Backing and binding a mug rug with the creative icon 2 [tutorial]

Yesterday I showed you how to use the Sequence Creator to program text for the Mug Rug and finished embellishing the Mug Rug top.

Today, I’m using the PFAFF creative icon 2 to add backing and binding to finish the Mug Rug.

Mug Rug top ready to trim and finish

Let’s get started

Wind a bobbin with sewing thread to match your backing fabric and/or binding.

Thread your PFAFF creative icon 2 with sewing thread to match your backing fabric and/or binding.

Insert a PFAFF Microtex needle size 80.

Attach the PFAFF ¼” Quilting Foot for IDT System. Engage the IDT system, and don’t worry if you forget; the PFAFF creative icon 2 is so smart it’ll remind you if you forget!

Sew the backing to the Mug Rug

Fuse the 8” x 11” Inspira Fusible Fleece batting to the wrong side of the Mug Rug top.

Inspira Fusible Fleece batting fused to the wrong side of stitched fabric

Trim the length of the Mug Rug to 9½”. The best way to ensure the tapered stitches are centered, is to place the 4¾” mark of the ruler on the vertical center and use a rotary cutter to trim the excess fabric. Repeat for the other side.

Trim the width to 6½”. Place the 3¼” marking of your ruler on the horizontal center (the center stitched row) and trim the excess fabric away. Repeat for the other side. The finished top should now measure 6½” wide by 9½” long.

Mug Rug top trimmed to 6½” x 9½”

Earlier in the week, we prepped the backing fabric by fusing the fusible interfacing to the wrong side.

Center the top of the Mug Rug over the wrong side of the backing fabric. Pin in place to secure.

Trimmed Mug Rug top centered and pinned to the wrong side of backing fabric

Place the inside toe of the PFAFF ¼” Quilting Foot for IDT System next to the raw edge of the Mug Rug and stitch around the top. Engage the Needle Down feature.

The inside of the right toe on my PFAFF ¼” Quilting foot for IDT System is placed next to the edge of my Mug Rug top.

Using a rotary cutter and ruler, trim the backing fabric to the same size as the Mug Rug top.

Binding the Mug Rug

Press the 2¼’ x WOF (Width of Fabric) binding fabric in half lengthwise.

Starting at the lower edge of the Mug Rug, place the binding to the back of the Mug Rug with raw edges matching.

Binding at the back of Mug Rug with the edge of PFAFF ¼” Quilting foot for IDT System next to the raw edge of the binding and the Mug Rug

Sew the binding to the back of the Mug Rug stopping ¼” away from the corner. Use the ¼” marking on the PFAFF ¼” Quilting Foot for IDT System as your guide. Pivot and stitch to the corner.

Mitering the corner of the binding

Fold the binding up to the corner to miter the corners of the binding.

Folding the binding up and back down to miter the corners of the binding

Continue to sew the binding all around the Mug Rug and finish the ends using your favorite method.

Remove the PFAFF ¼” Quilting Foot for IDT System and attach the PFAFF Bi-Level Topstitch Foot for IDT System.

Fold the binding to the right side of the Mug Rug making sure the fold of the binding covers the stitches from sewing the binding in place. Pin or clip to secure.

Move the needle position on your PFAFF creative icon 2 to -3.5. Notice the stitch on the screen has also moved to reflect the new needle position.

The screen shows needle position moved to the left at position -3.5. Stitch is shown in real size and position.

Place the PFAFF Bi-Level Topstitch Foot for IDT System over the binding so the edge of the binding is sitting just next to the short red mark on the presser foot and the needle is just to the right of the fold.

Engage the Needle Down button on the front of the machine.

Stitching the binding on the right side using the PFAFF Bi-Level Topstitch Foot for IDT System on my PFAFF creative icon 2

Stitch around the binding making sure the fold of the binding covers the stitches and miter the corners as you come to them. I love the PFAFF Bi-Level Topstitch Foot for IDT System for sewing on all my bindings – all I have to do is keep the edge of the binding next to the short red line at the front of the foot and my stitching is always straight and even – the perfect finish to any quilt binding and I don’t have to do any hand stitching (my motto is – if my machine can’t do it, I don’t do it!).

Here’s a close-up of my binding and the perfect stitching thanks to my PFAFF Bi-Level Topstitch foot for IDT System!

Close-up of the finished binding with the stitches just along the edge of the binding

Our Mug Rug is now finished. I just need to remove the markings and I’m ready to finally have a place to put my coffee cup or water bottle while I’m sewing. It also makes a great place to keep my notions while I’m sewing.

Mug Rug is finished and ready for my sewing room!

I think I might need to make a few more as they make the perfect personalized gift for my sewing friends!

Thank you for joining me to explore the many Sewing Programs we have available on the PFAFF creative icon 2. You’ll never run out of creative ways to create and use the decorative stitches as long as we have these amazing Sewing Programs such as Tapering, Patchwork Program, Single Stitch Program, Stitch Creator and Sequence Creator! Have fun exploring these amazing tools! Stop by and see your local PFAFF dealer for more information and a demonstration.

Until next time – Stay safe and stay creative!

This is part 5 of 5 in this series

Go back to part 4: Combine stitches and text with the creative icon 2 Sequence Creator

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