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I totally agree with bevintex about what to call the fabric placed on a table. Tip: Spray some water repellant on your fabric mats and rugs to make for easy clean-up and prevent stains.
by almag
06 Nov 2013
Excellent tip!! I do use acrylic felt for the batting to cope with constant washing.
I haven't used any of my FSL stitchouts as coasters yet but I'd sure be annoyed if they were stained. Which brings to mind another question .... does rayon or polyester thread stain??? I haven't made any with cotton thread yet. Alma.
by AuntAnnie
07 Nov 2013
Polyester thread is colorfast so can be bleached. It is my preference for all types of embroidery. I recently purchased a set of cotton thread and am anxious to try it for FSL decorations.
7068Put a candle on it,it's a candle mat.Put a mug on it,it's a mug rug. I think it just depends on what you want to call it.
by lidiad
06 Nov 2013
He he he.....lol Love your explanation, Bev, and I agree with you!
Hugs, Lidia
by almag
06 Nov 2013
Come to think about it, if the candle mat was big enough it could suddenly become a place mat. They all seem to be made the same way. It was the construction I was wondering about. The recent mug-rugs in DBC were really pretty, weren't they... oval, etc. Mine have always been rectangular and I've used 1" strips of scraps. I liked the Christmas ones I made best with a 4x4 goldwork design beside about 5" of strips and then bordered and bound like a little quilt. I wish I'd taken pictures of them but I gave them all away. Alma.
67271In my opinion you have to think of wax melting on a candle mat so you may want to put a plastic top layer on it. You could scrape the wax off the plastic.
Here's a Penny Rug wiki page for you.
by almag
06 Nov 2013
That's probably what I'd do but I'd probably use one of those silver or gold afternoon tea paper plates just to make the whole thing prettier.
Thank you for the link. I'm finding the information about the penny rugs fascinating. Alma.
by debbie3
07 Nov 2013
If wax drops on fabric or carpet you can take your iron and put a paper towel or brown paper bag over the spot and iron until the wax is all up.
462505Interesting questions and I am sure you are going to find interesting answers. I admit, I feel the creator of the project is the artist and I don't question them. I like their work whether the mug rug is round square or rectangular. Let creativity reign.
by almag
06 Nov 2013
You're right about having fun. I thought I was so clever creating longer, larger coffee cup rugs way back (and then I had to explain to people what they were for). I called them grown-up coasters. I made them like miniature quilts but quicker and with felt batting.
Then, suddenly, the embroidery/craft world was filled with 'mug-rugs'. I was interested in the candle mats, though, and it does seem that they are made the same way, just bigger for a different purpose.
168893As far as I can tell, there is no difference between a candle mat and a mug rug. Size and shape are a matter of one's own choosing. So have fun with them. Hugs. Nan W
by almag
06 Nov 2013
That's right. It defeats the purpose of creating them if there is no fun in it. Mind you.... I'd rather not see a beautiful creation spoilt with hot wax and I'd probably put the candle on a plate or something and then on the candle mat..
11740OK...... if you want to brush up on some really interesting history, Google 'penny rugs' and read about them and how they developed. I've only just brushed the surface and I'm hoping for another easy day very soon so that I can just sit here and learn more about them. It seems their beginnings were far less stylish than what passes for penny rugs today - a bit like quilts really.
Alma.
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