Finding Dory Swap Package

My friend Wendy was hosting the Disney Mug Rug Swap on Instagram and I just couldn't resist joining in. Easy peasy: Buy a mug, make a mug rug, include one extra. My partner listed a variety of Disney interests and I dialed in on Finding Dory, especially after I found this adorable mug.

I immediately visualized an improv pieced ocean for Dory (and friends?) and eventually decided on purchasing a little bit of yardage of Finding Dory fabric by Camelot from Fat Quarter Shop. I started by shopping my stash for an ocean fabric pull.

Then I went for it with my first improv curved piecing. It all went together pretty well. The batik (second from top in the finished piece) was a little tricky, since it doesn't have as much stretch to it. I simply overlapped the fabrics I was piecing and freehand rotary cut a curve through both at the same time, then I eased them together with a 1/4" seam allowance as I machine pieced them together.

Generally I press my seams open when piecing, but this is one of those times that pressing open didn't make sense. I pressed to the blue on my first seam, so I just continued pressing up on all my seams. Here's the finished piece, front and back, before I trimmed it down.

At this point it was more placemat sized than mug rug sized, so I had to trim it down. I decided on vertical so I could arrange my characters in a way that they mug wouldn't cover them up. I trimmed down to just over 8" x 11".

My next step was to add the characters. I used fusible web to attach Dory, Nemo and Hank, then stitched around the edge of each.

Then I went to town quilting. I used my walking foot and quilted smooth curves to complement my piecing using a variety of blue threads (all 50 wt. Aurifil).

I was able to find a piece of remnant binding (from Finally) that was large enough to avoid a scrappy binding and worked with my color palette. I think this quilt would have been lovely with a faced binding, but I just didn't have the time to learn a new skill at this stage of the process. :-)

I opted to back the quilt with the licensed fabric, but I placed it in the horizontal direction. I liked the repeat better that way, and this gives Lisa options for a vertical or horizontal mug rug.

For my extra, I opted to make a large Open Wide Zippered Pouch (free tutorial by Noodlehead). (Shown in first picture.)

 

Lisa and I happened to be assigned each other for the swap. Here's the super generous package she sent me. She chose a nifty mug that has an electric mug warmer to go with it and made me a bag and a keychain. Plus she decorated the tote box and sent a Mickey Mouse raglan t-shirt pattern plus a bunch of other little goodies. So sweet of her!

 

Thanks for visiting! I'm linking up to TGIFF, Finish it Up Friday, and Needle and Thread Thursday.

Linking up to the Q4 Finishes Link-Up. See my Q4 list here.

24 thoughts on “Finding Dory Swap Package

    1. sarah

      Post author

      Yes! I didn't want to show too much on IG so it would be a surprise to my partner. It was fun. There's some great stuff on the #disneymugrugswap hashtag on IG.

      Reply
  1. You make those improv curves Sound (and look!) so easy. I actually Need to include this technique for a quilt I have planned, but fear this a little! You made a lovely mini quilt, the wave design is just perfect!

    Reply
    1. sarah

      Post author

      Thank you so much, Vicky. I had taken a class on piecing precision curves, like drunkard's path blocks and whole circles. And I'd done some reading on improv curves. So I just went for it! Grab some scraps and go for it! :-)

      Reply
  2. Bo

    You really captured the feel of the ocean with your wavy pattern and the colors!! I really like the gift Lisa sent to you. Cute quilt!! I am a Disney fan truth be told!! :-)

    Reply
  3. Bo

    Oh goodness...there are so many Disney movies that I enjoy but animated ones would be Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs...Aladdin too!! the Lion King!! Oh heck, I enjoy them all!!

    Reply
    1. sarah

      Post author

      Thank you, Anja! I have lost count how many times I've made the Open Wide Zippered Pouch. I love that it can be effective in the super fast single fabric option, or you can piece decorative panels for the outside. And it can be dressed up with quilting on the outer panel. I prefer fusible fleece for lining the outer fabric. It gives it a great structure.

      Reply

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