Do you know what a 'mug rug' is?
 

Recently did two craft shows. Show one was not well organized or advertised, so sales were almost non existent. Sale two was well organized, well advertises and well attended so sales were much, much better. One thing surprised me that people didn't know what a mug rug is. My daughter said I am familiar with the term because I "hand around" sewing and quilting people and sites. So my question to you is: Do you know what a mug rug is?
Here are pictures of the mug rugs I made using Kimberbell's software - made in the hoop.
Also attached are two pictures of the little bird ornaments my daughter makes - she sold a whole lot of them!

did you have a sample mug and treat next to them? did you attach one of those cute mug rug poems that explains what they are? you did a nice job on them

I gave them out to my neighbors for Xmas last year and when I called them mug rugs, they understood that it was like a coaster.

I had no idea what a Mug Rug was when I first heard the term about 3 years ago.

I think having a display showing one with a cup of cocoa or tea and a cookie would help explain, better than words.

Definitely have one staged on the sale table.

I think most non-quilters use the term "coaster". I think "mug rug" is a cutesy term coined by quilters/sewists.

A mug rug is not exactly a coaster. A coaster implies that there is a water barrier in it. Like a placemat, it does not have a water barrier, functions like a placemat, but is just smaller. When I sell mine, I put them in a cellophane envelope and include a little explanation in the bag. That way, if it it is purchased as a gift, they will understand what it is used for. When selling them, having the explanation in the bag helps buyers know what they are so you don't have to repeat so much. However, buyers buy more when the seller interacts with them.

BEAUTIFUL WORK! They are so cute. I have also heard them called "mug mats". Since I am just getting back into sewing/quilting, they will be the first thing I try. They will be Christmas gifts.

My sewing machine also does embroidery. I have had it for a while, at LEAST a year and a half or maybe 2 years or more and just took it out of the box (me bad). I got my sewing desk set up today in the living room since my one time sewing room has become a "junk, storage, catch all room". I have a lot of embroidery thread too from when I got my machine.

Now to put all this to good use!

Your daughter's birds are adorable! She did a great job on them!

Louise

I do! I just made my first one today. :)

Mug rugs are great way to use scraps. Yours are so cute. I'm with the others, maybe stage and a little note. I like making some in between large projects.

No and no - maybe next time!

If you are a fan of Pinterest, there are oodles of patterns for mug rugs.

Even a picture helps.

Are the ornaments also ITH? I love doing ornaments ITH.

I make mug rugs about 8 by 11 inches - big enough for a cup of something and a snack, but smaller than a placemat. Everyone who gets one loves them and they use up scraps of fabric as well as batting. I also quilt the mug rug, experimenting with different designs on my Janome. I do the binding the way I do a quilt and am experimenting with finishing them by machine on the front with a decorative stitch. I made some for my hairdresser using novelty fabric I found. I also made some for my daughter and son-in-law who have a motorcycle and cats - the fabric had cats riding cycles and they loved them.

I wouldn't think of this as a mug rug. To me, a mug rug sits under the cup, there is no room for anything else. It's just to catch drips and such to keep your furniture from getting ruined.

I didn't know what a 'mug rug' was 'til I came across this board (a number of years ago now). I agree a set up would explain as well as a flyer/note with the product. I love them (as does one of my DIL's).

Check out the mug rug listings under the round robin site in archives. I've been doing them since March. My version of a mug rug was the size of a coaster but this site recommends it holds a cup and small snack plate.

mug rugs are coasters. I think they got their new name to distinguish the fabric ones from other materials (cork, tile, etc). Then they started to have a life of their own - larger and more ornate.

This thread is just for me! As I was clicking on the thread to read I spilled a full glass of tea on hubby's mug rug. I saw Patrick Lose do mug rugs on Love of Quilting show on PBS. So far I've made two but am hoping to churn out a couple for Christmas gifts. Cute mug rugs and I love the bird!!

I think it's a really good idea to explain and label them -- otherwise people assume they are larger hot pads or meant for placing hot dishes on the table -- and then they're upset that they get burned as they're not thick enough for that.

Great job on all!!

Best way to describe them are oversized coasters!
Louise

If they don't know what a mug rug is, put an empty cup and treat on your table to identify them. You did a beautiful job on your mug rugs and your daughter's birds and really nice.

Put me in the group with having them bigger than a coaster. I usually make mine in the 6 X 9 range, which frustrates me a little because the in-the-hoop ones I have found for machine embroidery are all limited to 5X7, which I consider too small (especially since that is the frame size and the actual mug rug ends up smaller). But I do love them - I use them all over the house because they are decorative and my company, like me, tends to be messy.:o

I'm so sorry, I did not realize we were getting so technical. I was simply suggesting a simple, easy way to explain to the OP's customers what the purpose of her product is. Sheesh....

A Mug Rug is an over-sized coaster to fit under your daily dose of caffeine! (I didn't know what they were when I first heard of them, either, but figured it out from the name and the size of them!)

I sure do know what they are! I'm whipping up sets for Christmas presents. I'm doing "cheater" binding on mine and they are going nice and fast.

OH my Goodness- Check out Pinterest there are Hundreds of Mug Rug Ideas... Most Mug Rugs are about 5 to 6 inches x 7 to 9 inches big.. there are round ones and odd shaped ones too.. and some for every season of the year.. I have made at least 10 mug Rugs, pieced with fabric and quilted by machine. Most are made just like you would a Potholder . I use Cotton batting between the layers and recommend washing in cool/cold water and laying Flat to dry.. I have used poly batting too... some are Bound edges and others are turned..

If I hadn't been a member of this board, I would have no idea. Love the suggestions about using it with display items and bet you would sell a lot more!

Rennie, I found some quilted candle mats by Five Star Fonts which include 8x12 and 7x11. I have added my own designs to these and they make great mug rugs. I also love the way the back is done on these - absolutely no hand sewing. And they are on sale right now. http://fivestarfonts.com/candle-mats-in-the-hoop
Georgia in FL

Yes. I now know what a mug rug is. I didn't before starting to quilt and watching a free lesson on Craftsy.

Nancy could you tell me where I might get that mug rug poem?

Have no use for them except as cat toys. I've never seen anyone of my acquaintances or even at work use a coaster. All my furniture has a finish I can wash.

It could be regional for all I know.

I never see anyone carrying those big tote bags, either. They will use the smaller grocery ones, but even the ones made as diaper bags aren't used. I do see Vera Bradley bags. I also see the big brand names like Gucci and knockoffs of the same. People seem to like the counterfeit stuff rather than good handmade quilted.

I love mug rugs. Have made several for me and friends.

I sold mug rugs at a local craft show a few years ago when they were a brand new concept. I put a label on them that said, "What's a Mug Rug.....a coaster with attitude!" Love the birds. We offered something very similar at our Church bazaar a couple years back and didn't sell one. Funny how things sell in one part of the country and not the other.....I'm in PA.

Chances are that if you are not a quilter or the family or friend of a quilter then you don't know what a mug rug is. I know when I have mentioned them in the past to different people they didn't know what I was talking about. By the way your mug rugs are just adorable. You did an awesome job on them.

My aunts spend a lot of time together. I sets of 4 for each of them. They can reverse if they want. When I sent them I packed some packets of honey and a variety of tea since they already had coffee and have only ever drank one kind. Both aunts were born in June but are 2 different signs. Attached a pocket for a packaged cookie wrapped in a pretty napkin. Also bought a fancy teaspoon for each one of them. They like that they're easy to clean. They do a lot of hand washing so the size makes it easy. So many things you can do with them.

I make oodles of mug rugs as gifts. They are well recieved and it is not something I spend a lot of time making so I don't worry if people will use or like them. They are not something a person has to introduce into their interior design because they can just be put in a drawer when not in use. If you have an Embroidery machine, www.Sanfranciscostitchco has 2 years of monthly mug rugs. They are so beautiful and easy to make.

my avatar is a 3D mug rug. i have lots of fun designing, or inventing them. working on a fox now for my dsil who is a hunter. i always think of a mug rug as a coaster on steroids. my cat tiger was my model.