It’s the first Friday of August, and time for the next teacup block for our quilt along.
It is getting more difficult to find the right thing for the next blocks. EQ8 isn’t making it easy either, insisting on only printing one page for two page patterns. So I have had to mess with it quite a bit to get a pattern for you. This one is more of a mug than a teacup, and I hope it comes out OK. Before we look at the pattern itself, let’s look at a way to make the mug without paper piecing. I know this drives some people nuts, so here is what to do to convert a paper piecing design into a traditional piecing design. This is a very simple cup, but you can use this method to traditionally piece any paper piece pattern. If there aren’t a lot of tiny pieces, this method will work for almost any paper pieced pattern.
For this example, take the handle portion of the cup and place on your cutting board. This is a sample print out, yours will have the numbering on it.
If they aren’t already numbered, mark your pieces with large numbers so you see the order to sew. Cut the pattern apart on the sewing lines, discarding the quarter inch around the outside for now.
Place the pieces on another sheet of paper and glue or tape in place. Using a ruler with a quarter-inch line, draw seam allowances around each piece. Cut out your pattern pieces, then use them to cut the fabric. Sew the pieces together in order.
I don’t mind paper piecing, so I put together some fabrics and got busy. I won’t go through the paper piecing method today, but if you need a refresher, click on Paper Piecing Tutorial.
The mug will be about 7 inches square when you get the piecing done, but don’t worry if it isn’t exactly that measurement. Add a three inch border all the way around the mug of background fabric.
Using a square up ruler, place the top at an angle relative to the top of the mug, and plan on a 10-inch square to cut. Make sure your upper right point is on the fabric, as well as the 10-inch point on the ruler for the other three corners.
Make the cuts on the right side and across the top. Turn the piece around and cut the remaining two sides to a 10-inch square.
Here is the finished mug. Setting it on an angle gives an otherwise boring mug design a bit of flair.
And here are the pdfs, one is the pattern and the second is the instruction sheet. I had too much trouble with these and couldn’t get them to work as one download. Just remember to print the pattern “actual size” not ‘”fit to page” – TeacupsBlock13Pattern and Teacups QA Block13 Instruction.
So, now you can sew any paper pieced block with traditional piecing method. If you’ve skipped the paper piecing patterns up to now, go back and get them so you can have more to practice your new technique. Find all the blocks by using the Teacups QA link on the sidebar in the categories section.
Do you like paper piecing, or if not, will you try this traditional method for paper pieced designs?
From My Carolina Home 
I like the mug on an angle! And I might not have ever thought to do that.
I did one whole quilt out of tea and coffee cups via regular piecing. Paper piecing would have been so much easier, but I didn’t know how to do that back then.
Thank you..I can’t wait to try the tea cups! I’m a huge tea drinker so right down my alley.
Charming! Do I recognize some of the Asian fabrics you relieved me of? (Though I know you also had your own stash)….
That pattern would look lovely on a real china tea cup.
Cute and pretty cup
It is jumping for a refill!!
I am not a quilter but love reading your blogs – even those about quilting. I saw a cup and saucer holder in a store the other day (complete with cup and saucer on it) and thought of you. It may be too difficult to use in your quilt squares; but I thought I would mention it.
You are amazing – so many interests and sooo much talent rolled into one package.
Sincerely, Carolyn K.
Thank you so much for doing this. I really do not enjoy paper piecing and am going to go back and get the new patterns for regular piecing. Yay!!
I don’t care for paper piecing either, will try your method. Thank you for showing us this.
Hello Carole, I do not mind doing paper piecing, but how fun to try your lesson on a few PP Blocks that I have wanted to do over the years, just not as paper piecing. I never thought to try your method. You are so fabulous with sharing your great ideas and tutorials! I think this big mug is a great addition to the blocks, I always use a bigger coffee cup. Have a great day!
Such a cute little cup!! I’ve been loving watching this tea set come along!
I do PPing sometimes, but prefer traditional piecing. I have taken PP patterns, if not too many tiny pieces, and pieced them in the traditional way. Love your mug set on an angle, really does give it more interest. Fabrics are nice, too!
Great mug to go with the other cups and tea things. Thank you! I don’t care for paper piecing, and that’s basically what I’d have done, probably. This one isn’t too bad, so I *might* paper piece it when I get there!