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    Home » Holidays » Halloween

    Pumpkin Face Quilted Coaster Set

    Published: Sep 13, 2023 Updated: Sep 11, 2023 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 1 Comment

    Use our fun mix-and-match pumpkin face sewing patterns to create a set of quilted mug rugs (or quilted coasters) that, when used together, create a cute jack-o-lantern!

    pumpkin face mug rug on white table with coffee cups

    Although it might seem a little early for a Halloween-themed mug rug, it’s really never too early to start sewing (or at least planning your sewing) for the next holiday.

    Table of Contents
    • Pumpkin Mug Rug Pattern
    • Mug Rug Patterns & Technique Focus
    • How to Get the Pattern Pieces
    • Instructions
    • About the Designer

    Our Mug Rug pattern for September is a set of smaller mug rugs that turn into a pumpkin face and can double as a set of quilted coasters!

    Pumpkin Mug Rug Pattern

    I’ve designed these Pumpkin Face mug rugs as a coordinating set because I think they look like a simple Autumnal project individually, but when they’re grouped together, the “full story” of the set becomes true!

    pumpkin face mug rug on white table with coffee cups

    This month’s skills focus is reverse appliqué. This is a fun technique that creates the effect of your appliqué design being in the background of the mug rug rather than in the foreground.

    pumpkin face mug rug on white table with coffee cups

    I thought it was especially perfect for these Halloween jack-o-lantern pumpkin face shapes because usually you would be carving the face into a pumpkin, and this felt a little bit like “carving” into the main fabric and leaving a dark space.

    Mug Rug Patterns & Technique Focus

    1. January: Fabric Flash Mug Rug – Using Selvages
    2. February: First Edition Mug Rug – Fussy Cutting
    3. March: English Bloom Mug Rug – English Paper Piecing (EPP)
    4. April: Coffee Cabin Mug Rug – Binding with Quilt Backing
    5. May: Street Party Bunting – Raw Edge Applique
    6. June: Big Stitch Mug Rug – Hand Quilting
    7. July: Summer Sun Mug Rug – Improv Piecing
    8. August: Heart Mug Rug – Patchwork Piecing
    9. September: Pumpkin Face Mug Rug – Reverse Applique

    How to Get the Pattern Pieces

    pumpkin face mug rug on white table with coffee cups

    Instructions

    four orange and black pumpkin face coasters on table with coffee mug

    Pumpkin Face Quilted Mug Rug Set

    Amy Ball
    Create a "hidden" jack-o-lantern face with four different mug rugs, with our free quilted pumpkin mug rug pattern.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Active Time 3 hours hrs
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

    Equipment

    • Basic Sewing Tools
    • Sewing Machine (I recommend BERNINA or Bernette)
    • Cutting Mat
    • Rotary Cutter
    • Quilt Ruler
    • Pins
    • Binding Clips
    • Fabric pencil/pen

    supplies

    Fabrics:

    • ¼ yard Main Orange Fabric not a fat quarter
    • 1 fat eighth Background Black Fabric
    • ¼ yard Backing Fabric

    Other:

    • 4 pieces Batting 6¼” square
    • 1 piece Freezer Paper
    • PDF templates fill out the form on this page to have the PDF template emailed to you.

    Instructions
     

    Cutting:

    • From Orange Fabric cut 7” square (4).
    • From Black Fabric cut 4½” x 5½” (2), 5” x 3½” (1), and 7” x 3½” (1).
    • From Backing Fabric cut 7” square (4).
    • From Freezer Paper cut 5½” square (3) and 6½” square (1).

    Construction:

    • Print the PDF templates onto heavy paper or thin card and cut them out.
    • Take the pieces of Freezer Paper and secure the templates to the center of each one (on the matt, papery side) with a little bit of tape.
      Draw around the templates using a pencil. The nose and eye fit onto the 5½” square pieces, and the mouth fits onto the 6½” square piece. Don’t forget to trace the eye twice, but flip the template over for the second time.
      paper traced with pen on table
    • Cut out the four traced shapes from the center to create a hole in the middle of each Freeze Paper square.
      Then fuse, using an iron, the four paper squares onto the wrong side of the four Orange Fabric squares, with the shiny/waxy side of the paper against the fabric. Be careful to position the paper squares in the center of the fabric.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Using a fabric pen, draw a ⅜” (¼” for the mouth shape) seam allowance inside the cutout Freezer Paper shapes.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Now cut along the drawn lines.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Carefully snip into the fabric seam allowance inside the Freezer Paper shapes. This is especially important along any curved lines and into any sharp corners.
      orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Press out the snipped seam allowance on each shape towards the Freezer Paper.
      orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Remove the Freezer Paper (it should easily peel away) and carefully press again. You should now have a little window in each of the four Orange Fabric squares.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • With the Orange Fabric squares having the wrong side of the fabric facing towards you, take the Black Fabric pieces and pin them right side down to cover the little window shapes. The two 4½” x 5½” rectangles will fit on the eyes, the 5” x 3½” rectangle will fit on the nose, and the 7” x 3½” rectangle will fit on the mouth.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Flip over the Orange Fabric squares and carefully transfer the pins from step 9 to the front. You don’t have to do this step, but I prefer to be able to remove pins as I’m sewing, and this is much easier when they are on the front.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Using orange thread, sew close to the edge of the four shapes.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Press well.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction

    Finishing:

    • Baste the batting squares to the wrong side of the Orange fabric squares. The batting squares are smaller than the fabric squares (this is to allow for seam allowance at a later step) so be careful to position the batting squares centrally, with an even amount of fabric showing on all four sides of each square.
      batting and orange square of fabric
    • Mark quilting guidelines onto the right side of the Orange fabric squares. I have used vertical straight-line quilting (using orange thread) spaced at 1” gaps to give the illusion of the natural grooves on a pumpkin.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Rather than quilting right across the black shapes set into the Orange Fabric squares, I have started each quilting line at the sewn edge of the shapes and then quilted to the raw edge of the square.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • This takes longer because you have to stop and start a lot, but I think it gives a better effect to the “cut out” shapes.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Keep going until all four pieces are done.
      black and orange fabric on table in shape of pumpkin face- during construction
    • Take the Backing Fabric squares and pin them right sides together to the quilted squares. Leave a 4” gap at the center of each of the bottom edges.
      black fabric on table - during construction
    • Sew around the four edges, using the outside of the batting squares as your seam allowance guide. Backstitch at the start and end of the 4” gap. Trim off the four corners.
      black fabric on table - during construction
    • Carefully turn the mug rugs right side out through the gap in the bottom edges. Poke out the corners and then clip in place the folded seam allowances along the bottom edges.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction with binding clips
    • Sew around the four edges of each mug rug (about ⅛” away from the edge), making sure you catch the gap along each bottom edge. Press well to finish.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    • Grab a pumpkin-spiced latte and enjoy your new Pumpkin Face mug rug set.
      black and orange fabric on table - during construction
    PRINT
    Love this tutorial? Get the behind the scenes on Instagram

    About the Designer

    photo of Amy

    Amy lives in the north of England with her husband and son. When she’s not sewing and quilting, Amy can usually be found baking or reading. You can find her on Instagram @amyatthegate

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Danice says

      September 13, 2023 at 12:49 pm

      The pumpkin face coasters are adorable and perfect for autumn. Thank you for the pattern.

      Reply

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    I’m Melissa. I like to design things, like fabric, printables, and projects.

    I’m also a Mom and a Maker. I am like most of you, just trying to do my best every day. Some days I succeed, many days I fail.  I find joy in creating, if you do too, then I hope that you find something here bring a little “happy” to your life.  Find out more about me here.

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