Baking Today {Stroller Organizer Tutorial}

...on the Moda Bake Shop!  {Not to be confused with baking in the kitchen, as that rarely happens around here.}  Today I'm sharing my Stroller Organizer.  I've been wanting to make one of these for a long time, always feeling dissatisfied with the boring black one I had bought.  This is sure to make a statement!

If you're visiting here for the first time from the Moda Bake Shop, welcome!  I hope you take a look around.  You'll find a variety of tutorials, embroidery, and even a pattern shop with patchwork bags.  We'd love for you to subscribe if you like what you see!

And, if you want to make one yourself, Chrissy at Sew Lux Fabric and Gifts has put together a lovely kit at a special price, you can find it in Coquette, Oh Deer!, and Bungle Jungle, all at a special price, no coupon needed, just head over!  {A little shameless promotion: my car seat quilt tutorial would make a great matching set with this stroller organizer!}

And, you may have noticed, many of my designs revolve around my kids, is there a particular baby or kid item you'd love to see in patchwork?

Garden Steps :: Block Twelve

Questions? Missed a post? Find the index here.

It seems that stitching is a little slow around here these days.  So, my mom and I decided that we'd just release the last block, even though we haven't finished stitching it yet.

We decided to do a quilt label block would be a fun addition to the front of this quilt.  I've labeled mine for finish in October {if I stitch it, then I've got to do it, right?}, but the PDF has a second page with all the months and two years printed on it, that way the date is up to you.

Download the PDF pattern here.

And here's a picture of my progress:

I think I'm going to add some flowers to my letters, kind of like on my Bedside Basket, and just make it up as I go.

In two weeks I'll put up a linky for completed quilt tops, and you'll have a month or so to add yours!  Hope everyone has enjoyed stitching along with us!

Don't forget to show and tell in our Flickr Group! Did you blog about the quilt along? Share your post here {please link to a specific post or Flickr photo}:

Bedside Trio {tutorial}

I'm very excited to tell you I'm guest blogging at Sew Lux today as part of their design challenge.  Head over to check out my tutorial for a bedside trio featuring my very own fat quarter bundle and perle sampler!   It was a fun, easy project to make, and will add lots of style to Norah's room.

French Seam Pillowcase {tutorial}

Remember this?

Well, several months later, I'm finally back with a simple tutorial!  You will need:

• 20" x 42" main fabric {I actually made both the pillowcases shown with only 1/2 yard, but, since the pillows were for my toddler, they are rather flat already, 20" would probably accommodate a new pillow nicely, depending on how tight you want the pillowcases to fit!}
• 2 - 12" x 20" accent fabric {again, I didn't want lots of extra fabric overhanging my pillow, so adjust accordingly!}

First, trim the selvage from the main fabric.  Then sew the accent fabric, right sides together, using a 1/2" seam allowance, to both 20" edges.  Fold the raw edge of the fabric under and top stitch in place, as shown {you could use a french seam here too, but I liked the double row of stitching this made on the outside}:

Next, sew the two long seams, wrong sides together with 1/4" seam allowance.  Turn the pillowcase wrong sides out, and sew the long seams again, with a 3/8" seam allowance, making sure to catch all the raw edges inside the seam:

Hem by folding down 1/2", then another 5" for hem {adjust as desired for pillow size}, stitch in place:

Finish with two rows of top stitching and you have one special pillow!

I think these are a great addition to any room and make a plain pair of sheets a lot more exciting.  And Silas loves to crawl in bed and sleep on his trucks pillow!  Now that he has some fun pillowcases and wall art, I really need to get busy on his quilt!

Garden Steps :: Block Eleven

Questions? Missed a post? Find the index here.

We're getting close to the end of our Stitch & Quilt Along, wow, this seems to have just flown by!  My mom has been doing most of the stitching lately {I hate to admit how behind I am!}, and she's designed and stitched this next block too!

Download the PDF pattern here!  If you cannot download the pattern, just e-mail us and we'll send it to you!

This block features satin stitch, chain stitch, back stitch, and french knots.

Don't forget to show and tell in our Flickr Group! Did you blog about your quilt along blocks? Share your post here {please link to a specific post or Flickr photo}:

Little Baby Bibs {Tutorial}

I hope I'm not being redundant by posting a second bib tutorial {you can see Kim's guest tutorial here}!  I wanted some smaller bibs for Norah, just to catch the drool...because this girl drools like crazy!  And, of course, I wanted them to be cute too, so I used some scraps, pieced them together, and came up with these bibs {you can download the pattern here!}.

I ended up buying some Shannon Cuddle/Minky locally and it is so soft {much better than the JoAnn minky I had before}, but it creates lint like no other!  Here's my easy method for making the bibs:

Helpful Tips:

• I found it creates less lint if I just use one rectangle and brush the lint off the edge.
• Trim the curves and turn it over the garbage can!
• Top stitching 1/8" from each seam creates great lines of texture on the back too.
• Make sure your Velcro is closed before washing to avoid them catching on anything

And here is my adorable model!  My mom especially liked that her hand is on her hip!

And even though this picture is from April!!  I thought it was too cute not to share!

If you make any bibs with this pattern, be sure to add them to our Flickr group too.

Garden Steps :: Block Nine

Questions? Missed a post? Find the index here.

This block was designed by Jennie and stitched by me (Clara). We are now officially caught up on the embroideries.  I love the banners and we thought another one would be perfect for our quilt.

I have used mainly the back stitch with a few french knots. It's a  simple block but I think it's a nice addition for a June day.  Enjoy!

You can download the pdf pattern here!

Don't forget to show and tell in our Flickr Group! Did you blog about the quilt along, your fabric selection, or threads? Share your post here {please link to a specific post or Flickr photo}:

Sewing with Selvages {Tutorial}

It is my month for my quilting bee in July! I am asking for the string version of my scrappy star, made with a few selvages. So, as a precursor, I'm going to do a bit of a tutorial on using selvages in the block, even if you're not in my quilting bee, I hope you find this useful!

First, for this specific block, there are chevrons in the center with the star points, so, on two of the 5" x 4" paper rectangles, draw a 45 degree angle going one direction, then draw it the other direction on the other two.

I find that strips ranging from 3/4" to 1 1/2" and anywhere in between are the best sizes for these blocks.  Adjust your stitch length to something shorter, this will make tearing the paper away much easier {I set mine at 1.5 instead of its regular 2.5}.  Start with two strips, right sides together, then place them parallel to one of the drawn angles and stitch them down.  Then press them open.  Place another strip, right sides together with the edges matching and continue sewing in the same manner.

To add a selvage, place the fabric right sides up over one of the strips, with about 1/4" extending beyond the selvage edge.  Then stitch the selvage down on both sides, as shown in the picture above.  This will give the seam plenty of strength and keep the selvage in position {since selvage edges don't have the same stretch as the body of the fabric.  Please note: do not cut the fabric above the selvage away, this will leave a raw edge on the top of the quilt block!

Then continue piecing the block by sewing strips right sides together and then pressing open.  Your fabrics should extend a little bit beyond the papers.  Then, from the back side trim to required measurement.  Please note:  this may not be the exact size of the paper, so please measure the block when you trim!

For this particular block, you will then cut the 4" x 5" rectangle into two 2" x 5" rectangles.  When you place this rectangle with one going the opposite direction, you will have the chevrons.  Piece the corner 5" x 5" squares in the same manner, but it won't matter what direction the angle is going, as long as it is diagonal across the square!

And there you have it, a little bit of sewing with selvage edges, I'm really excited to see some string blocks come together!

Garden Steps :: Block Eight

Questions? Missed a post? Find the index here.

It's Clara this week, stepping in to help us get caught up!  This block is inspired by the birdhouse in my garden {that I showed here}.

I thought it would be fun to share some of the blocks done in the second colorway that we're using for this stitch and quilt along.

You can download the block here!

I did my block with mostly outlining in back stitch, but I thought it was a great way to show a lot of detail!

Don't forget to show and tell in our Flickr Group! Did you blog about the quilt along, your fabric selection, or threads? Share your post here {please link to a specific post or Flickr photo}:

Garden Steps :: Block Seven

Questions? Missed a post? Find the index here.

We have another block my mom designed this week!  It's so great to be able to work together on this project.

I hate to admit that I didn't pay close enough attention and turned my flowers on their side {remember, layout to the quilt blocks is important!

I think they still look pretty, but I just wish I had turned them!

Download embroidery block seven pdf here.

I used satin stitch for the center of the flowers and the leaves, split stitch for the flower outlines, and back stitch for the leaf outlines.

I also used blanket stitch around the flower centers, I really like how it turned out, but there isn't a tutorial for it yet...would you like one, or are you all familiar with blanket stitch?

Don't forget to show and tell in our Flickr Group! Did you blog about the quilt along, your fabric selection, or threads? Share your post here {please link to a specific post or Flickr photo}:

Summertime Adventures :: Stitchy Hexagons

This is my first tutorial and I must say it was fun to make. I think I will be doing more of these! I hope you enjoy this little project and will make some hexagons and sew them on to different projects. Just pack a little bag of prepared hexagons with a needle, thread and your pre- traced embroidery hexagon and it will be fun to work on where ever you are on the go to. 

Garden Steps :: Block Six

Questions? Missed a post? Find the index here.

Wow, we're half-way done!  I hope you're all enjoying the blocks.  Now, just a few housekeeping notes before we get to the next block {please read this carefully, it will help us all out!}:

I've received several e-mails that people cannot download the PDFs, yet, it seems that some of you are having no problem.  Any thoughts/suggestions/ideas on this?

Also, we are officially two weeks behind schedule, but the schedule has been updated to reflect this, and I am aiming for another embroidery next week, to help us catch up!

Finally, several people have also asked if it is too late to join, and the answer to that is, of course not!  We're always welcoming new stitchers.  Hopefully we can all make some friends and stitch and quilt along together!

If you have e-mailed me regarding the stitch and quilt along {or anything else really...}, I will get back to you...I just find between sewing and my babies, I sometimes forget to answer e-mails!

Now you can download block six here!

My mom designed this one, isn't it cute?  I'm still stitching frantically, but wanted to get it out before it gets dark.  I will update with my finished block tomorrow!  Happy stitching!

Don't forget to show and tell in our Flickr Group! Did you blog about the quilt along, your fabric selection, or threads? Share your post here {please link to a specific post or Flickr photo}:

Summertime Adventures :: Button Hoop

Wow, we've already reached the final week of the series!  The last two projects are perfect for taking on the road {with your travel sewing kits?!}.  First up, Chrissy of Sew Lux Fabric & Gifts {blog & shop} has created this cute button hoop:

So, hop over for the tutorial, and there are kits available too!  Oh, and Vintage Modern is in stock too...and Good Fortune is on sale, if you're in need of a backing for your Garden Steps quilt!  Happy stitching!

Summertime Adventures :: Projects For Kids

Eidt to add: Winner has been chosen, entry #6!

Last week we looked at On the Go projects, and let me tell you, there were a few great ideas!  This week, we'd love to see your projects for or to make with kids!  Our featured tutorials were:

Link up any on the go you have made {no time limit} to inspire the rest of us with your creativity {projects do not need to be made from the tutorials from this blog...but they can be!}! If you used a pattern or tutorial, please be sure to include a link to it too {one link per person, please!}. This linky will be open for a week, then we'll draw a winner for a custom cut charm pack of Magic Garden by Sabine Reinhart for Blend Fabrics. I cannot wait to see your ideas!