As the year slips into Autumn, it’s time for apple cider and pumpkin spice and for quilters everywhere to start thinking about the handmade gifts they plan to make for the holidays. I like to have a few small gifts on hand for last-minute exchanges and gifts for co-workers or neighbors. A small handmade item can also personalize a store-bought present. Mug Rugs I love mug rugs! The one I’m sharing today goes together quickly and uses two standard quilt block components. The perfect mug rug is large enough to hold a beverage and a small plate holding a snack. I’m not looking for a placemat, but I need more room than a coaster. I keep mug rugs on my office desk and coffee table, so yes, I do use them! For this mug rug, I combined a 6-inch square Square-in-a-Square block component with two flying geese block components to create a long, rectangular piece measuring about 6″ x 12″. This block had a bonus—I already had the components made up from other projects! I needed to piece two seams, quilt it, and add the binding. Tip: This is an excellent time of year to look through past projects to … Continue reading Turn Two Easy Quilt Block Components Into One Adorable Gift!