Sew Festive Gifts: Buttonhole Appliqué Mug Rugs

Stitch a little festive magic with our textiles & fashion short courses in Sydney!

Add a dash of handmade charm to your coffee table this season with this joyful, hands-on sewing workshop. You’ll create beautiful appliquéd mug rugs — small quilted mats just the right size for a cup of coffee (and a biscuit or two!).

Guided by your tutor, you’ll explore the art of buttonhole appliqué, using fabric scraps, fusible web, and decorative stitching to design your own festive mug rugs. You’ll learn how to trace and cut appliqué shapes, use the buttonhole (blanket) stitch for decorative edges, and assemble your mug rugs with precision and style.

Whether you’re new to sewing or looking to refine your appliqué skills, this project-based class offers the perfect balance of creativity and technique. You’ll come away with new confidence on your sewing machine — and a set of handmade creations ready to gift, share, or keep for yourself.

Swap store-bought gifts for something stitched with love, and celebrate the season your way!

Below is an example of festive mug rugs lovingly stitched by your tutor. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Buttonhole Appliqué Mug Rug Workshop, you will be able to:

• Choose suitable fabrics, stabilisers, and threads for appliqué projects
• Trace, cut, and position appliqué shapes accurately
• Use the buttonhole (blanket) stitch for neat and decorative edges
• Assemble and quilt your mug rugs
• Add optional embellishments for a personal festive touch

Course content

What will be covered in this Buttonhole Appliqué Mug Rug Workshop?

• Introduction to buttonhole appliqué techniques
• Choosing and preparing fabrics and stabilisers
• Stitching practice and machine setup
• Assembling, quilting, and finishing mug rugs
• Optional embellishments and design variations

Intended audience

Who is this Buttonhole Appliqué Mug Rug Workshop for?

This workshop is suitable for beginners and continuing sewing enthusiasts who want to learn a new decorative technique while making a festive handmade gift.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

Please bring to class:

• Basic sewing tools (scissors, pins, ruler, etc.)
• 100% cotton fabric scraps
• Fusible web and thread

Materials provided: 

• Sewing machine