#TBT - Sew Baby Book Review & 100 Quilts for Kids

Visit THIS PAST POST to read my review of the Sew Baby book and see the darling quilt I made from one of the patterns. :)

And if you haven't yet, maybe you'll consider donating a quilt to our 3rd Quarter Project collection in honor of the 100 Quilts for Kids challenge! :)

Baby Quilt for 3rd Quarter Project

This sweet ducky quilt is my latest finish for our 3rd Quarter Project. 

I bought this kit last year anticipating to sew it up for one of our projects and never got around to it. It was a really quick and easy sew and will be perfect for donation to our Crisis Pregnancy Center for our current project. 

The instructions had it to where you would piece the front and then just sew it to the backing. Didn't really say "quilt" to me that way, so I added a little batting and quilted a little wave pattern on the backing fabric first. 

The kit was made up of a variety of soft fabrics.....cotton, flannel, satin and the center is a fluffy, plush fabric. I hope the baby and family that receives it will enjoy using it. :)

This is the first of several baby quilts I hope to finish this quarter for donation. Additionally, I will be participating in the Quilts for Kids 2014 quilt drive for children in need with each one created for donation. You can learn more about how you too can participate in this wonderful project by clicking the image below...

Keep sewing and spreading the word, we have the opportunity to encourage many this month with our efforts! Learn more about our current project and how you can be a part here.

Hopeful Threads 2014 - 3rd Quarter Project

Book Review - Sew Baby / Argyle Quilt

 While at Quilt Market, I came across the Fox Chapel Publishing booth. They had a couple of books I thought would be great for FLUFF Project sewing that I grabbed for my sewing library. I was also given this copy of Sew Baby to use for our Monthly Project sewing and share with you about. 

I decided to make the Argyle Quilt from the book for donation to our November 2013 Project. 

While I am a very experienced seamstress, I am a complete beginner when it comes to quilting. As in, I've made ONE quilt. :) The instructions and step-by-step photographs the book provided really did make this an easy project, and I had it complete from start to finish in only a few hours. Very pleased!

I chose a Riley Blake pre-cut stacker I had tucked away in my stash for a very long time, which made the whole project that much faster. This is exactly why I most often buy fabric without a specific project in mind and why I love keeping a certain amount on hand.....when the right fabric and pattern meet, it can make for such a fun project! 

 I also had this perfectly coordinating Riley Blake ribbon that made for a very adorable finish! I hope this sweet quilt fits perfectly the little one that receives it. I decided not to add an applique as the pattern included, but there are instructions included for that step in the book as well. 

 I backed it with a cozy flannel that had been donated as "bits of Binkeez" from Binkeez for Comfort and finished with a coordinating package of bias tape. 

This book is packed with all kinds of other wonderful baby sewing projects too! There are soft toys, bibs, burp cloths, hats and of course, the darling little slippers you see on the cover. The slippers alone include 3 different variations, 1 of which is a penguin which might just have to end up in my Lil' Man's stocking next month! ;) TOO CUTE!!! 

As a reminder....I know it's a holiday week and all, but it's also the FINAL WEEK of our November Project! Would love to have you join in and help us love on the babies of the NICU. I am getting so excited about making the special delivery of all of our beautiful handmade blankets & quilts! 

Ruffle Trimmed Faux Patchwork Baby Blanket Tutorial

I made this sweet little blanket for our November Project and it was such a simple sew that turned out so pretty, I wanted to share with you in case you'd like to give it a try. This is a smaller blanket to accommodate the smaller sizes requested by our NICU. You can use the same method for any size you would like to make though. 

I've used the Hello Tokyo patchwork print I purchased from Contemporary Cloth Inc. 

Simply measure 1 yard of fabric and cut in half the full length. 

Now, with my patchwork print pinned to a layer of batting, I began stitching across the patchwork squares to create a quilting effect. You can also stitch length wise to give it a real patchwork feel. I was going to wait and do this step at the end to incorporate the backing fabric into the quilting, but it wanted to bunch up since the borders were already complete, so I left it off.

To make your ruffle trim, I measured 4" x WOF (width of fabric) strips. For the size of blanket I was making, I needed 4 strips. Sew the short ends together to create one long strip. Iron seams open. Then, fold & iron the strip in half with wrong sides together. Now you are ready to ruffle your strip using your ruffling foot or favorite ruffling method, find my favorite HERE.  

Pin your ruffle evenly around the outer edge of your blanket matching up raw edges. Carefully round the ruffle at the corners if you would like your finished blanket to have rounded corners. Stitch or baste ruffle in place.

With right sides of patchwork fabric and backing fabric together, pin your backing in place. Stitch all the way around your blanket, leaving a 6-8" opening at the bottom edge for turning. Trim your seams, especially at the corners and turn your blanket right side out. I have used a soft, coordinating flannel print for the back of mine. 

Neatly push out the edge to make sure all is even. Pin the opening closed. Top-stitch around the entire edge of your blanket being sure to stitch closed the opening left for turning. 

There you have it! A precious little "Ruffle Trimmed Faux Patchwork Baby Blanket" perfect for gift giving or donation!  

 My finished blanket is approximately 24" x 38.5"

If you give it a try, I'd love to see! 

Baby Quilt Tutorial from Sew BitterSweet Designs!

Today, my friend Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs has a tutorial to help you make a quick & simple baby quilt using a panel.

Drop by her blog HERE for all the details!

We'd love to have you use this or any of your favorite sewing/quilting tutorials to join us in our giving efforts this month. Find out all about our November Project HERE!

Mid-Month Reminder!

Not sure if it's the time of year making things move even faster or what, but we are ALREADY at the mid-way point for our November Project!!!!

Several beautiful donations added to our Project Album and more on their way! :)

Would love to have you join our efforts! Find out more HERE.

Let's Talk Textiles - Understanding Batting

  Kim from Fabric Outlet is back today for our "Let's Talk Textiles" series with some great information about batting options. 

    In my shop we sell a variety of batting choices and our customers very often do not know the difference until they see and touch it.  You also might not know which one would be best for your project so here are a few suggestions!

   If you are making a large quilt for your king size bed you should use a needle punched batting. This type of batting is very easy to work with  because the fibers that hold it together also help it from being slippery.  They come in some choices, there is the all cotton or mostly cotton type, the best known brand is Warm and Natural. The only drawback to this type is that it is so dense it is hard to stitch through.  There are blends, such as Hobbs 80/20, an 80% cotton and 20% polyester mix.  These usually look and feel very much like an all cotton batting but are lighter and therefore easier to stitch through.  And then there are all polyester types in different lofts, or thicknesses (or puffiness, if you will).  If your doing a baby blanket or a puffy pattern type quilt you might opt for this type.  Warning, it is slippery to work with but a little more forgiving then needle punched types if your quilt gets a little skewed.  

  Now, for the quilting "purists" there are some other options, such as bamboo or silk but that is very pricy!  

R to L - Warm & Natural Cotton Needle Punched, Medium Loft Polyester, 80/20 Blend

  Unless a baby has a known allergy or Mom is a naturalist, the polyester medium or high loft is a good choice for a baby comforter.  For a blanket type quilt you should stick to a needle punched type and personally I would suggest an 80/20 mix.  Its easiest to work with and will create maximum warmth for the baby.

In support of our November Project, Kim is offering a special on Pre-Cut Crib Size (36x45) batting in the Hobbs 80/20 for $6.75 or Medium Loft Poly for $4.75 plus shipping. She also has lots of great baby quilt panels and quality quilting cottons. Simply message her with your order or any questions.

Find Fabric Outlet and all of Kim's great selection and prices HERE! 

Thanks Kim!
You can search "Let's Talk Textiles" in the sidebar for other textile learning opportunities from Kim! 

Quilt Panel GIVEAWAY for November Project!

Melissa & I have teamed up to offer those of you interested in sewing along this month a special giveaway! We each have a quilt panel that would be perfect to make a quick baby quilt with this month, and we'd like to send them to 2 of you! :) 

Fabric Outlet provided me with several panels to use for our project this month, and this is one of them. Isn't it darling!?!?!
Thank you Fabric Outlet!

If you'd be interested in sewing up one of these sweet panels for a donation to our November Project, then follow the Rafflecopter prompts below to enter. US shipping only please due to the time limits of our project. Thanks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners will be announced this FRIDAY, November 15, 2013. Please respond within 48 hours so we can get the panels on their way to you, with time enough left to sew them! :)

Get all the details about our November Project HERE! 

Oh!! And stay tuned! Melissa will be sharing a quilting tutorial later this week using a panel! 

Purple Panda Quilts - Simple & Modern Baby Quilt Tutorial

The creative and generous Lyanna of Purple Panda Quilts has created a special, modern baby quilt in support of our November Project and is sharing the tutorial on her blog!

Go check it out here!!!

Thank you so much Lyanna! It's beautiful!

Supernova Quilt Pattern GIVEAWAY! with 3 WINNERS!!!

 So excited to share this special treat with you!!!

My friend Sarah from Fabric Seeds has just recently released her very first quilt pattern called Supernova. It is absolutely gorgeous and can be made in 5 different sizes!!!

This is one of those quilts that you just want to stare at. The design offers so much movement and a different perspective just by the angle from which you look at it. 

In support of our November Project, Sarah is offering 3 of you the chance to win this beautiful pattern! Simply follow the Rafflecopter prompts below to enter. Giveaway generously open to all eligible! This is a paper pattern and will be mailed directly to the winners once address is verified. Winners announced/emailed 11/11/13 and expected to respond within 48 hours to claim the prize or alternates may be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't want to wait to see if you win? You can purchase the Supernova pattern for 20% OFF now through 11/16/13 using discount code "supernova". Find the pattern in the Fabric Seeds shop HERE!

Thank you Sarah! We look forward to seeing more of your beautiful designs in the future and appreciate your support of Hopeful Threads sewing to give!

Good luck to all!