Baby Lovey

Making a baby blanket leaves me with some odd scraps that certainly aren't big enough for another blanket. Fortunately, these furry Minky pieces don't have to go to waste. It's pretty quick to transform them into a lovey.
First, cut two pieces of material the same size. Since Minky sheds like crazy, I use a pinking blade on my rotary cutter to minimize the flying fluff. Cut pieces of ribbon 5" and fold them in half with the decoration showing. At this point, stitch the ribbons closed if you are concerned about them being a safety hazard. Pin these evenly spaced along the sides of the right side (side with the pattern that you want to see) of one of the fabrics, with their raw edges matched up to the raw edge of the fabric. Align the other piece of material on top, right sides together, and pin.

Sew around the edge, leaving a 3" gap in the middle of a side in a spot without a ribbon, using a 1/2" seam allowance. Then reinforce the corners by stitching a diagonal line just outside the originally sewn line.

Trim the corners without cutting past the line of stitching.

Flip so the right sides are facing outward, one corner at a time. Pin the hole shut, and topstitch 1/2" from the edge.

Tada! You're done!
As for some additional options, you can add crinkle material. Just place it on top of the wrong side of one of the squares before sewing.
Another idea is to place a link for attaching a toy inside the ribbon before folding it over.

Gridster Bee: August and Strip Piecing Tutorial

This month Debbie Gomes of Little Bird Quilts requested that each bee member make a different 2016 Moda Be My Neighbor quilt block in brights with a cream, low volume background. I was assigned #12. Instead of cutting all the tiny squares for the two 9-Patches separately, I used strip piecing. I figured today I'd show you this time-saving method.

I noticed I would need four rows of red-cream-red and two rows of cream-red-cream. To figure out my cutting measurements, I cut a strip the required width for each block. For the length, I multiplied the length by the number of units I would need plus a little extra for wiggle room. Since each square was supposed to be 2" unfinished, I made the strips for the red-cream-red units 2" x at least 8" (2" x 4 units needed). For the cream-red-cream rows, I made the strips 2" x at least 4" (2" x 2 units needed). I sewed the strips together in the appropriate order.

Then I crosscut into the number of needed units using the unfinished length measurement which was 2" in this case.

After rearranging into position, I sewed the 9-Patch blocks together.

Nursing Cover Tutorial

For those who are unfamiliar, a nursing cover is for breastfeeding when a mother prefers to be a little less exposed without hiding away in a bathroom. You put the strap around your neck so it will remain in place over a nursing baby without being held in place, as is necessary with a blanket. The boning is so that the mother can peek at her baby from straight above, making it much easier for her to position her baby. 

Supplies (May contain affiliate links.):
Washcloth ( Cut into 6" square keeping two edges intact.)
1/2 yard Boning (Cut to 16" with fabric sleeve extending over the plastic insert 1/2" on each end.)
2/3 yard Outer Fabric (Cut into 24" x 36" rectangle.)
2/3 yard Lining Fabric (Cut into a 21 1/2" x 34", 3" x 24" and a 3" x 9".)
3/4" D-Rings
Steam-a-Seam 2 1/4" Web

Place the washcloth square in the lower left corner of the right side of the Lining Fabric, aligning the raw edges of the cloth with the raw edges of the fabric. Pin and sew using an 1/8" seam around the sides and bottom, leaving the top open to create a pocket.

Press all sides of the Outer Fabric rectangle 1/2" toward the wrong side of the fabric using a Clover Hot Ruler. 

Press the sides and bottom over an additional 1/2".

Press the top over an additional 1". Open the most recent fold on each side back up so all sides are now folded over 1/2".

Lay the Lining fabric wrong sides together on the Outer Fabric, aligning with the inside creases. If the Lining Fabric isn't fitting properly, trim slightly to accommodate.

On the right side of the Outer Fabric, place 1/4" fusible webbing tape along each raw edge.

On the sides and bottom, remove the paper and press the Outer Fabric back in place. Stitch around the two sides and bottom with a 3/8" seam.

Center the boning along the raw edge of the top of the Lining Fabric with it curving away from the fabric. Pin in place.

Stitch the last 1/2" on the right and left sides (the fabric encasing the boning) down to the Lining Fabric.

Press the 3 1/2" rectangles in half, matching up the longer sides.

Stitch the long open side and one shorter end using a 1/4" seam allowance. For the 24" rectangle, taper toward the folded side at one end.

Cut the seam to 1/4".

Flip right sides out using a Dritz Quick Turn.

Top stich around each side of both strips 1/8" from the edge.

Slide the D-Rings on the 9" rectangle and fold in half. Sew a line to secure the D-Rings in place.

Pin the 24" tapered side of the strap beside the left side of the boning, matching the raw edge of the strap to the top of the Lining Fabric, with the strap extending onto the Lining.

Align the D-Ring side with the right side of the boning with the D-rings extending onto the Lining Fabric and the other ends aligned with the raw edge.

Press the Outer Fabric back over and stitch in place using a 7/8" seam.

Flip the sides of the strap the opposite direction, away from the Lining Fabric and over the 1" fold. Stitch in place.

There you have it--all ready for a customized baby gift!

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