This past January, we introduced you to a great new book from our good friends, Kaitlin Witte and Alison Newman: thread & bobbin: 21 simple sewing projects ($18, All American Crafts). The first thing I noticed about the book, which hit store shelves just a few months ago, was the variety of projects. Often, books tend to focus on just one category of type of item: all quilts, all pillows, all kids clothes. Kind of an 'all or nothing' approach to sewing. But when you're just starting out, it's way more fun to dabble with a potpourri of items. Proving this variety is never-ending, the authors have teamed up to bring us a book bonus in the form of a Sew4Home Guest Tutorial: the beautiful Deep Purple lap quilt.

We have a small series starting today called Teen Pretty Pack, three easy projects that would be perfect additions to a teen bedroom. Actually, we'll let you put them in any bedroom you want. All three feature gorgeous fabrics and super soft Minky accents. To start things off is this easy big bound blanket. At nearly five feet square, there's plenty of cuddle room for all. In fact, our Official Cushiness Tester, Big Ollie the orange cat, certified it as worthy of non-stop pushy-pulley paw kneading and a ten on the purr-o-meter.

Babies need blankets. When my kids were small, I liked to think of my blanket collection as little baby drop cloths. Because, just like painters, babies are often in need of their own little piece of clean real estate, which they can then destroy as they choose. In my mind, a cute baby blanket is always the perfect gift. Our adorable design is super fast and easy to make, especially if you have a ruffler attachment.