Thursday, March 12, 2015

Crafty Thursdays: Crazy Mug Rug with Molly MacRae




Molly MacRae, author of the Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries is here today to tell us how to make Crazy Mug Rugs AND she's giving away three Crazy Mug Rug Kits to Mystery Playground readers. All you have to do is comment below, or send us a message on the Mystery Playground Facebook page. First let's hear a little about Molly's latest book...


In Plagued by Quilt, yarn shop owner Kath Rutledge is at a historic farm in Blue Plum, Tennessee, volunteering for the high school program Hands on History. But when a long-buried murder is uncovered on the property, Kath needs help from Geneva the ghost to solve a crime that time forgot....


Kath and her needlework group TGIF (Thank Goodness It’s Fiber) are preparing to teach a workshop at the Holston Homeplace Living History Farm, but their lesson in crazy quilts is no match for the crazy antics of the assistant director, Phillip Bell. Hamming it up with equal parts history and histrionics, Phillip leads an archaeological dig of the farm’s original dump site—until one student stops the show by uncovering some human bones.

When a full skeleton is later excavated, Kath can’t help but wonder if it’s somehow connected to Geneva, the ghost who haunts her shop, and whom she met at this very site. After Phillip is found dead, it’s up to Kath to thread the clues together before someone else becomes history.


Crazy Mug Rug
Designed by Kate Winkler, Designs from Dove Cottage 2014, for Molly MacRae’s Plagued by Quilt

A whole crazy quilt would be a bit much to make on a Crafty Thursday, but here’s a miniature version in the form of a mug rug made with felt (no fraying edges!) that I finished in an evening. The great thing about a crazy quilt is that it can be as simple or elaborate as you want. 




Materials:
Assorted scraps of felt - bits of felted sweaters work best, but craft felt will also work
Embroidery floss, perle cotton, or needlepoint wool in colors to coordinate with felt
Sewing thread in a neutral color

Tools:
Crewel or embroidery needle with eye large enough for your thickest embroidery fiber
Scissors
Pinking shears (optional, but recommended)
Pins

1. Cut a circle from one piece of felt: 4 1/2 - 5”. This will be the base.

2. Arrange random scraps of felt on top of the base to cover it — don’t worry if they extend beyond the edges of the base. Do not overlap edges of scraps; rather, butt the edges together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Trimming edges of scraps with pinking shears will facilitate butting them together smoothly.




3. It’s helpful to take a digital photo of your final arrangement to refer to during sewing.

4. With sewing thread, whipstitch scraps together, skimming your needle through the felt —you don’t want the sewing thread to show on the other side of the patchwork.



5. Using base as a template, trim patchwork to same size and shape.




6. Turn patchwork over to the unstitched side. With embroidery fiber, embellish joins between scraps with whatever color and stitch strikes your fancy, e.g. feather stitch, fly stitch, herringbone, etc. Chain stitch “vines” with lazy daisy “leaves” and flowers/French knots are nice, too. You may add flowers or other figures in the centers of some patches.

7. When patchwork is embellished to your satisfaction, pin it to the base and stitch through both layers 1/4” from the edge—a simple running stitch will do, but you could work around in blanket stitch if you prefer (again, trimming the edge with pinking shears can help you evenly space your stitches).

8. If your finished mug rug is wavy, press it with an iron set to “steam” and the appropriate heat setting for your felt.

Don't forget to enter to win one of three Crazy Mug Rug kits from Molly - just comment below (or send a message to the Mystery Playground Facebook page).

The Boston Globe says Molly MacRae writes “murder with a dose of drollery.” She’s the author of the award-winning Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries, published by Penguin/NAL. Molly’s short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine since 1990. After twenty years in northeast Tennessee, Molly lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois.

You can find out more about Molly at www.mollymacrae.com. You can find on Facebook and Pinterest, and you’ll also find her blogging on the first Monday of each month at www.amyalessio.com and on the 23rd of each month at www.killercharacters.com. 

21 comments:

  1. What a fun craft. Love your books.

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    1. Thank you, LynMarie! I had a great time doing the embroidery - hadn't done it in years and really enjoyed myself.

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  2. I have enjoyed all of Molly's Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries.

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    1. Thank you, Kathleen! I'm busy revising the next one - KNOT THE USUAL SUSPECTS. It'll be out in September.

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  3. What a great way to use up felt scraps, etc. Thanks for sharing this craft idea. Also very fond of your books.

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    1. Isn't it a great way to use scraps? Glad you like it - and glad you like the books, too!

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  4. This craft is so creative and special. How delightful. Your books are a joy. Best wishes. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. I enjoyed this wonderful post about the talented author, the great books and most of all this beautiful craft which warmed my heart. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  6. Thanks for having me here, today, Deb. I love your site!

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    1. Thank you Molly! What a fun craft. And I can't wait to dg into the book.

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  7. Wow, I think even I do make this! What a clever, crafty idea. Can't wait to read the book!

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  8. It really is pretty easy, Sharon. If I can do it, that proves it! Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. This is a pretty craft. I love this series.

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  10. Wow Molly, you are a woman of many talents!

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    1. Oh, pshaw, Terrie. Congratulations on your Agatha nomination! Looking forward to seeing you at Malice.

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    1. Thanks, Linda! A friend of mine, here in Champaign, designs all the crafts in my books. She's extremely talented!

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  12. Our winners are Robin, Sharon & Petite! Look for an e-mail shortly.

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