It’s time for our March Mug Rug pattern; this month, we have a free pattern for an English Bloom Mug rug created using the English Paper Piecing (EPP) method. If you’ve ever wanted to try EPP but didn’t want to commit to an entire quilt, this is the perfect project for you!

star shaped mug rug with flowers and cup on wood table

Each month this year, Amy Ball will write a tutorial for a different mug rug. Each month the mug rug will feature a different quilting technique. As the year goes on, you can pick up a few new skills as you create each project.

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Mug Rug Patterns & Technique Spotlights

English paper piecing was my first real sewing love, and for a long time, the only sort of hand sewing I would consider doing, so I have to include EPP as the skill focus for one of my mug rugs.

January: Fabric Flash Mug Rug – Using Selvages
February: First Edition Mug Rug – Fussy Cutting
March: English Bloom Mug Rug – English Paper Piecing (EPP)
April: Coffee Cabin Mug Rug – Binding with Quilt Backing
May: Street Party Bunting – Raw Edge Applique
June: Big Stitch Mug Rug – Hand Quilting
July: Summer Sun Mug Rug – Improv Piecing
August: Heart Mug Rug – Patchwork Piecing
September: Pumpkin Face Mug Rug – Reverse Applique
October: Cozy Cup Mug Rug – Big Stitch Binding
November: Christmas Tree Mug Rug – Free Motion Quilting

The technique involves wrapping fabric around shaped pieces of paper or card and then hand-sewing the fabric together. The most traditional shape to use for EPP is the hexagon, but today there are a huge variety of shapes used in English paper piecing projects.

My English Bloom mug rug pattern uses hexagons and jewels arranged to create a simple flower shape. This is more of a mini mug rug because it is only 6½” x 6,” but I hope you’ll forgive me as it’s so cute when finished, and…it’s reversible!

How to Get the EPP Templates

Fill out this form, and we will email you the templates. You can also use pre-made EPP templates. If you do this, you’ll need twelve jewels and one hexagon shape.

Instructions

English Bloom Mug Rug Pattern

Amy Ball

Please enjoy this pattern for an English Bloom Mug rug created using the English Paper Piecing (EPP) method. If you’ve ever wanted to try EPP but didn’t want to commit to an entire quilt, this is the perfect project for you!

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Prep Time 45

Active Time 2 15

Total Time 3

Equipment

Basic Sewing Tools
Sewing Machine (I recommend BERNINA or Bernette)
Cutting Mat
Rotary Cutter
quilting ruler
Pins
Binding Clips

supplies

5 scraps Selection of scraps [If you would like a simple two-tone mug rug then you’ll need two fats eights] colour A for the flower centres, colours B-D for the petals on one side, and colours E-G for the petals on the second side.
1 piece Batting 7½” x 7”
1 Template for EPP Get a PDF using the form in our blog post. Then print on cardstock and cut out OR
14 pre-cut EPP Templates If you are using pre-cut English paper piecing shapes you’ll need two hexagons with each straight edge measuring 1” and twelve jewels (with the three short edges measuring 1” and the two long edges measuring 2”).

Instructions

Cutting:

From fabric A cut 3” square (2).
From fabric B cut 3” x 3½” (2).
From fabric C cut 3” x 3½” (2).
From fabric D cut 3” x 3½” (2).
From fabric E cut 3” x 3½” (2).
From fabric F cut 3” x 3½” (2).
From fabric G cut 3” x 3½” (2).
Print and cut out the EPP shapes. You’ll need two hexagons and twelve jewels. I like to use a light weight cardstock.

Construction:

Secure one hexagon shape to the wrong side of one fabric A square, taking care to place the hexagon in the centre.
You can secure (or baste it) with a pin or a glue stick dot. Cut around the template leaving a ¼” seam allowance on every edge. Repeat for the second hexagon.
Repeat step one using the jewel shapes with the fabric B to G rectangles.
Now it’s time to baste the fabric to the EPP shapes.
You can use your preferred basting method but I’ll be showing the steps for how to thread baste.
I’d recommend using a basting thread colour that contrasts with your fabric colours as this will make it easier to see to remove later on.
Fold over the fabric seam allowance on one edge and hold it in place with a clip. Then fold over the next seam allowance (moving round the edges in order).
Hand sewing a couple of stitches in the folded seam you just created to secure it.
Now fold over the seam allowance on the next edge and add a stitch in the folded seam.
Continue round the edges, folding over the seam allowance and then hand sewing the folded seams and until you have got back to where you started.
Sew a final couple of stitches in the final folded seam.
Repeat steps 4 to 6 with all the jewels and hexagons.
It doesn’t matter which edge you start with but for the jewel shapes I’d recommend starting with one of the short edges. Gently press all the fabric shapes.
Set out the shapes with the hexagon in the centre and jewels round the edge (using the photos as a guide for placement) and, if you are using a range of fabrics, decide where you want each to go.
Second set of EPP shapes
You can sew the EPP pieces together in any order. I’d recommend using a thread colour (or a selection of thread colours) that blend well with the fabrics you are using.
Hold two shapes right sides together with one edge (including corners) neatly lined up. Start at one end and hand sew a few tiny stitches in the corner to start off, and then continue along the edges using a tight whip stitch.
Take care to catch only a small amount of fabric from both sides and don’t sew through the card template.
Add a few extra stitches at the end corner to secure you thread. Once you have finished the first seam, lay the pieces flat and turn them over to the right side.
Ideally you won’t be able to see any stitches (or only a tiny amount of stitching). If you can see big stitches then you are catching too much fabric in your stitches.
When sewing the pieces together take care to match up the corners and edges. You will need to fold some card pieces to join the edges; add an extra couple of stitches for strength when more than two corners join.
Sew until all of the pieces are together and you have two flowers. Press.
Now carefully remove all the card pieces and the basting stitches, and press out all the outside edge seam allowances.
Press them enough that they lay flat but not so much that the seam allowance lines disappear…you’ll use those for a sewing guide later on.
Take the two flowers and place them right sides together with all the outside edges and the seams matching and pin them together leaving a 2” gap at one V. Use the photo as a guide.
Use your sewing machine to sew the two flowers together using the seam allowance crease as a guide. Take your time to turn carefully at the corners and don’t forget to leave the 2” gap.
Take the batting piece and place the flower from step 17 on top. Draw round it using a fabric pen, then draw guide lines ¼” inside the first set. Cut out the smaller flower shape from the batting.
Baste the batting flower onto the fabric flower. It should be the same size as the sewn seam lines you created in step 17. If it is bigger then carefully trim it down…it is better that it is slightly smaller than the seam lines rather than bigger.
Trim the excess fabric from the six flower points using the photo as a guide. This will help to reduce bulk and get a neater finisher later on.
Carefully snip into the seam allowance at the V shapes (except the one that hasn’t been sewn yet). This will help to reduce bulk and get a neater finisher later on.
Turn the mug rug right side out. Take your time with this step and be very careful when poking out the corners…don’t forget a lot of the mug rug has been sewn together by hand!
As this mug rug is reversible, adding any extra details should be done before sewing up the turning hole.
I have added some simple hand embroidery crosses on each side. When adding these details to each side, be carefully you don’t catch the fabric that you are not decorating.
You’ll need to work inside the turning hole to avoid sewing through both sides at the same time. This is a little fiddly so choose you decorative designs carefully…simple is better!
Finish the mug rug by folding in the seam allowance on the turning hole and pinning the edges together. You can hand sew the turning hole together or top stitch round all the edges of the mug rug, catching the turning hole edges as you go.