In-the-Hoop Fringe Mug Rug

Whether you're making novelty coasters, or crafting something for a dollhouse, this in-the-hoop mug rug is the perfect solution for all of your needs. It was inspired by traditional Persian rugs, and even features fringe around the edge. Project instructions will show you how to make your own.

When you download the 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, look at our helpful video on using dielines.

Spray the backside of your fabric and smooth it onto a piece of cutaway stabilizer. Having a layer of cutaway stabilizer attached to each fabric piece in this design will create a sturdier finished product.

Spray the backside of the printed dieline pieces with temporary adhesive and smooth them onto the right side of the fabric.

Cut the dieline shapes out of the fabric and remove the paper. For this type of mug rug, there will be two identical shapes cut out. Remove the paper dieline, but do not remove the cutaway stabilizer.

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer firmly. Make sure it is nice and tight with no wrinkles.

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

Use a 75/11 sharp sewing needle instead of an embroidery needle. The sharp sewing needle has a finer point, and it will make smaller perforations in the stabilizer.

Embroider the design. The first thing to embroider will be the dieline (or outline stitch) for the front fabric piece. This marks the area on the stabilizer where the fabric piece will be placed.

After the dieline has sewn, remove the hoop from the machine, but do not unhoop the stabilizer.

Spray the wrong side of the front fabric piece with temporary adhesive.

Smooth the front fabric piece onto the stabilizer inside of the sewn dieline.

Place the hoop back onto the machine and embroider the tackdown for the front fabric piece. The tackdown will hold the fabric piece in place for the remainder of the design.

The inner details of the design will stitch next. Stop stitching before the back fabric piece tackdown step.

Since the stitches from here on out will be visible on both sides, we recommend matching your top thread and bobbin thread. Follow along with the color change sheet for best results with matching.

After the inner details, the fringe details will sew out next. Continue to use a matching bobbin for this color change.

Remove the hoop from the embroidery machine without unhooping your stabilizer. Spray the stabilizer side of the back fabric piece with temporary spray adhesive, then smooth it so that the edges match up with the fabric piece that is currently hooped. The fringe should be visible around all sides.

Return your hoop to the machine. The back piece tackdown will stitch next.

The final step to stitch will be a finishing edge or border.

When the embroidery has finished, turn the design over so that the back is facing up. Carefully cut through the outer edge of the fringe satin column using a pair of small scissors or seam ripper.

Now that all of the steps have sewn out, remove the excess stabilizer from the design.

With fringe designs, it may be necessary to clean up the edges a bit after all stitching is complete. This is the time to remove unruly threads and clear away excess stabilizer from between the fringe.