Objective: Produce one complete 5x7-inch quilted mug rug on the MC8200, moving through piecing, basting, quilting, and binding so you experience the full resale workflow in miniature.
A mug rug is the ideal first project because it rehearses every step of a full quilt in about fifteen minutes of machine time. The workflow is: piece a small top, make a quilt sandwich (top, batting, backing), quilt it, then bind the edge. On the MC8200 each stage uses a specific setup you already know. For piecing, install the 1/4-inch O foot, select straight stitch, set stitch length to 2.0mm, and keep speed moderate so seams stay accurate. For quilting the sandwich, swap to the AcuFeed Flex walking foot so all three layers feed evenly and don't shift or pucker; engage the dual feed and set stitch length slightly longer at 2.5-3.0mm so the quilting lines look clean. Use the needle-down function so the fabric pivots cleanly at corners, and the thread cutter button to finish seams. Always backstitch or lock stitches at the start and end of piecing seams, but for quilting lines that will be caught in the binding you can skip backstitching. Press seams after piecing—pressing, not the machine, is what makes blocks lie flat. For resale, consistent 1/4-inch seams and straight, evenly spaced quilting lines are what separate a sellable item from a homemade-looking one.
Example: Make one mug rug: Cut two 2.5x5.5-inch strips (print and solid) and sew them right-sides together with the O foot at 2.0mm, 1/4-inch seam. Press the seam to one side; you now have a 4.5x5.5-inch top. Layer it on a 6x7-inch batting rectangle and a 6x7-inch backing, right sides out, and pin. Switch to the AcuFeed Flex foot, set straight stitch at 2.75mm, needle-down on. Stitch 3 or 4 straight lines about 1 inch apart across the sandwich, pressing the foot-control steadily and letting the walking foot pull the layers. Trim to 5x7 inches. Attach a 2-inch doubled binding strip, stitching it to the front at 1/4 inch, then fold to the back and topstitch down. Press. Finished mug rug: flat, square, evenly quilted.
Try it: Make one mug rug following the example. Before you start, write down your three machine setups (foot, stitch, length) for piecing and for quilting. After finishing, lay a ruler across your seam and measure it: is it a true 1/4 inch along its whole length? Then eyeball your quilting lines—are the gaps even? Note one thing to improve on the next one.