Easter Bin Tutorial

I recently shared a tutorial for making fabric applique eggs on the Thermoweb blog (find it here!). When I was finished, I wanted to make something else with these adorable Hippity Hoppity prints from Benartex. So I decided to make small fabric bins (I'd call them baskets, but they don't have handles). They're quick and easy and fun to make. Ready?

You'll Need:

Small Bin

• Two 9" squares fabric
• One 2-1/4" x 21" strip for binding
• One 9" square Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece

Large Bin

• Two 12" squares fabric*
• One 2-1/4" x WOF strip for binding
• One 12" square Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece

*If you're using directional fabric for the outer bin and want it to be oriented correctly, you'll need two 6-1/4" x 12" pieces instead of one 12" square. See photo below the Small Bin steps.

Make the Small Bin

1. Fuse the Fusible Fleece square to the wrong side of the outer fabric square. 

2. Fold the square in half, fleece side out. Cut 2-1/4" squares out of each folded corner.

3. Stitch along the sides using a 1/4' seam allowance.

4. Match the seam on one side with the folded bottom edge to create a boxed corner. Pin the raw edges to secure, and then stitch across using a 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat on the opposite corner.

5. Repeat steps 2-4 with the 9" lining square. 

6. Turn the outer bin right side out and tuck the lining inside, matching seams. Pin the raw edges along the top edge.

7. Fold the 2-1/4" x 21" strip in half lengthwise wrong sides together to create a binding strip. Position the binding along the pinned edge of the lining, raw edges matching, and pin to secure. 

8. Stitch the binding to the lining side of the bin, starting 2" from the end of the binding. As you approach the starting point of the binding, trim the strip so it overlaps approximately 1". Fold the end of the binding in 1/2" and press to create a finished edge. Tuck the end of the binding into the folded end and pin to secure. Continue stitching to secure the binding to the bin.

9. Press the binding up and then over the top edge of the bin. Pin the folded edge in place. Machine stitch in place to secure the binding. 

Make the Large Bin

Make the large bin in the same manner, using 12" squares and cutting 3" squares from the corners.

Tip: For directional fabric, cut two pieces (6-1/4" x 12" for the large bin and 4-3/4" x 9" for the small bin). Stitch the pieces together so the directional print is headed in opposite directions.

These bins are perfect for holding plastic eggs or fabric eggs! (Or jelly beans and chocolate eggs. Just sayin'...)

Here are the applique eggs I made. Check out the tutorial here.

You can also find me:

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Quilt Block Mania - Improv Bloom

It's time for March Quilt Block Mania! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

How many different blocks will you make? Explore the list at the bottom of the post to see all of the March designers' blocks. Our theme for the month is flowers. 

I decided to create some improv flower blocks. The color palette for the month flows from light to dark shades of coral, with a pop of green, and I liked what that would do in a flower design. 

My inspiration for this block comes from Georgia O'Keefe's enormous shaded flowers. I've been a huge O'Keefe admirer since I was a little girl, and which these are much more geometric than her flowers, I feel like the shading and the explosion of color is a nod to her work. 

I decided to play around with a few smaller blocks too. I'd like to ultimately make five smaller blocks to wrap around two sides of the main 12" square block. 

Here's my original palette, which I added to. There's only one way to make an enormous stash seem small--try to find light through dark values of one very specific color! I had to dig through all my fabric bins to find this combo.

Take a walk through a virtual flower garden by checking out all of these designers' blocks!

Orchid Quilt Block by Carolina Moore
Rose Garden by Slice of Pi Quilts
Happy Flowers by Carolyn Burgess
Double Flower by Devoted Quilter
Faux Flowers by Blockofthemodotcom
Mod Tulip
Enchanting Echinacea
Rosebud Wreath at Patti's Patchwork
Flower Power - Cotton Street Commons
Dottie's Garden by Heidi Pridemore
Poppies by Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Pretty Posies at Perkins Dry Goods
Mittens Smells the Roses at Puppy Girl Designs
Wildflowers by Studio R Quilts
Sweetheart Rose by QuiltFabrication
Flower Patch at Orange Blossom Quilt Design Studio
Scattered Petals by Snowy Days Quilting
Scrappy Tulip by Katie Mae Quilts
Happy Bloom Block by Oh Kaye Quilting
Buzz along
Everything's Coming Up Roses by Inquiring Quilter
Spring Posies by Blue Bear Quilts
Four Roses
Pieceful Crocus Focus
Improv Bloom by Love to Color My World
Sue's Field of Flowers by The Quilted Diary

Do you want to make an Improv Bloom block too?

I'll show you how!I've created a free tutorial showing you how to make this block. This is a slightly angled version of strip piecing. It's easy, I promise! 

You'll find the link for the tutorial in my newsletter. You can subscribe in the righthand sidebar, or if you're on a phone and there is no sidebar, here. I promise I won't deluge you with newsletters--you'll just be the first to know about new patterns, sales, and tutorials. 

If you like what you've seen here, you can also find me:

To find all of my quilt patterns, visit my Etsy shop. 

Find me on IG here.

Find me on Facebook here.

Sign up for my newsletter in the right-hand sidebar or here.

2021 Monthly Color Challenge - March!

I'm participating in the Monthly Color Challenge this year, created by Patterns by Jen. 
Jen has designed a block (in two sizes) and chosen a color/vegetable combo for each month. 

I'm pairing her color choices with a scrappy low-volume background.

Sign up to get block instructions at Patterns by Jen.

The color/vegetable combo for March is red/orange and Yam. Here's my block.

I don't have any yam recipes, but I'm going with sweet potato, which is close enough (I think, right?!). I'm a huge fan of sweet potato fries. I like to make them at home, and I like to bake them rather than fry them (less messy and healthier-ish). These are delicious. Are you a regular potato or sweet potato fry fan? 

Make sure to check out all the other March bloggers and their blocks:

Kathyrn - Dragonfly's Quilt and Design Studio

Claudia - Create with Claudia

Fawn - Quilty Creations by Fawn

Lisa - Love to Color My World

Joanne - Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Raylee - Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting

Andi - True Blue Quilts

Crystal - DayBrook Designs

Ashley - Quilt2EndAlz

Here's a look back at my previous two blocks:

January - Eggplant

February - Lemon

Remember to link your blocks each month to Jen’s post so that you qualify for the quarterly prizes! 

Many thanks to the first quarter sponsors:

If you're new here, welcome! I hope you'll stay and look around a bit. 

If you like what you've seen here, you can also find me:

To find all of my quilt patterns, visit my Etsy shop. 

Find me on IG here.

Find me on Facebook here.

Sign up for my newsletter in the right-hand sidebar or here. 

(You'll receive a free pattern for my Diamond Drama quilt (below) as a thank you!)