15 Favorite Free Baby Quilt Tutorials + Glue Basting + Back to School Sewing

Greetings friends!

Hoping this week's edition finds you well!

I'm in a bit of a state of disbelief. We're already halfway through August and K-12 school starts this week in our neck of the woods. And even though I don't have K-12 kids anymore, back to school supplies are on the shelves, High School football games started last night, and I'm starting to feel that "end of summer, fall is just around the corner feeling." Maybe you are too?

As a result, this week's newsletter edition has some fun back-to-school themed ideas.

But first, a little something to get your creative juices flowing or help you out in a pinch.

15 Favorite Free Baby Quilt Tutorials 🧵

Consistently, the most popular posts on my site are free baby quilt tutorials. Which doesn't surprise me in the least! Baby quilts are so much fun to make, not to mention much faster to finish than larger quilting projects. And they require a lot less fabric!

They also make great beginning-quilting projects - I speak from experience on this as I started learning more quilting skills making quilts for my own first babies 27 and 25 years ago.

I've put together a list of my Top 15 Favorite Baby Quilt Tutorials - and listed them in order from beginner-level to intermediate skill-builders.

All of these quilts are super fun and easy to make - whether you're helping a brand new quilter wanting to make their first quilt or you're an experienced quilter looking for ideas for the perfect baby gift or stash buster, this list will have something for you!

Tips + Tricks: Glue Basting

Even though I don't have kids in grade school anymore, I still love stocking up on school supplies this time of year. One thing I always buy is glue sticks and Elmer's School glue. Did you know they're great tools to have in your sewing room?

Have you ever tried using glue - or Glue Basting - when quilting? Guest writer Cristy Fincher is the master. I took a class from her at QuiltCon one year and it blew my mind a little.

Cristy has a post with LOADS of tips for different ways you can use a common, back-to-school staple: Washable Elmer's Glue to make your piecing perfect and precise. It's great for piecing curves too!

Fun Finds on the Web - Back To School-Inspired Sewing Ideas

🍎 These fabric letters are SO cute and easy to make - perfect if you've got someone learning their letters or how to read or spell. Leslie from The Seasoned Homemaker has the greatest tutorial.

🍎 This simple oil cloth zipper pouch tutorial from Tea Rose Home is both practical and easy to make.

🍎 Or for something more decorative: Melissa from the Polkadot Chair has a fun Rainbow Quilted pencil pouch tutorial.

🍎 For someone going to college: check out this Padded Laptop Case tutorial from Suzy Quilts.

🍎 Sew up a handy chapstick holder (tutorials by Ameroonie Designs) as the perfect back-to-school gifts for any student.

First of all, thank you so much for the kind words from so many of you about my friend Julie. I know many of you have experienced sudden or tragic loss. I felt your love. 🙏🏻❤️

I hope you're able to soak up the lovely parts of the end of August like blooming flowers, fresh peaches, and hopefully cooler temperatures. A kind friend brought me this sweet bouquet of end-of-August happiness this week.

I'm at a "more advanced" stage of life in regards to Back to School. After 4 kids and 20+ years of annual Back-to-School shopping, events, gathering supplies, meeting new teachers, etc. I'm down to my last 2 kids in school this Fall and they're both in college. One of them is starting his 3rd year so he's pretty much responsible for himself at this point. lol

The other one is starting his freshman year of college and moving to the dorms in a few weeks. I'm in the thick of collecting housewares, towels, bedding, etc., more than just pencils and notebooks. This is my 4th rodeo getting a kid off to college and so I feel like I should be a pro by now, but I'm probably overconfident and totally overlooking something big. Fortunately he'll only be 30 min away, so I'm not too stressed about forgetting something as we can easily remedy that. Also, he's been living across the country for the past 2 years so 30 minutes away feels very manageable and delightful. :)

To all of the people who said things over the years like "watch out! It goes so fast!", well, I believe you.

And, at the same time, in the thick of all of those years going to parent teacher conferences, managing homework, figuring out carpools, keeping track of lost library books, buying school supplies, volunteering with the PTA, etc. etc. ... it didn't always feel fast.

So if you're still in the "thick of it all" stage, I'm sending some love and mom-solidarity your way. 🤜🏻🤛🏻

And if you're a Teacher - one of the heroes that is teaching all of these kids and classes - you deserve the highest praise. (And a raise, in my humble opinion.) Bless you all.

Whatever stage you're at, happy August.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Have a great week.

Amy

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