Applique Mug Rugs (In-the-Hoop)

Treat your favorite coffee and tea lovers (including yourself!) with a cozy mug rug stitched entirely in-the-hoop. Applique details make these designs extra delicious. We'll show you step-by-step how to put them together!

When you download the in-the-hoop applique mug rug design, you will find multiple files. Some are the embroidery files, and the others are dieline files marked with the letters "DL". Dielines are used to cut the fabric to the correct shape and size. Open and print each dieline file using an embroidery software. If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.

Spray the backside of the printed dieline for the front square with a small amount of temporary adhesive.

Smooth it onto a piece of fabric. Then cut a piece of batting larger than the fabric, spray it with adhesive, and smooth it onto the back of the fabric.

Cut out the shape.

The other three dieline pieces do not use batting.

Repeat without batting to create the back fabric piece, making sure it is the same fabric as used in the front.

Then repeat for the two other dieline pieces, using fabrics that are different colors.

Now that the fabric pieces are cut to the proper shape and size, it's time to embroider the design.

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer. Madeira E-Zee Tear 1.5 oz. or Floriani Tearaway Medium are good choices. Those brands are more fibrous, less paper-like, and will tear more cleanly.

Attach the hoop to the machine and load the full embroidery design (not the dieline files).

Use a size 11 or 75/11 sharp sewing needle, rather than an embroidery needle. A sharp sewing needle has a smaller, finer point than an embroidery needle, so that will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be a dieline or outline. This marks the area on the stabilizer for the front fabric.

Remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Spray the back side of the front fabric piece with a small amount of temporary adhesive. Place the fabric right inside the sewn outline.

Attach the hoop back onto the machine and continue with the design.

A tack down will sew next. This holds the front fabric in place for the remainder of the design.

Some of details will embroider, followed by the dieline for the pot.

Watch the color change sheet and stop the machine before sewing the next tack down step.

After the dieline is finished sewing, stop the machine, and remove the hoop, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Take the fabric dieline for the pot, and spray the backside of the fabric with temporary adhesive. Place the fabric piece right in the sewn dieline.

Then continue to embroider the design.

A tack down will stitch the fabric piece into place, and then more details will sew.

Follow the color change sheet, and repeat the steps above to sew the cup dieline, place the fabric piece, and embroider the tack down and detail stitching.

On the color change sheet, look for the note that says "back piece tack down," and stop the machine before sewing this step.

Take the hoop off of the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Flip the hoop over, spray the backside of the back fabric piece, and place it inside of the sewn square on the back of the hoop.

Since both sides of the mug rug will be seen, wind a bobbin with the same thread used in the needle.

Place the hoop back on the machine and embroider the back piece tack down which includes the final edge details.

Once the embroidery is finished, remove the hoop from the machine. Unhoop the stabilizer, and carefully tear it away.