Holiday Gift Blog Hop: Day 1

Christmas countdown: 23 days!

Are you ready? 

Over the next week, we'll be sharing tutorials for last-minute homemade gift ideas. Skip the stores (well, except your local quilt shop!) and spend time at your sewing machine instead. 

Up first are these adorable baby blocks, made using Kanvas' Safari Playground collection. Check out our tutorial, and then see how you can win some fabric yourself at the end of this post.

Here's a quick look at the Safari Playground prints--such a great palette--a breath of fresh air compared to the typical blue and pink baby options. Love all the textures in the coordinating prints!

You'll Need:

• 1/4 yard (or fat quarter) of at least 6 prints (more fabrics create blocks with more variety!)
• Lightweight fusible interfacing
• Fiberfill

Cutting:

Cut six different 6" print squares for each block (we made 3 blocks, so 6 x 3 = 18 squares)

Cut one 5-7/8" interfacing square for each fabric square (18, in our case)

Make the Blocks:

1. Following manufacturer's directions, fuse an interfacing square to the wrong side of each fabric square. By cutting them 1/8" smaller, you don't have to worry about the interfacing extending past the fabric edge if you don't line the interfacing and fabric up perfectly. Note: You can make the blocks without interfacing, but the little bit of stiffness it provides keeps the blocks from looking lumpy when stuffed.

2. Lay out your fabric squares into a vertical row of 4 with the 2 remaining squares on the sides.

3. Sew the 4 vertical squares together, starting and stopping 1/4" from the edges.

4. Add the 2 squares to the sides, again starting and stopping 1/4" from the edges. Hint: Add these squares with the pieced row on top. You can use the existing stitching lines as guides for where to start and stop your next stitching lines (shown in the red circles).

Here's what your block should look like at this point:

5. Fold the block right sides facing and begin sewing the remaining sides together. You can use the needle down and pivot approach at corners, but we found the following method easier: Pin together the 2 edges you'll be joining and then fold the side between them back onto itself (see photo below). 

With the block folded as shown in the previous photo, stitch along your pinned line. When you're starting at a 3-way corner like this, begin stitching at the fabric edge. This will create a sturdy corner. Stop sewing 1/4" from the opposite edge.

6. Continue sewing edges until you only have 1 open side left. Sew in from the corner on each edge, leaving a 4" opening for turning, and backstitching on both sides of the opening. Ideally you'll be able to fit your hand through the opening to help with poking corners out and stuffing. 

 7. Turn the block right side out and poke corners as needed. Press the raw edges of the opening in 1/4" to make hand stitching the opening closed later a little easier. 

8. Stuff the block to desired firmness and hand stitch the opening closed.

9. Repeat to make as many blocks as you like!

Voila! Easy stuffed stacking blocks for your favorite baby or toddler!

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of Safari Playground, make sure you're signed up to follow our blog either by email or through a blog reader (see both options in the right hand sidebar). Leave a comment letting us know you are, and leave a second comment letting us know that you follow us on Facebook. In your comment, let us know if you're making any handmade gifts for the holidays this year (and if you are...where are you in the process? Idea stage? Halfway done? Already wrapped?). The giveaway will remain open through Tuesday, December 9th at 11:59 pm EST. 

Check out our other quick and easy holiday gift tutorials!

Day 2: Travel sewing kit using Made with Love
Day 3: Berry basket of coasters using Origins
Day 4: Mitered napkin set using Boy Meets Girl 
Day 5: Bow banner using Zoey
Day 6: Handy golf bag using On the Green