Coffee Cups Tutorial for Windham Wednesdays

Today I reveal what I made using the Mimosa Collection from Windham Fabrics. This comes from the designer Another Point of View. I thought it resembled some 1930s prints, and when I went to read the description at the Windham web site, I found out I was right:

A bright and cheerful collection --- inspired by traditional feedsack prints, but with a modern twist, Mimosa by Another Point of View, is a collection that you will be inspired to work into your quilts for a long time. With classic all-over geometrics and delightful florals, you will be pulling it from your stash for years to come! 
 
Let's see it again, ok?

Mimosa Fabrics by Another Point of View

And what did I make with this wonderful grouping? Here is the first of ten (yes, that's 10) paper pieced coffee cups based on a traditional block featured in the Kansas City Star newspaper January 12, 1935! Will you look at all those curved pieces!

How the Coffee Cups pattern appeared in the Kansas  City Star newspaper
And my Coffee Cups adaptation. My Etsy pattern has all you need to make these!

Paper Pieced Coffee Cup: 7" x 7"
Can I show you a few of the steps I used to make this? Of course I can. It's my blog!

Pre-cut patches for the Coffee Cups pattern

The Etsy pattern has the sizes to cut for the patches. The little triangles (Patch 3, 4, 8 and 9) use squares cut to 2" for ease. Notice that the handle is cut using a freezer paper template, with fusible web on the wrong side.

Patch 1 and 2, joined and trimmed

Today's post is not meant to be a tutorial for those who have never paper pieced. You can find all sorts of tutorials online and even on this blog for that. I just want to show a few necessary steps.

Patches 3 and 4 are added as shown; sew on the other side of the paper

Because I trimmed Patches 1 and 2 leaving 1/4" seam allowance (first picture), it's easy to align the next patches; no guessing. Turn the paper over and sew on the line.

Press oversized patches as shown; ready to be trimmed

Patches 3 and 4 trimmed. Now it's time to insert the cup handle

Place right side of handle against right side of Patch 1. You can see how to align it by holding the pattern up to a light source. Now you add Patch 5. Finger press the seam. Don't use an iron yet because the curved part of the handle has to stay free until Patch #10 is added.

Make sure you don't iron that seam yet!

Final patches sewn, trimmed. Now you can press that handle down.

Don't you just love this little block? And what does it look like from the wrong side? Remember, the pattern is the mirror image of the finished block. You are sewing from the wrong side of the fabrics.

Pattern trimmed leaving 1/4" seams

PLEASE NOTE: The pattern DOES have the patch sizes to cut. I was working from my own prototype patterns. You didn't want to see my scribble marks and notes on this, now did you?

7" Coffee Cup in Spring green and orange

Now let's see all ten, now can we?

Ten Coffee Cup Blocks

And here's my Coffee Cups Quilt made with 5" blocks published about 15 years ago!

Scrappy Coffee Cups

My pattern assumes you are familiar with foundation paper piecing. But it has several pages of photos with steps and the sizes to cut the patches. Remember, always cut patches oversized when you are foundation piecing. Enjoy!

Comments

  1. Thank you for such a cute pattern and wonderful tutorial to go with it. This would be great to use with the RainbowChallenge - I think I have to make some of these tomorrow.

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  2. I love what you did with the Mimosa Collection and the coffee cups. Another good reason for me to learn paper piecing! Thank you for the pattern give away, too! Magistra13 at yahoo dot com
    Beth

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  3. Thank you again for sharing another pattern with us. I would love to be entered into the Gee's Bend pattern drawing, too, please. Your blog is such a treasure trove these days--even more than usual. :)

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  4. I really like these mugs. I will have to make some maybe for hotpads.

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  5. I forgot to add can I be in the Gees Bend too. Love those patterns.

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  6. love it! you give so much of your time, talent and give aways! thank you!
    jmalvasi@twcny.rr.com

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  7. How nice of you to give for free this fun pattern we can use our scraps. Love the Gees Bend look as well. You're so talented. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. rstoman04@gmail.com

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  8. Those are the cutest coffee cups!!! I totally want to make those...right now!! That Mimosa collection is beautiful. I can think of many ways to use that...gonna get me some of that too!!

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  9. How cute are those! I am looking forward t giving the pattern a try this morning. Bet I can't make just one! Thanks!

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  10. Debby, I love how the coffee cups turned out in the latest collection! I can't imagine many fabrics that wouldn't work. I'm already thinking about using this pattern to make who-knows-what for my blue-and-white-teacups-collecting sister. My stash has bold to genteel to wow and everything in between. Thanks for the pattern and the inspiration! (janeherbst at roadrunner dot com)

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  11. I love the cups and the Mimosa fabric! Thanks for the free pattern.

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  12. How cute! I am thinking I might make this wall hanging for my coffee loving friend.

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  13. these are so adorable. thank you for the great tutorial and pattern. these will make great potholders and placemats.

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  14. I love the way you talk to yourself in the blog LOL. Yes I stuck around and looked at all the pictures :) I live by coffee so this will be on my to do list too thank you!!

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  15. I would like to be considered for the free pattern. I like the cup pattern.

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  16. Adorable tea cup pattern. My grandmother had a very small teacup collection. A small quilt would be nice displayed with her small collection. Thanks for the pattern.

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  17. I haven't done much paper piecing,but I have to try these coffee cups.

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  18. I love the fabric you used for the coffee cups. Very cheerful!

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  19. I love the fabric you used for the coffee cups. Very cheerful!

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  20. Really nice pattern for the coffee cups. Thanks!

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  21. I love the coffee cups - especially the blue!
    I would love a Gees Bend pattern!!!

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  22. Thanks for the pattern. It was so nice to win. Now I get to shop for fabric!!!

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  23. The Gee's Bend quilt is very cool. I also really like the coffee cup pattern. I can see using it with some fun, bright fabrics! Thanks for sharing with us. cknapp3626@sbcglobal.net

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  24. Love the coffee cups! Thanks for the paper pieced pattern link!

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  25. Love the coffee cup pattern, and thank you for the link! Congrats to the winner!

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  26. I made a paper-pieced coffee mug quilt several years ago, but yours is more fun. More fabrics to choose. Shall I make some cookies? I'll be right over for coffee. No, it's okay. My house is a mess.

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  27. Love coffee!!!! And, love this pattern. Will need to make myself some coffee cups.

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  28. Love these cups. I need to make this pattern for my Sister-n-law. b.j.day68@gmail.com

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  29. Thanks for sharing the Kansas Star coffee cup pattern, live those old patterns.

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  30. These cups are so cute and I love the striped sashing.

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  31. Nancy: rangerer@sbcglobal.netFebruary 11, 2015 at 4:48 PM

    Love the cups! Thanks for the pattern.

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  32. I love paper piecing, and these cups are so perfect for my kitchen. Thanks so much for sharing this pattern, and offering the drawing for a pattern. cdahlgren at live dot com

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  33. I love these little cups. I've never done paper piecing but I'm going to try now. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing.

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  34. I love these little cups. I've never done paper piecing but I'm going to try now. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing.

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  35. Cute pattern and tutorial. I've only done El's coffee cup block before, also KC Star adaptation. It's not paper-pieced. think I'll try this one too!

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  36. I love the fabrics you chose for those cups. Looks like an easy pattern too.

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  37. Thanks for the cute coffee cup pattern & the chance to win.

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  38. Nice coffee cup pattern. I love Gee's Bend quilts and the ladies are so great. I'm planning a trip to visit there this summer.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  39. Love your coffee cups! Thanks for the free pattern:)

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  40. These are so cute! Would be great to make as part of a mug rug or for a block swap!

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  41. Wouldn't it have been wonderful to look forward to the quilt block pattern in the Kansas City Star newspaper wearing an over-the-head apron ~ kind of like I waited for the McCall magazine and the Betsy paper doll! Thank you for this pattern. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    Look at her pretty school dress from the first ten years ~ far right. http://tpettit.best.vwh.net/dolls/pd_scans/betsy_mccall/p51_2.html

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    1. oops... forgot my contact for a win! lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  42. OH MY GOSH ! How darn cute are these coffee cups !!!

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  43. I think these would make nice gifts for a mug rug. Debby, would you add batting? Did you? I wouldn't want to spill the coffee! Thank you! Angelia, angel4u2@cox.net

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  44. Thank you for the coffee cup pattern!

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  45. Love the coffee cups! I have a friend that lives for coffee and these will be so cute for her.
    And I love the Gee's Bend quilt patterns - so modern looking!
    harrisijharris@aol.com

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  46. Love these cup blocks, and will be doing some for a wall hanging. Thank you for sharing all the great patterns with us.

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  47. Thanks for the pattern think i will put the handle on the other side.I am a lefty.maybe make some and just change sides .you are the greatest.

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  48. VERY cute cups! Thanks for the pattern.

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  49. I so missed seeing this. Fabulous pattern, really loving it. Thank you for your generosity!

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  50. Debby Just found this pattern and made one of the 7" cups and I love it. Thank you for all the great patterns that you share with us.

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  51. Debby -- I love those coffee cups. Hopefully, you'll finish that quilt soon. Can't wait to see it.

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  52. So cute! Thanks for the free pattern :)

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  53. Thank you so much for your inspiration! I will be visiting my 84 year old mother soon and am taking her a Keurig Mini, and of course one or two of your coffee cups!

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  54. I love the tea cups. How beautiful your cups came out. Thank you for the wonderful pattern. Time for me to learn paper piecing. Looking forward to more. Great job!

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  55. I also would like to join Gee's Bend, if not too late. Thank you.

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  56. I love the tea cups. How beautiful your cups came out. Thank you for the wonderful pattern. Time for me to learn paper piecing. Looking forward to more. Great job!

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  57. Is your pattern available anywhere? I cannot locate it on Craftsy.

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Thanks for stopping by Debby Kratovil Quilts! If you had a question and don't get an answer from me, please feel free to email me at: kratovil@his.com