Herringbone Baby Quilt

A friend at church is expecting her first baby this fall and the baby shower is just around the corner. I have had my eye on a herringbone quilt pattern for some time now but I didn't really have any reason to make a quilt...until now! Every new baby needs a cozy baby blanket or quilt to welcome them into this world which gave me a great reason to start making a baby quilt.

 

When I had my girls a co-worker gifted each of them a hand-quilted baby quilt. It was such a thoughtful and practical gift that I knew then that I wanted to learn how to make baby quilts to give as gifts. Both quilts had been loved by my girls when they were little and are now safely stored away for them when they start a family. 

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Now that I had a great reason to make a herringbone quilt it was time to pick out fabrics! I really wanted to stick to a gender-natural color palette with a simple modern style. I decided to use a black/gray camo print that I got from Fabric Wholsale Direct with white cotton for my half-square triangles and a light mint green cotton for the trim and back. 

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If you are new to quilting or maybe you are interested in making a herringbone quilt this is a great pattern to get started with! It might look a little bit difficult from the finished quilt pictures but don't let that fool you. This quilt is made using half-square triangles (HST) arranged in a repeating pattern. 

Half square triangles are really easy to make and you can find tons of great tutorials on how to make them. Here is the tutorial I found to be very helpful when I first got started quilting: Modernly Morgan - How To Make Half Square Triangles.

For this quilt I made my HST's using 5 1/2" squares of fabric which when sewn and cut end up being 5". Once I sewed the triangles together they end up being about 4 1/2". This quilt is totally customizable to your liking by adjusting the size of the HSTs.  Have fun playing around with different-sized HSTs and see what you like. 

The key to this quilt is to lay out the HSTs in the herringbone pattern on a flat surface (a.k.a the floor) then sew them together one row or column at a time. Also, your iron will become your BFF with this project since getting the points of the HSTs to "nest" properly can only happen if you iron your seams in opposite directions before sewing. 

Here is a graphic to help you get started laying out your HSTs into a herringbone pattern. Add as many rows and columns as to adjust the size of your quilt. 

Right before I made this quilt I also made a small little ironing pad that sits right next to me on my sewing machine table so I can just sew, iron, sew, iron, sew....you get the point right? It has saved me a ton of time and it was super simple to make. I will be posting a tutorial on how to make one for yourself in the near future!!  Make sure to follow me so you get all the latest updates!

Ok, back to the herringbone quilt. I wanted to share some pictures of the process I followed to make the quilt with you that seem to be easier to follow than written instructions. I'm a visual learner so pictures are where it is at for me! 

How To Make A Herringbone Baby Quilt 

• The first step is to cut out a bunch of 5 1/2" squares from the two main cotton quilt fabrics you chose. I had no idea when I started how big I wanted my baby quilt to be so I made a lot of squares. I had a pile of 5 1/2" white squares and a pile of 5 1/2" black/gray camo squares. Follow the HST tutorial I linked above and make the two different colored fabric squares into HSTs. 

• Lay the HSTs into the herringbone pattern. I used the floor and part of my cutting mat to lay out the pattern. Once I had them all laid out I started sewing them together in rows. After the rows are finished sew the individual rows together to make the quilt top.  Square up the quilt top to make it square and even all the way around. 

• Select a fabric for the back of your quilt. For the back of my herringbone quilt, I chose to use a solid light mint green cotton fabric. I purchased a little extra yardage because I knew I was going to make the binding from the same fabric. Make a "quilt sandwich" by laying your backing fabric down (right side down) on a flat surface then your batting then finally the quilt top (right side up). I use safety pins to baste the layers of the quilt sandwich together so they don't move when I start quilting. For this quilt, I stitched in the ditch along the horizontal rows and then added stitching along the camo print triangles on each row creating a zig-zag pattern. Use your imagination and quilt any way you like!

• Time to add the binding. Since my quilt was going to be gifted to a baby I wanted to make sure it was very durable and could hold up to lots of use and washings so I chose to machine bind the quilt instead of hand-sewing it. To make binding I cut strips of fabric into 2 1/2" by the length of the fabric then ironed the strips in half. If this is your first time binding a quilt I suggest you follow this great tutorial from The Seasoned Homemaker . Go slow and remember you can always pick out stitches if you need to! 

I just love how this herringbone quilt turned out! Of course, I'm not a professional so there are some (OK several) imperfections but honestly, that is what makes this handmade quilt so special - it is one of a kind with lots of personal touches! The finished quilt measured 44 inches by 36 inches - the perfect size for a little baby. 

To add a little extra finishing touch to this quilt I had this sweet little quilt label in my sewing notions stash and I added it to the corner of the quilt (see pic below!). To gift the quilt I folded it twice then rolled it into a log then tied a piece of extra binding around the quilt and tied it up in a bow.

 

Quilting can be a pretty addictive craft! Once you make one you are going to want to make some more beautiful quilts. I have some more easy quilt patterns and tutorials you will enjoy just as much as this herringbone quilt. Check out these quilts:

Improve Spinners & Hourglass Quilt Tutorial

How To Make A Rag Strip Quilt

Quilting For The Beginner - Rag Quilts

Tips & Tricks To Make A Half Square Triangle Quilt

Sewing and quilting is a fun hobby that anyone can learn! Besides a good quality beginner sewing machine (I love my Singer!) there are some sewing notions (a.k.a. sewing supplies) that you will want to invest in as you get started learning how to sew and quilt. To help you out I put together a post with the 10 Must Have Sewing Supplies For The Beginner  to help you out and get you started. 

Decorating your child's room can be a daunting task especially if you are working with a limited budget. Finding the right picture or wall hanging in the color and size you want is also a challenge but don't worry I have the perfect solution to help you accomplish your decorating goals. Want to know what it is? Of course, you do - Make Your Own. 

This post is brought to you in partnership with Zulily. While I may have been compensated, as always, all opinions are my own.

This post is brought to you in partnership with Zulily. While I may have been compensated, as always, all opinions are my own.

You know the saying "if you want something done right, do it yourself!" I think it applies perfectly to this situation. Whether you are a seasoned crafter or just a beginner the ideas I am going to share with you offer something for everyone. 

10 DIY Room Decor Ideas For Your Child's Room

01. Fabric Rag Strip Banner - This is a great no-sew, easy to make project, that costs next to nothing to make. It is truly the perfect craft project for a complete beginner. The colors and size of the banner can easily be adjusted to match your room decor and fit your room’s space too. If you want to make one for your child's room fine the complete tutorial I wrote and shared at The Find on Zulily.

02. Painted Circles Art Canvas - You don't need to be a professional artist to paint thiss beautiful piece of decor. With the use of various-shaped stamps and a little bit of paint, you can create a one-of-a-kind piece of art to hang in your child's room. Dabbles and Babbles shares the complete (and easy) tutorial so you can make your own.

via: Dabbles and Babbles

03. Wood Shim Wall Art - This project lets you completely customize the size and color to fit any space you are trying to decorate. Wood shims are arranged in a herringbone pattern, attached to a thin hardboard panel, and stained .If you don't have a miter saw don't worry - you can use a miter box and hand saw to make this too. Find the full tutorial for this project at Amber Oliver.

via: Amber Oliver

04. Rainbow Wall Hanging - This is a modern twist on the popular craft of macrame. Make your rainbow in any colors you want. I love how easy this project is and can be made for any age child's room. Crafting on the Fly provides an easy-to-follow step-by-step tutorial to follow.

via: Crafting On The Fly

05. Custom French Memo Board - You are going to love this easy DIY project because it not only looks great as a wall hanging but keeps your child organized. They can hang pictures, concert tickets, or special cards behind the ribbons rather than keeping them shoved in a drawer or stuffed under their bed. Follow the tutorial at Fabulesslyfrugal.com.

via: Fabulessly Frugal

06. Action Figures Lamp - If you have kids you probably have a bin of small hard plastic action figure toys like plastic toy soldiers, matchbox cars, lego mini-figures, and mini dinosaurs. Grab a handful (but don't tell your kids!) and start gluing the figures to the base of an old lamp base. I recommend using E6000 glue for this project - it has a long setting time but well worth the wait. Use painter's tape to keep figures held together until the glue dries. With the lampshade and bulb removed spray paint the entire base of the lamp including all of the action figure toys. Once dry, put the bulb and shade back on and enjoy the new lamp.

via: Instructables

07. Magnetic Chalkboard Wall - Provides hours of entertainment for your younger child or serves as a practical and useful memo board for a teen. A coat of magnetic primer and chalkboard paint directly on the wall and framed in wood makes the best wall art for your kids. Find the complete tutorial and supply list at The Culinary Couple.  

via: The Culinary Couple

08. DIY Reading Canopy - This simple DIY project not only looks fabulous but encourages your child to read while enjoying time in their custom reading canopy. Pick your child's favorite colors to make the canopy, gather the supplies and get busy crafting. Add lights to add an extra special feature to this canopy. The Little Green Bow provides great instructions on how to make a reading canopy and the best way to hang it too.  

via: Little Green Bow

09. DIY Felt Name Pennant - This no-sew project is inspired by old-school felt football pennants but still looks great hanging on the wall in your child's room today! Make one or more in any color felt and pick any wording, like your child's name or even favorite sports team to add to the pennant. Learn how to make your own by following the complete tutorial at Lovely Indeed. 

via: Lovely Indeed

10. Scrabble Tile Word Art - Everyone loves the game Scrabble which is why this craft is so fun. Bring the classic board game letter pieces in extra large size into your child's room as cool wall decor. Spell any words like their name, favorite color, or encouraging words when making one for your child's room. This not only looks great in a nursery but also in a teen's room too. Find the great instructions to make your own Scrabble wall decor at Whats On My Porch.

via: What's On My Porch

I hope you found these child's room decor ideas inspiring! I know your children will love their new decor and be so proud that their mom (or dad) made it just for them. 

Remember to follow me on Pinterest or join my Facebook page to keep up with new posts and ideas.  

Also, find more of my ideas and other great mom's ideas at The Find by Zulily blog. 

Chocolate Lovers Triple Chocolate Zucchini Bread Recipe

Is your garden (or your neighbors) overflowing with an abundance of zucchini? I'm always amazed at how bountiful a zucchini plant can be. If you find yourself with an overflowing harvest of zucchini it is time to get creative and try some new zucchini recipes. This delicious chocolate zucchini bread is the perfect way to use up your garden's bounty!

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

I am not ashamed to admit my deep love for chocolate. If you add chocolate to a recipe chances are I will give it a try. That is how I came to know and love this amazingly delicious chocolate zucchini bread. Faced with the problem of too much zucchini that needed to be used I desperately searched for new zucchini recipes. Of course, Pinterest was the first place I looked for new zucchini recipes. When I stumbled upon a variety of chocolate zucchini bread recipes I knew I had hit gold. 

Now I know it sounds a little weird mixing chocolate with zucchini and maybe you are thinking "I don't like zucchini" or "zucchini with chocolate sounds disgusting" let me reassure you that this bread has NO zucchini flavor whatsoever. Zucchini is full of water which makes this chocolate zucchini bread super moist with an almost brownie-like texture. Zucchini's mild flavor takes a back seat in this recipe allowing the chocolate to be the star. 

Put the brakes on the zoodle making and set aside a few cups of shredded zucchini for this decadent TRIPLE chocolate zucchini bread recipe! 

Chocolate Lovers

Triple Chocolate Zucchini Bread

By MommySuburbia

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 large eggs

• ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)

• ¼ cup vegetable oil

• ¾ cup brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 ½ cups packed shredded zucchini

• 1 cup dark chocolate chips

• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan.

2. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside

3. In a large bowl mix together oil, eggs, melted butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract stirring until smooth.

4. Next, stir in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined making sure not to overmix. Add the shredded zucchini and mix until just combined.

5. Mix in 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips and chopped walnuts.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan then sprinkle the remaining semi-sweet chocolate chips over the top of the batter.

7. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and let the bread cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the bread from the pan by sliding a bread knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the bread. Cut the bread into slices and enjoy! 

If you have any bread leftover, which I highly doubt, store it in the bread pan covered with a piece of foil. 

Click here to get the free Printable Recipe Card.

Don't forget to Pin this recipe for later and share it with your friends and family.

More Great Zucchini Recipes To Try

Once you get your fill of chocolate zucchini bread, which will be tough but you got this, you have to try this next zucchini bread recipe. Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread is another delicious zucchini recipe! If you love snickerdoodle cookies you are going to love this recipe too. All the sweet sugary flavor of a snickerdoodle cookie made into a delicious loaf of bread. It is perfect for breakfast or brunch alongside a cup of coffee or tea. 

Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread

What are some zucchini recipes you love? Share your favorites in the comments - I'd love to give them a try!