turn the mug rug right side out

After clipping the corners, turn the mug rug right side out through the opening. Use a chopstick or something else to push the corners out.

Step 8:  Closing opening

Give it a good press so the edges are crisp.  As you press, fold, press and pin the raw edges of the opening inward; lining them up with the rest of the mug rug so it can be sewn closed.

Hand stitch the opening closed using the ladder stitch.  The ladder stitch is a practically invisible stitch.  If you don’t know how to do the ladder stitch, head on over to our ladder stitch tutorial.

 Step 9: Quilt the mug rug

Quilt as desired.

 You're done.

Now, keep this little quilted treasure for yourself to brighten up any desk, table or nook.  And make a few others for gifting.

Thank you so much for dropping by today.  I hope you enjoyed our tutorial on making a Christmas Tree Mug Rug.  Be sure to pin and bookmark so this free holiday mug rug tutorial is available to you in the future.  We would love for you to also share it with quilting friends.

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Happy Sewing!

More mug rug tutorials you may like

Did you enjoy this tutorial?  We have a few other mug rug tutorials you may be interested in.

• Pumpkin Mug Rug
• Heart Mug Rug
• Canadian Flag Mug Rug
• Heart Mug Rug Perfect for Valentine's Day
• Jelly Roll Mug Rug
• Mug Rug Using Selvage Edges