I have two beside my computer. One for my coffee and one used as a mousepad. I have several sets of seasonal ones to brighten up my spot. My favorite size is 9 1/4"x7 1/4" finished. I always have a couple on my kitchen table (wooden) to protect it from scratches and moisture. Love them.

I made a bunch of egg shaped mug rugs at Easter time last year and handed them out to several people who do nice things for me and they really loved them, plus I used strips of fabric and lots of scraps of rickrack, piping, ribbon, etc over the seams crazy quilt style and they were really pretty. They were fun to make as well.

I like to make a mug rug to match the mug, especially when I'm giving it ( or a set) as a gift. Typically, that would be harder to do with a plate. Plus you can keep them in the end table drawer to grab as you need them - again , sort of hard to do with a plate. My smaller plate, that I might typically use to put cookies or small snacks on, doesn't have a flat area that would adequately stabilize a mug - it would have to sit on the slanty side and risk being knocked over, so a mug rug is much more secure - flat and not slippery. Need any more reasons?

Here's ​a little poem I sent along with gifts of mug rugs…….she so enjoys her mug of beer!…so you see these rugs are not only for coffee……..

A place for coffee, vino or tea,
whenever you use it, please think of me.

There's extra room for a little treat,
be it chips or nuts or something sweet.

Now pick up your glass, for a round of good cheer,
and let this pad be home for a tall glass of beer.....

I think that was rude. Would it hurt her to say gee thanks mom?

Just have to say, they are fun! I made these 2 as gifties for a couple of quilting buds recently. If they're mistaken for potholders, them someone is not looking. We live where everything sweats as it gets humid. These are larger than coasters, but cuter, too. I don't put anything but the mug/coffee cup on mine. The cookie/brownie doesn't last long enough to put down, anyway!!!

Well, I'm an office worker and eat both breakfast and lunch at my desk. I always put my food and drink on my little mug rug - it keeps everything neat and tidy, protects both my desk and my food from the germs ON my desk! At home I use them just because they are pretty and I like pretty things around me. :) I guess more "practical" folks might think they're just useless, like knick-knacks. To each their own, I say!

Does it have to have a point? Can't being pretty and made with love enough? Unless your home is really a production line, just accept the gift and say "Thank you", it's called manners.

I make and use Mug Rugs all the time. I have one right by my PC and Machine. I also use Coasters, My DGS also use the Coasters and Mug Rugs. Just tell people don't use as Pot Holder when you gift them.

Best answer I can think of is, "Because they are cute, fun to make and I want to."

Those are adorable!!! :thumbup:

I don't put food on mine very often... usually just a cup. But they are part coaster, part heat insulator, part absorbant spill sucker-upper and part cozy comfort, so I LOVE them. You just can't say that for a plate.

There's no specific size. I prefer ones on the smallish size. The two I'm using right now are about 5 x 7" -- just the right size for a mug and if I'm snacking, a bit of food on a cocktail napkin. I've received some in swaps that are larger (up to 12 x 12"), but I tend not to use them very often as they take up too much space.

As to people mistaking them for potholders, I pin a label on mine that says:

Mug Rug<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
Larger than a coaster, smaller<O:p></O:p>
than a placemat – just right <O:p></O:p>
for a “cuppa” and a snack.<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
<O:p

I love to make mug rugs simply cuz it's fun and they are cute. Instant gratification. :thumbup:

I love mug rugs. Mine are square & you can make them for all the seasons. Fun Fun Fun!!

Tea cups with matching 'saucers'. :-) They have a ring in the middle for the cup to perfectly sit in so it won't slide.

I made some mug rugs for my aunts and mine are more about 8x10. I took the pockets from my husband's jeans and shirts and they like to stick their spoons or little sugar packets in the pockets. I gave them both a set of 4. I also gave my MIL a set. MIL likes hers because they were made from her DS's clothes. The pockets are also big enough if they want they can stuff a couple of cookies or whatever they want into them. They just wash them in Woolite when they're done and toss into the dryer or let dry over the towel rack. MIL's neighbors think they are just the beans. MIL's bff has a birthday in February and would like a set for her. Wanted to know how much they cost. I told her a recent photo of herself. She did specify she didn't want any part of her son on the mugrug (LOL). Happy to oblige. After all it's her son and not bff's.

The perfect poem! :thumbup:

May I please use it the next time I make mug rugs? :)

I've made a whole pile of mug rugs, and my family loves to use them. They're just the right thing for coffee, or a snack, and they fit nicely next to everyone's computer or laptop station. When I give them as gifts, I make it clear that they are more of a mini-placemat, rather than a potholder or trivet. They're great for using up scraps, or trying out new little blocks. I made these for a recent gift exchange, paired with my favorite coffee and a tiny bottle of Jameson's Irish Whiskey. They were a huge hit!

Would you be able to make her a mug rug to match her dinnerware saucer or favorite mug? I purchased several Christmas mugs and I want to make mug rugs to match to give to my grown daughters, I think they'd like it! (but that's for next year...just like it was suppose to be for this year....LOL)

I think they are fun to make and they add a little fun when having a cup of tea. Besides that they are cute!

I have only ever made one. I sent it to my mom as a postcard and she sets her mug of ice cream on it every night. She thought it was the coolest post card ever.

I was wondering this too.....thanks, everybody! My thought was, "Why do I want to make something for the purpose of staining it with coffee???".....silly old me!

I made one for a friend to use at work. It has pictures of her dogs on it. One of them has since passed so she really loves using it.

I agree. I don't see the point for them. They do look like pot holders. I don't drink coffee and I use the Tervis cups and insulated glasses that don't sweat.

I like them...just like oversized coasters....so fits my big mug of tea and a small plate/saucer for the inevitable biscuit (cookie) which I have with my tea....everyone's different. Just keep making them if you like them.

absolutely !!!!!

I make them because they are pretty and fun to make. It's art.

A great big MAHALO! "Thank you" in Hawaiian. :)

I make mine 5" square or round.
this is the pattern like I use but mine don't have to be bound
http://aqguild.org/uploads/MUG_RUG.pdf

I think their utility for other people would depend on if they normally used coasters period :)

Thanks for the size input. Sounds like the mug rugs are good projects to use up "orphan" blocks (I tend to try a block to see if I like what it looks like before I make a whole top) of which I have too many. Thanks for starting this thread!

Anita

That's my thought too - glad I'm not alone. Seems to me that a mug rug is just larger than a regular coaster and I have made a bunch of regular quilted coasters to use around the house and they work great. But the mug rugs just seem to be coasters that are just larger. Is that the main difference?

I guess if you think 'what's the point' about mug rugs then you'd think the same about coasters. Some mug rugs are the same size as coasters, some are bigger. Depends on what the maker wants them to be but they're basically just coasters. I think her daughter was incredibly rude-I would never disrespect my mom that way.

I rather like 4" or 5" x 8" that way there is room for that cookie!!!!! but mine really depends on the subject on the rug.

Some need more length than the previous while others look good as a square……use your imagination….and make them your own design.

Debbie ~aka applique ~ your ornament bear coaster is simply put, adorable! I agree with you that it is another art form in quilting. Is the running bear your pattern?

Put me in the column with I love my mug rugs. I use mine every day at my desk. I have three different ones, all gifts from other quilters.

I think they are also a quick "I'm thinking of you" to tuck into to an envelope and send to someone as a surprise!

It's a cute gift and someone took the time to make it for you by hand. Whether you use it or not, you'll always know that someone loves you enough to make something for you. Isn't that enough reason to make them?

I make mine about 8.5 x 10-11", approx. the size of a sheet of notebook paper. They're great for using up some of those batting scraps, too.

I think the comment was rude too. I was just confused also because the ones I saw posted did appear to be larger than a regular "coaster" which are definitely needed for beverage cups/glasses at times. Guess it's size and semantics that's just different. Have a lovely day.

Thanks for the link - it's a nice coaster pattern.

Those are soooooo cute!