This free tiered baby dress sewing pattern has subtle gathered ruffled tiers and a classic pillowcase-dress-inspired neckline with ribbon ties that’s perfect for late spring and summer. And it’s super easy to sew.

This sewing pattern was totally inspired by a piece of fabric; specifically, the Texas Modern Strips Coral fabric at Spoonflower by Jacinda from Prudent Baby. When the fabric arrived in the mail I swooned, dreaming up in my head a free sewing pattern with elegant, subtly gathered tiers that would showcase Jacinda’s hand painted watercolor coral stripes in a classic yet modern way.

And well, I have a little secret to tell you. This pattern didn’t start as a baby dress pattern. Oh no. It started out as a tiered toddler tunic shirt pattern for my 2-1/2 year old daughter, Elise. I made it at night while she slept, not trying it on until the morning. And I realized too late that I had designed a super cute free pattern ….that was was waaay too small under her arms. And I was crushed.

But then came the lemonade! I realized that the free pattern I made was not only a super cute tiered ruffled BABY DRESS pattern but also THE PERFECT SIZE for Dagny, my downstairs neighbor Jamie’s adorable 6-month-old baby girl. Yippee!

The final free baby dress pattern size measures 10″ from underarm to underarm, 12″ across the bottom of the front panel, 16″ across the bottom of the middle tier, 20 inches around the bottom of the lowest tier, and 13.5″ from top to bottom. You could increase it as needed to fit larger sizes, details below.

Such amazing fabric. Such a cute combination of ruffled tiers with a classic pillowcase dress top. Lemonade it is.

WANNA MAKE IT? Free sewing pattern, step-by-step tutorial and supply list for making a tiered ruffle baby dress –>

Supplies for making my free tiered ruffle baby dress free sewing pattern:

• Kathy’s free tiered ruffle baby dress pattern – size 6 months (PDF)
• 3/4 yard fabric
• Single fold bias tape
• Grosgrain ribbon – 3/8″ wide
• Thread
• Disappearing ink pen
• Good fabric scissors
• Glass head pins
• Rotary fabric cutter, ruler and self-healing mat
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine

Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign.

How to make a tiered ruffle baby dress free sewing pattern:

Cut your baby dress pattern pieces:
2 pieces from my free tiered ruffle baby dress pattern – size 6 months (PDF) (one for front, one for back)

Now a quick note about the next two pieces, the middle and bottom tier pieces. For Jacinda’s coral watercolor striped fabric I wanted subtle gathers (not quite so poofy of ruffles). So here are the tiers I cut:

Middle tier: 17 x 5 (cut 2)
Bottom tier: 21 x 6 (cut 2)

BUT if you’d like to have fuller tiered ruffles for your baby dress pattern, use these measurements instead:

Middle tier: 20 x 5 (cut 2)
Bottom tier: 30 x 6 (cut 2)

And here’s a quick and dirty way to size up the pattern: Increase the front pattern piece on a copier until the width of the bottom edge is 1-1/2″ – 2″ wider than your model’s underarm to underarm width. Now measure the bottom width of this larger front piece pattern. Multiply the front piece bottom width by 1.5″ to get the middle tier width (for the fuller ruffles version). Then multiply the middle tier width by 1.5 to get the bottom tier width. Height-wise, the bottom tier should be 1″ taller than your middle tier to account for the hem, so measure your model and increase the middle and bottom tier heights as needed.

OK, so now that everything is cut, you’re going to take one of your second tier pieces and gather it until it fits the bottom width of the front piece, then sew the gathered middle tier to the bottom of the front piece. Let’s break it down…

First set your machine to a really wide straight stitch width (or basting stitch). I set mine to 4 which is the highest that my machine will go.

Now this is very important: You’re not going to backstitch when you start sewing this basting-slash-gathering stitch. Sew a straight gathering stitch about 1/4″ from the top edge of the middle tier.

Remember not to backstitch — instead leave a little tail on the end.

Sew a second gathering stitch just shy of 1/2″ parallel to your first row of stitching.

Starting on the left side, gently pull the two front threads, leaving the threads on the back alone (the wrong side) and gathering up the material as you pull. When your gathers reach the middle, shift to the two front threads on the right side and repeat.

Gathered the middle tier to the exact width of the front piece. You can see from the photo below that I put the gathered middle tier on top of the front piece to make sure it was the exact same width. Now starting on the left side, tie the two front gathering strands together into a knot.

Trim the threads.

Now repeat on the right side for the front and back threads. So why did I tie these off before making sure that my gathers were even? Well, if you first can constrain it to the proper overall width, then you can more easily wiggle your gathers around using your fingers to spread them as evenly as possible. This tie-off method also helps you flatten out the areas that will be inside the side seams so the fabric will lie flat there rather than catching part of your ruffle in the seam (keeping the frilly on the front instead of wasting it in the seams).

So back to the project at hand: even out your gathers and pin the gathered middle tier to the bottom of your front piece, wrong sides together.

Change your stitch length back to its normal, non-basting length. Sew 1/2″ seam, just to the left of your gathering stitch.

Now I’m going to topstitch this ruffle later — BUT if you aren’t going to topstitch then it’s a good idea to stitch again on top of your 1/4″ gathering stitch because it will help take some stress off of the seam, making it less likely that the gathered seam will break over time.

Flip open the middle tier. Now you have a nice ruffled top edge and a straight bottom edge. Time to attach the bottom tier.

Repeat the gathering step on the top edge of your bottom tier.

Gather until it’s the exact width of the bottom of your middle tier.

Tie off threads, even out your gathers, and pin the gathered edge of the bottom tier to the straight edge of middle tier, wrong sides together.

Sew and open.

If you’re lucky enough to have a serger and know how to thread it, it’s nice to overlock the edges. I zigzagged mine in lieu of overlocking.

Press the gathered edges.

And topstitch close to the fabric edge on the straight side of the tiers.

Here it is close up.

Repeat all of the above for the back of the dress. Now pin the back and the front of the dress, wrong sides together.

Sew 1/2″ seams along the sides — but make sure to stop at the bottom of the armholes! You’ll work on armholes in a minute.

Overlock or zigzag the seams and press.

OK now for the armholes. I followed the instructions for Prudent Baby’s apron dress pattern and will paraphrase here. Take a piece of single fold bias tape. I used white.

Open it up and pin it right sides together along the armhole edge.

Here’s what it looks like pinned on both sides.

Sew the single fold bias tape down by sewing along the folded edge that’s closest to the raw edge. Oof, nighttime lighting is rough…

Now flip the single fold bias tape to the inside of the dress.

And sew it down. Armholes are done!

Now for the top edge that’s going to hold your ribbon ties. Fold the top edge down 1/4″ and press.

Fold down again 3/4″ and press.

Pin from the front side.

And sew it down – this is a time where I like to use painter’s tape to make sure that I’m sewing a straight line (and catching all the fabric below that I need to catch).

Cut two 28″ pieces of 3/8″ grosgrain ribbon. Put a safety pin through the edge of one side.

Slide the safety pin through the casing and pull it through. Repeat on the other side.

Get out a lighter to very lightly singe the edges of the ribbon. You could probably do this before you thread the ribbon through, but I forgot so I did it after. Now when you do this, work very quickly. You want to just pass the edge of the grosgrain ribbon through the fire so that it seals off the ribbon from fraying. You don’t want to brown the ribbon. Best practice on a scrap piece first.

Now this step is optional: I decided to sew down the ribbon inside the casing so that it will always look properly gathered in the front. Personally, I don’t really like how apron dresses tend to lose a their gathering look in the casing (with the ribbons shifting and such) so I like to sew it down. So try on the dress, decide how gathered you want the neck to be, and then tack down the ribbon inside the casing on the left and right sides (for both the front and back of the dress).

Finally for the hem. Turn the bottom edge up 1/2″ and iron.

Turn it up 1/2″ again and iron.

Sew the hem down using the same color thread that you used to topstitch the tiers. Put it on your little one, add sunshine and lemonade.

Did you make it? Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use free pattern and how to step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

These free DIY printable garden seed markers are made from recycled plastic salad containers.  The packrat in me always kinda feel bad about throwing these plastic salad containers away so thought I’d try to make something useful from them. And I thought that the salad container plastic could make a great waterproof outer case for garden seed markers.

This year we decided to 86 buying flowers for our deck and instead just grow vegetables and other edibles. So far Elise and I have planted tomato seeds, lettuce and basil. These seed markers not only help you keep track of which seeds are what but they also show plant maintenance and care including watering instructions, thinning distances, and harvesting guidelines.

The geometric design was inspired by the latest patterns at Anthropologie that I first saw on design*sponge and uses the super cool font Blanch from the Lost Type Co-op.

And bonus! This project gave me an excuse to use one of my favorite hardware store materials: colored electrical tape…

Hopefully we’ll have a good growing season in Chicago. And with our budding lettuce crop, Elise and I will hopefully be buying way fewer plastic salad containers this summer.

WANNA MAKE IT? Free printable template, step-by-step tutorial instructions and supply list for DIY garden seed markers from recycled plastic salad containers –>

Supplies for making DIY garden seed markers from recycled plastic salad containers:

• Kathy’s free DIY garden seed markers template (PDF) — contains tomato, basil and lettuce — any burning requests for other seeds just let me know.
• Empty plastic salad container, spinach container or other disposable plastic container
• Goo Gone
• 1/2″ colored electrical tape (electrical tape comes in several widths; I used 1/2″ wide)
• Ultra fine Sharpie pen
• Xacto knife, metal ruler and small self-healing mat
• Good scissors
• White cardstock paper
• Computer and printer

Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign.

How to make a DIY garden seed markers from recycled plastic salad containers:

Wash and dry an empty salad or spinach container. You can also use carry out clear plastic containers from restaurants such as the ones from Homemade Pizza Company. Peel off the labels as much as you can. Then give it a soak to remove the rest of the paper bits, dry it off and then use a little bit of Goo Gone to get the rest of the sticky part off. Dry the clean plastic salad container and set aside.

Download my free DIY garden seed markers printable (PDF) and print onto white cardstock paper.

Cut out the seed marker fronts and backs using scissors or an Xacto knife, metal ruler and small self-healing mat.

Here are all of the cut out garden seed markers, fronts and backs.

Lay out the garden seed markers on your salad container and trace with a Sharpie pen. I was able to get five pieces from the salad container top and cut the sixth from the bottom.

Cut out the garden seed marker front and back from the plastic salad container lid.

I was lazy and left a little bit of the Sharpie on the sides. But I didn’t really notice it later once it was covered in electrical tape so I think it’s OK to be a bit sloppy with it.

Put the blank sides of the garden seed marker front and backs together.

Sandwich them between clear plastic sheets on the front and back.

Now for the electrical tape! Start with the lower edge, placing the tape half-way lengthwise on the front. Cut the tape.

Wrap the other half of the tape around to the back. Repeat on the other side. Then tape the bottom up so it’s nice and water tight.

Move your way up, taping the left and right sides again so the tape wraps around the garden seed marker lengthwise.

Repeat on the other side of the garden seed marker.

Now tape up the top of the seed marker to seal it all up from the elements.

Repeat the plastic salad container sandwiching and electrical taping for your other garden seed markers. Then off to the garden!

Did you make it? Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use free printable template and how to step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Thanks to everyone who entered to win a copy of This Is Your Book: a fun, modern spin on the traditional baby book. Many of you liked the idea of gifting (or having!) this fill-in baby journal with a pop culture twist: not only do you record standard newborn info like height, weight, birth hospital and hair color but also current events, fun statistics, and other pop culture, everything from Academy Award winners to countries at war to the cost of a Starbucks coffee to musicians your parents liked.

To enter this giveaway, I asked you to tell me who this book would be for in your life:

• Rebecca Cynamon-Murphy said “My brother and sister-in-law’s baby-to-be. They are stylish and super-busy. This seems perfect.”
• Liesel said “Me! We are expecting our first, a little guy, in just a few weeks. I haven’t bought a book because they are all hideous and generic. I love this!”
• Lia Lara-Tellez “My little sister was in a coma last year. This year she’ll be giving birth! Daddy is a graphic designer & both of them are awesome so this VERY awesome book would have to be theirs!”

Oh, I wish I had free copies of This Is Your Book for every one of you gifters and new moms! Keep reading to see the lucky winner randomly selected by Rafflecopter…

Giveaway Winner: Kristina Rutledge Phillips who is expecting a daughter due May 30!

Congratulations, Kristina! My son’s due date is May 16 so we’ll be in baby fog together ;)

Three readers have each won a personalized stationery set printed on luxe paper and a complementary gift box and personalized 40-page journal for notes and sketches worth $51 plus free ground shipping, from the talented indie designers at minted.

And everyone can use the minted promotion code MOTHERS for 10% off minted personalized stationery sets or journals. Plan to place your order by May 7th for items to arrive by Mother’s Day for your mom. Or maybe, uh, for yourself. Don’t worry. I won’t tell.

To enter this giveaway, I asked you to tell me your Mother’s Day plans. Here are a few of my favorite answers:

• Kristen Pierce Clemens said “My mom and grandma are the best. I will be making them brunch and bringing them flowers to celebrate all that they have done for me.”
• Meagan said “Going to see the play Hairspray”
• Danielle John said “Eating a special breakfast with the kids that someone else cooks.” Ha!

Keep reading to see the three winners who were randomly selected by Rafflecopter…

Winner #1. Monica Lavoie
“Hopefully going to sleep in late!”

Yep, Monica, that’s my wish too. Here’s hoping.

Winner #2. Melissa Pruitt
“Taking mom to dinner.”

Sounds nice. My mom lives in another city so we will have to Skype this year.

Winner #3. Kate Benson
“Breakfast at Grandma and Grandad’s. Lunch with my little family – this is my first Mothers Day!”

Hey, Kate, happy first Mother’s Day to you!

Congratulations to all three winners! I’d love to hear which lovely minted personalized stationery sets and journals you choose.

My dad’s 80th birthday was approaching and we wanted a milestone birthday idea that was memorable and fun. And what’s better than a mailbox stuffed with personalized postcards sending well wishes from your family and friends?

I designed these 80th birthday postcards in four colors with super cute matching custom stamps from Zazzle. The postcards and stamps printed up perfectly.

Then we gathered addresses for friends and family and mailed them each one a blank pre-addressed, pre-stamped postcard inside an envelope that also contained a little note explaining that it was dad’s birthday and that we’d like them to write memories or best wishes onto the blank stamped postcard and drop it in the mail to arrive during his birthday week.

And what a flood it was! My dad was so thrilled and touched to hear from all the important people in his life. Some stories were funny, some were heartfelt, and all were very meaningful to my dad. And all in all, milestone birthday postcards from friends was a pretty inexpensive birthday idea.

I was inspired by my friend Susan who made milestone birthday postcards for her dad’s 70th birthday, and also by my friend Cristin (who you know from the free Giving Tree Wedding Announcements template and dog blanket pattern) who made milestone birthday postcards for her mom’s 65th birthday. I used two awesome free fonts: Lavenderia from the Lost Type Co-op and Chunk Five from the League of Moveable Type. My friend Renee also pointed me to some super lovely 70th birthday postcards with a well-designed postcard back and really great wording that we used for the instructions enclosure:

I’m giving you my free birthday postcard template for you to customize for your own milestone birthday. You’ve got a few options: either download and do it yourself either by printing yourself or at an online service like Overnight Prints or Vistaprint …or just go to my Zazzle store to customize the birthday postcards and custom stamps and Zazzle will print them for you. Keep reading for more details.

I’ve provided templates for an 80th birthday celebration. Need a different milestone year, like 75th, 70th, 65th or 60th? Just contact me and I can help. And there you go: a heartfelt, fantastic birthday idea fit for any milestone birthday.

WANNA MAKE IT? Free printable template, step-by-step tutorial instructions and supply list for making birthday postcards for milestone birthdays –>

Supplies for making birthday postcards for milestone birthdays – 80th, 75th, 70th, 65th, 60th:

• Personalized birthday postcards – self-addressed and pre-stamped (see options below)
• Paper for printing enclosure notes
• A6 size envelopes (for mailing blank postcards to friends and family with the instructions)
• Paper trimmer or paper scissors for cutting instructions enclosures
• Stamps (I made custom stamps at Zazzle for the postcards and used regular stamps for the A6 envelopes we sent to friends and family with the postcards and instructions. Remember that postcard stamps are cheaper than letter stamps.)
• Computer and printer

How to make birthday postcards for milestone birthdays:

I’m providing the templates below for an 80th birthday celebration. Need a different milestone year, like 75th, 70th, 65th or 60th? Just contact me and I can help.

Step 1: Make the personalized postcards. There are several ways you can go about making birthday postcards – please contact me with any questions:

(Option 1: Slightly different font than what you see in my photos) Visit my Zazzle store to personalize and print your birthday postcards and coordinating stamps. Zazzle lets you easily customize the name on the postcard front and the return address on the back. The font is slightly different because Zazzle offers different fonts than what I used in these photos. Again, I’ve made templates for an 80th birthday – contact me if you need other years.

80th birthday postcards at Zazzle:
Blue 80th birthday postcards
Green 80th birthday postcards (COMING SOON – need it now? ask me!)
Orange 80th birthday postcards (COMING SOON – need it now? ask me!)
Purple 80th birthday postcards (COMING SOON – need it now? ask me!)

80th birthday stamps at Zazzle: I think that Zazzle is the best place to buy custom stamps and it really completes the look. You can personalize the text on these stamps so the font matches the birthday postcards in my Zazzle store.
Blue 80th birthday stamps – customizable
Green 80th birthday stamps – customizable
Orange 80th birthday stamps – customizable
Purple 80th birthday stamps – customizable

(Option 2: Exact same font as what you see in the photos) Download my free 80th birthday postcard templates that use the same font, Lavenderia and Chunk Five, that you see in the photos above. Contact me if you need other years. Open the PDFs in Adobe Reader. Type your text into the fields provided to customize, and then upload the front and back of the postcards to a online printing service like Vistaprint, Overnight Prints or Zazzle.

Orange 80th birthday postcard front template (PDF) | Orange back template (PDF)
Blue 80th birthday postcard front template (PDF) | Blue back template (PDF)
Green 80th birthday postcard front template (PDF) | Green back template (PDF)
Purple 80th birthday postcard front template (PDF) | Purple back template (PDF)

Need custom stamps that match these exactly? Please let me know.

(Option 3: Outsource) Contact me if you’d like my help making custom postcards or stamps for a nominal design fee. I can even help place your order at Zazzle, Vistaprint or Overnight Prints.

Step 2: Type up and print out the instructions enclosure. You can cut several instructions out of one piece of paper like we did.

Step 3: Place one blank self-addressed, pre-stamped postcards and instructions note inside an envelope. Send to friends and family and be sure to let them know when to drop them into the mail.

Step 4: Watch the flood of birthday well-wishes come in!

Did you make it? Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign. Craft and pass it on!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use free pattern and how to step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Do you know what you’re getting your mom yet? How about a giveaway of this personalized stationery with a coordinating journal from Minted, the perfect gift for any chic mommy?

Three lucky readers (yes, three!) will each win the total cost of one journal and one set of stationery: $51 worth of Minted credit plus free ground shipping, from the talented indie designers at Minted. You can either get them as a matching set, since they’re so cute together, or you can mix and match any of the journal and stationery designs.

First the personalized stationery:

You’ll win 15 personalized flat cards with customized backing options and matching envelopes. Minted personalized stationery comes in a range of unique designs printed on luxe paper and a complimentary gift box.

Next, the personalized journals:

Each personalized journal contains 40 pages for notes and sketches. You can add a custom front and custom interior to include photos and a detailed message. And I like that you can choose either graph paper pages, blank paper pages, or lined pages.

Giveaway winners will be announced on May 1st. Winners should plan to place their free order by May 7th for items to arrive by Mother’s Day for your lucky mom. Or maybe you’d like, uh, to treat yourself. Don’t worry. I won’t tell.

To enter for a chance to win a set of personalized stationery and coordinating journal from Minted, tell me how you’re planning on celebrating Mother’s Day this year. See that little gray box below? Please log in the box below using Facebook, click the green “+1″ entry button and follow the instructions — I’m once again using a new service for this giveaway called Rafflecopter so lemme know what you think. And if you have any trouble just post a comment below and I can help – BUT be sure to use Rafflecopter to officially enter the contest. This contest is listed at Contestgirl. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kaya is such an awesome dog that she deserves an equally awesome dog blanket. And this is a dog blanket is so easy to make – no quilting or backing fabric required!

Kaya is my friend Cristin’s best pal who comes daily with her to work. And Kaya and Cristin also volunteer in the Sit Stay Read program for Chicago Public Schools — basically, kids read books out loud to dogs which has been proven to boost the children’s reading skills. Kaya listens attentively to the kids while sitting on her red and black doggy bone blanket. Adorable.

The trick in making this easy and cute dog blanket is buying pre-quilted diamond double-faced fabric (available in lots of colors) — that way it’s already quilted and automatically reversible too.

This dog blanket has a strap too with a VELCRO Sew-On closure so you can roll and carry it anywhere. Almost makes me want to get a dog myself. Almost.

WANNA MAKE IT? Free sewing pattern, step-by-step tutorial instructions and supply list for making a dog blanket –>

Supplies for making a dog blanket:

• 1-1/2 yards of pre-quilted diamond double-faced fabric
• 1 yard cotton fabric to make your own custom double fold 1″ quilt binding — or you can buy double fold 7/8″ quilt binding – it will save time but will be less cute because it only comes in solid colors
• VELCRO Sew-On tape
• Thread
• Good fabric scissors
• Glass head pins
• Air soluble fabric marking pen
• Rotary fabric cutter, ruler and self-healing mat
• Iron and ironing board
• Sewing machine

Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign.

How to make a dog blanket:

First we’re going to make your custom binding. Because this blanket has no curves on it, there’s no need to spend the time to cut bias strips (which are strips cut on a 45 degree angle). Instead you’re going to cut 4″ strips perpendicular to the selvage (which is the edge of your fabric with the writing and stuff on it) to make 1″ double-fold quilt binding. This means that a 4″ strip will end up making a 1″ visible edge around your dog blanket.

Once you’ve cut your 4″ strips, you’re going to connect them all together. Place one strip face up. Now place the other strip face down to make a corner like below. Draw a line from corner to corner using an air soluble fabric marking pen.

Pin and sew along the line.

Here comes the ironing part. You can either hand-iron the strips or use the Simplicity Bias Tape Maker. For this project, Cristin and I ironed it — well, mostly Cristin. Watch your head, Cristin! My craft room ceiling is low.

First iron the seams open and trim them down to 1/4″. Then iron your quilt binding in half.

Stop! OK, I have a confession. While writing up this post I realized that I made a mistake making the quilt binding. Crap. That’s what I get for sewing on autopilot, ha. You really only have to fold your quilt binding in half — not half and half again like I did for this dog blanket — and that will not only take less ironing time but also give you a double-folded fabric binding edge around your blanket for better long-term wear. Next time I bind a quilt, I’ll detail out the “real quilt binding method” …but in the meantime you can either use my binding method below or check these quilt binding diagrams and you can either use my method below or theirs. Either way, your dog blanket will turn out awesome …just could have had a bit less ironing on the custom quilt binding step and this is not a project that you’re going to need to last decades anyway.

Live and learn, yes? Anyway, let’s continue..

Open it up and iron the raw edges into the center fold. It will look like this:

Square off your pre-quilted diamond double-faced fabric so that you have a nice, straight rectangle by using your rotary cutter, clear plastic ruler and self-healing mat. Cristin’s fabric was cut pretty crooked at the store so Kaya’s blanket ended up being 42″ x 52.”

Now we’re going to follow the same steps to attach our quilt binding that we use to sew bias tape with mitered corners. I’ll paraphrase here but also check out how to sew mitered corners with bias tape without measuring or using pins.

Pick a place along the blanket to start. Open the bottom edge of the quilt binding so raw edges are together. Turn the corner down and pin (or don’t pin at all, or use barrettes – on this blanket I started with a few pins and then just sewed without them).

Stitch along the quilt binding fold that’s closest to the raw edge. Mine is at 1″.

When you get to a corner, slow down. You’re going to want to stop when you get 1″ short of the corner itself, backstitch, and cut your thread.

Fold the quilt binding to the right, lining up the lower raw edge of the quilt binding tape with the raw edge of your fabric edge. It will make a triangle on the corner. The top edge of your triangle (which is the quilt binding’s folded edge) should be perpendicular to the stitched edge that you just sewed. Press the quilt binding down with your fingers and make sure the triangle looks nice and straight. (Now you can see why there’s no need to pin down the entire quilt binding — I think it’s just easier to pin one side at a time when sewing quilt binding).

Carefully fold the quilt binding back to the left, folding the quilt binding edge so it lines up with the fabric edge, and making extra sure to keep your quilt binding triangle intact underneath. Line up the binding edge with the raw edge of your unsewn raw fabric edge (the right edge in the photo below) and either pin or use a barrette.

Now start sewing the quilt binding to your fabric again along the quilt binding fold (again, mine was 1″ from the raw edge) and you’re off again along a straight edge.

Repeat around all corners. When you get to the end, overlap your quilt binding a couple of inches, backstitch, and cut your thread. Cut your quilt binding tape too.

Now fold the quilt binding over your raw edge to the back. Be sure to pull the quilt binding tightly so that it will catch when you sew it later from the front. This is one case where I do like to pin.

Time to make the dog bed strap. We’re going to make the strap out of the quilt binding that we already made. Cut a piece of quilt binding 25″ long from your leftover quilt binding. Open up the quilt binding. Fold the top edge of one side down 1/4″ wrong sides together to hide the raw edge.

Then fold the quilt binding all up again and pin the end. Looking like a strap, yes?

Sew close around the edge of the quilt-binding-turned-strap.

Fold the dog blanket up how you’d like. Then pick a spot to put the strap.

Cut a 3″ piece of VELCRO Sew-On Tape — I used the VELCRO Snag Free. Pin one piece of your VELCRO onto the top back of the strap and pin.

Wrap the strap around the dog bed to decide where to place the other side of your VELCRO Sew-On Tape.

Pin the other side of the VELCRO in place.

Sew the VELCRO Sew-On Tape onto the strap by sewing close to the edge, VELCRO-side up.

Now you’re going to sew the strap onto the dog blanket. Give the straps  little more reinforcement by opening up the quilt binding pinned edge, then pinning the raw edge of the strap to the raw edge of the blanket, and sewing back and forth a couple of times.

Fold the quilt binding edge back up again with the reinforced strap snuggled inside and pin. Flip the blanket over so the strap is on the bottom.

Almost done! Now all you need to do is sew close to the edge to secure the quilt binding on the backside, making sure to catch the quilt binding on the back when you sew.

And because the quilt binding mitered corners are pretty deep, I like to sew them down too. Just sew down the triangle and back up again and then continue around the blanket.

Looking good! And with that, the dog blanket is ready for Kaya and her elementary school reading pals in Sit Stay Read program for Chicago Public Schools.

Did you make it? Please post a comment and let me know how this craft idea works for you. And share your own photos at the MerrimentDesign.com Facebook page, “I made it!” flickr photo gallery or tweet a picture to @merrimentdesign. Craft and pass it on!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use free pattern and how to step-by-step tutorial for your own personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

You’ve seen baby books before. But this is a baby book like no other!

This giveaway is for a copy of This Is Your Book: a fun, modern spin on the traditional baby book. This Is Your Book is a fill-in baby journal with a pop culture twist: it gives parents an opportunity to record more than just baby’s height, weight, birth hospital and hair color…

…there are also unique prompts about current events, fun statistics, and other pop culture at the time of the baby’s birth, everything from Academy Award winners to countries at war to the cost of a Starbucks coffee to musicians your parents liked.

I like that it’s also super visual in that some questions ask you to circle answers on maps and flags and other illustrations.

This Is Your Book gives all kinds of opportunity to reflect on the pop culture that surrounds the big day. And there are unique baby questions as well, such as baby’s favorite bedtime stories and a picture of one item baby couldn’t live without (and for Elise, this is her beloved Pink Monkey), even recollections of all the other baby names that were ruled out.

It’s a baby book that you’ll enjoy filling out. The format is great not only for soon-to-be parents and new parents but also those who’ve been a wee bit lax on making a baby book for their kid.

When the author, Chicago-based graphic artist Ryan Maconochie, became a father he searched for a baby book that melded his design aesthetic with the opportunity to chronicle his daughter’s first year. He couldn’t find anything — so he made one. And what a cutie she is!!!

To enter for a chance to win a copy of This Is Your Book tell me who this book would be for in your life: See that little gray box below? Please log in the box below using Facebook, click the green “+1″ entry button and follow the instructions — I’m once again using a new service for this giveaway called Rafflecopter so lemme know what you think. And if you have any trouble just post a comment below and I can help – BUT be sure to use Rafflecopter to officially enter the contest. This contest is listed at Contestgirl. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Earth Day is all about reducing, reusing and recycling. And I have a real weakness for recycled crafts. I love looking at something like a Saran Wrap cardboard tube or an empty formula carton and think, what could I make with this?

I think the best recycled projects are ones that recycle items into useful things. And even better when you can make recycled crafts look expensive because you’ll be more likely to keep them and reduce new purchases and extra packaging which is really the point of Earth Day. Case in point: just look above at the recycled cardboard egg carton turned into an elegant ring holder. I painted mine with leftover Tiffany blue paint and you would never guess it was almost trash.

Next up: Fancy-up plastic wrap cardboard tubes to make recycled fabric napkin rings that look store-bought.

Make a straw game from an old oatmeal container that will entertain your toddler for hours.

Reducing food waste is another way to celebrate Earth Day. Leftover Chinese food in your fridge? Try this hearty rice pancake recipe from leftover Chinese takeout.

Make over an old picture frame using masking tape for a cool layered effect.

Make decorative storage boxes from old shoe boxes great for keepsake letters and cards.

Like these? Here are more recycled craft ideas. Got any recycled creations of your own to share for Earth Day? Tweet me a picture and I’ll pass it along.

Spring is already here and my Must Make This Someday List is really filling up. I totally have ‘eyes bigger than my stomach’ syndrome when it comes to crafting. So I’ve decided to round up another DIY or Buy this time featuring three DIY stepping stone tutorials *plus* some cute handmade options to buy.

You can buy the stepping stone supplies bundle or basic mosaic stepping stone kit for 20% off at Roberts Crafts using the promotion code “merrimentdesign.” Hooray!

First up: here’s how to make a DIY hummingbird garden stepping stone like the one I made for my dad:

I made this stepping stone using this basic mosaic stepping stone kit but you could easily cobble together your own:

• Stepping stone mix – 8lbs (heavy! great to have delivered An 8 lb. box makes one 12″ stepping stone or two 8″ stepping stones, personally I think the 12″ size is more practical to use as an actual stepping stone)
• Stepping stone mold like this 12″ circle mold, 12″ square mold, or 12″ flower mold
• Bright mosaic stained glass pieces, pastel mosaic stained glass pieces, or river rock pebbles (or go find some on your own)
• Letter stamps
• Mixing bucket

To make any of these projects, you can buy the stepping stone bundle or basic mosaic stepping stone kit for 20% off at Roberts Crafts using the promotion code MERRIMENTDESIGN.

Next: simple, lovely DIY lettered garden stones by Prudent Baby. Jacinda made hers using oiled mini-loaf pans from her kitchen and letter stamps.

And for an even more earthy feel, Jeffery Bale shows you how to create DIY pebble stepping stones like these:

Like I said, I want to make all these versions (someday). Luckily in the meantime, Natasha Ayers makes colorful stained glass 12″ stepping stones that you can buy like this yellow sunflower…

…and this crimson version.

Or order a custom 12″ mosaic stepping stone from Mid Century Mosaics personalized for your favorite sports fan in only two weeks.