MUG RUG FROM FELTED ALPACA

Making a mug rug using our craft template is an easy project. Traditional drink coasters can scratch your table. A table coaster made from wool will stop scratches, avoid water rings, and soak up spills.

You can make your own handmade coasters by following our instructions. Use our free craft template or make your own.

First, you must either make a piece of felt that is approximately 10 inch by 10 inch or slightly larger. You can follow our wet felting instructions or needle felt one.

Printing the template out on heavier paper will make it easier to work with. The edges won't curl up on you. Card stock would be great to use if it works in your printer.

Cut a circle out of the felt using the round template. Go ahead and cut 4 if you are making a set. Each step should be done on all four at the same time so that you make them the same and they will all be finished at the same time, too.

For this mug rug we used a cat template. Cut out the cat template.

Take a contrasting color of your choice and needle felt 1/4 inch around the edge on both front and back.

Place loose fleece in the center of your felt circle. Put the cat template on top and needle all around the shape of the cat leaving the edges loose.

Remove the template and roll the loose fleece towards the center of the cat until you hit the needle felted outline. Needle down the loose fleece from the edge showing the shape of the cat. You may have to snip the fleece between the legs and tail to get a loose edge to roll onto the cat silhouette. Now needle felt all of the fleece in the center.

You should end up with a nice silhouette of the cat. We freehanded a heart next to the cat.

To give pur table coaster a more finished look, we embroidered around the edges of the cat and the heart. We just used a very simple stitch with a contrasting color of thread.

You can stop here if you want. We decided that we wanted our coaster to have a nicer finish to the back.

We added a blue backing by needle felting a piece to fit the back leaving the edges loose. They will attach very nicely to the already created edging without a seam. We used a tool that has 16 needles to make it go quicker.

Felt the back at an angle so that you don't push the blue backing through to the front.

Once you have the back how you like it, trim any overhang of the loose edges and needle felt the edge to tack down all the loose ends.

You can further felt the back by using the multi-needle tool but be very careful that it does not push fibers through to the front.

Now that your mug rug is complete, you can place your cup on it, fill it with coffee or tea and relax.

To get the craft template we made for this mug rug, fill out the form below and it will be sent to you. Mug rugs are short easy projects that have a practical purpose too. Make lots and sell them or give them as gifts.