Baby Bento Box-ish Quilt Tutorial - Part 1

I've posted about this quilt before, but I'll do it again without apology because it is one of my FAVES!!  When I first received this bundle of fabrics, I was a little stumped about what kind of pattern to use.  It came to me while I was in the shower.  {I seriously need to find some waterproof paper and pens!  I have some of my most creative ideas and make crazy good plans while I'm in the shower.  I wonder if it's the stimulation of the spray (there have been studies ::nerd::), or if my mind just works things out while I'm asleep (again, studies  ::nerd::).  Then again ... I do have four kids.  Maybe the shower is just the only place where I can have a moment alone to think.}

Back to the plan.  Modern fabric = Modern quilt design.  Am I right?  I did a little research on Bento Box quilts, sketched a little sketch, pulled a few bright fabrics from my stash and created one of my most favorite quilts.  Oh, and did I mention that this one is one of my faves??  Yes??  Oh, sorry ...

I took lots of pics during the process, and this is my attempt to show you what I did and how you can do it, too!!  IF you're so inclined :)

MATERIALS:

For a baby quilt or smallish lap quilt that measures 36" x 48" you will need the following:

• 12 different fat quarters - there will be some leftovers  
• ~ 2/3 yards solid - I used Kona Bleach White
• 1 1/2 yards backing fabric
• 1/3 yard binding fabric
• 1 1/4 yards batting 

CUTTING:

Pair up your fabrics in a way that is pleasing to you.  I kept my fabrics together in their pairs (Fabric #1 inside square + Fabric #2 outside square, AND Fabric #2 inside square + Fabric #1 outside square) - not very imaginative, but it got the job done!  I'm currently working on a scrappy version that uses one fabric for the inside square and four different fabrics on the outside square.  I hope you feel the freedom to mix it up - or not.

From each of your 12 fat quarters, cut:

• 1 - 6.5" x 6.5" square
• 2 - 2.5" x 9.5" strips
• 2 - 2.5" x 13.5" strips

From the solid fabric, cut 10 - 2" x width of fabric strips.  Cutting across the width of the fabric should give you a full 40" of usable fabric, minus the selvage. 

• Using 4 of the 2" x 40" strips, cut 24 - 2" x 6.5" strips (each 40" strip will yield 6 - 6.5" strips).
• Using 6 of the 2" x 40" strips, cut 24 - 2" x 9.5" strips (each 40" strip will yield 4 - 9.5" strips).

ASSEMBLING THE BLOCKS:

Each block will have:

• 1 - 6.5" x 6.5" print square (for middle)
• 2 - 2" x 6.5" solid strips (for top & bottom)
• 2 - 2" x 9.5" solid strips (for left & right)
• 2 - 2.5" x 9.5" print strips (for top & bottom)
• 2 - 2.5" x 13.5" print strips (for left & right)

The general layout will look like this:

 

Begin by sewing 1 - 2" x 6.5" solid strip to the top of the middle square and 1 - 2" x 6.5" strip to the bottom of the middle square.  Press your seams open.  Trust me, it matters!

 

Now sew 1 - 2" x 9.5" solid strip to the left side and 1 2" x 9.5"solid strip to the right side.  Press the seams open.  Trust me, it matters!  When I pin these side strips, I like to pin the 'top' of the seam to make sure that as I sew the seam, the 'top' stays flat and open.

 

See that?  The 'top' of that open seam will go thru the machine first and has a tendency to flip over or scrunch up. Pinning at those particular spots really helps keep the seam open.

Next, sew 1 - 2.5" x 9.5" print strip to the top of the block and 1 - 2.5" x 9.5" print strip to the bottom. 

 

Then sew the sides, and you're done!  My finished block-pairs:

 

Ooooh!!  Just look at those perfectly-ish pressed open seams.  Trust me, it matters!!

 

I'll be back shortly with Part 2:  Assembling the quilt top.

I hope you enjoy making a Modified Baby Bento Quilt!  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!!  And I would love to see anything you might make using this tutorial, so please, do share :)

*** Updated to let you know that Part 2 is available now!  Enjoy! ***

Weekend Plans

I'll be working on this little stack of lovelies this weekend.  They have all been pin-basted and are ready to be quilted.  The two on top are gifts - one to a friend for her 40th B-Day next week and the second to Quilts For Kids, so they are my top priorities.  Then I'll be able to start on the first quilts to put into my Etsy shop.  WooHoo!!  I am hoping to sell many, many baby quilts to help bring our Ethiopian babies home soon!!

 

Frugal Friday: Make Your Own Laundry Soap

 About a year or so ago, I came across a recipe for making homemade laundry soap.  Wha??  Not completely convinced that it was something that I wanted to try, I filed it away in my little noggin and thought about it every time I bought detergent at the grocery store.  I wonder if that stuff really works??  But I like the smell of commercial detergent.  But if it works, it could really save $$.  Hmmm ... 

So I gave it a try.  I made a double batch before Christmas, and it lasted about 11 or 12 weeks.  Not bad.  I do feel like our clothes are clean, but I bought a box of dryer sheets to use until (if ever) I get over the lack of scent. 

I made another double batch this week, with a few changes.  I used Zote laundry soap (1/2 bar) instead of Fels Naptha because that's what was available when I shopped.   Oh, and it's pink.  PINK!!  Instead of grating the soap, I just chopped it into bits.  Because I'd like to keep my fingernails.  And the skin on my knuckles.  It melted just fine, thankyouverymuch.

Also, instead of letting the soap sit overnight in the 5-gallon bucket to gel, I poured it straight into my containers.  Last time I let it set-up in the bucket, and it was a major undertaking to get it into the containers.  Picture soapy ladle, soapy blender, soapy floor, etc.

As for the cost:

     $1.29 - 5.5 oz Fels Naptha (use 1/3 bar) = $0.43

     $3.49 - 76 oz Borax (use 1/2 cup) = $0.17

     $2.99 - 55 oz Washing Soda (use 1/2 cup) = $0.25

     Total = $0.85 or $1.70 for a double batch

Did you catch that??!!  I used to pay $1.80 at the store for this.  On sale.  With coupons!

But for about the same cost, I made all of this ...

If you'd like to try this for yourself, the recipe I used  is from Crystal at TheFamilyHomestead.com.  

Enjoy!!

Quilts For Kids

If you're a quilter, you should seriously consider donating your time and talents to Give A Kid A Quilt. They are taking donations of NEW quilts to be distributed to at-risk babies and young children in and around Washington County in Oregon.  

Dana from MyFabricSnob recently offered several fabric bundles to anyone wanting to participate, and I snagged one! She sent me this lovely little stack of fabric:

And I pulled a few others from my stash:

And this is now waiting in my closet (impatiently) to be quilted:

I'll have a tutorial for making this adorable baby quilt soon!

Home

"If a home doesn't make sense, nothing does."

- Henrietta Ripperger

Family

"How can there be too many children?  
That is like saying there are too many flowers."
- Mother Theresa

Snowy Diversions (Part I)

Remember this little stack of loveliness??

Well ... I took a little slice here and a little sliver there and created this:

But I couldn't stop with just one!  

Nope.  

This little booger took f.o.r.e.v.e.r to cut out, 

so I figured I should do another :)

 

I think I'll call them 'Summer Sherbet.'  I designed the pattern myself - a modified brick path.  I've ordered some yummalicious Kona cotton for the backs of these little babies.  One will be backed with pink and one with green, but otherwise they will be twins.  I hope to have them in the shop soon!

Friday Funny

I was looking thru some old pics today trying to find one in particular.  

The kids were having all kinds of fun looking at themselves.  

We found this one from a few years back ...

Bwahahahahahaha!!!!!