Berry Birdy

  Available Here Are you addicted to sewing tiny or ready to use up some of your itty bitty fabric scraps that are too precious to throw away?  If you would like to make more Micro Mini Quilts my Complete Collection is  Available Here   Follow along with me on  YouTube  with full instructions to learn how to make this Micro Mini Tree Quilt

 Cooler weather means fall fun! Dig out some of your fabric scraps for this adorable pumpkin mini quilt or coaster! If this is the first time paper piecing, I have included those instructions below, and you can click here for the FREE pattern; Micro Mini Log Cabin Pumpkin Paper Piecing Instructions; STEP 1: Fold the template on the stitching line  between pieces a and b (Figure 1). Unfold the  template. STEP 2: Using a piece of fabric large enough to cover piece 1 and the seam allowance around it, place the reverse side of the fabric to the back of the foundation template. Using a piece of fabric large enough to cover piece 2, place it right sides together with fabric a (Figure 2).  To ensure that your piece 2 fabric is in the  correct position, align it while the template is folded. At the least, it should cover the area when folded. STEP 3: Carefully pick up the fabric and template and move to your machine. Unfold the template and stitch the line between 1 and...

 Summer is approaching and time outside is precious during this warm season. But do you still find the need for sewing and quilting? This super easy mini quilt can be sewn up in no time with your fabric scraps  and can be used as a coaster, phone rest, folded in half for a glasses case....there are so many options! May is also the Micro Mini Sew Along on my Instagram, so if you are looking for some more mini inspirations for quick and easy projects, check out the hashtag #microminisal  You can also find the pattern for the full sized pillow on my Etsy page as well, and it includes instructions on how I sew in a zipper along my binding to hide it and make the pillow case washable! Find the pattern here . You can download a PDF version of the pattern here .

 Micro Mini Sew Along 2023! It's almost May again, which means the Micro Mini Sew-Along will  begin in the coming weeks. It runs May 1st - 31st which gives you plenty of time to whip up a super small adorable creation! This is the 6th year of the sew-along and if you check out the tag #microminisal on Instagram you will see hundreds of micro mini creations that many of my followers have been creating over the past few years. If you would like to take part in the Sew-Aong (aka SAL), simply follow me on Instagram at @berry_birdy for updates, and #microminisal to see who is participating and their tiny, cute little entries to win some fabulous prizes! What's a Micro Mini? It's a teeny, tiny little mini quilted project that is 8" or smaller. (The first year it was 6" and I decided that 8" may be better for those who are trying out tiny sewing for the first time :)). It can be a tiny quilt, a postcard, a luggage tag, anything you would like that is quilted. How do...

Heart mug rug Materials Needed; Various pieces of fabric ranging from 2” square - 6” X 3” Finished Size; 9 wide”  SEWING TIPS; When sewing the binding around the heart, begin sewing on the bias  binding at the inner point, gently “guide” the binding in (no pull but gently push) around the outer curves. You can find full instructions for making this heart on my YouTube Channel - BerryBirdy. www.etsy.com/shop/berrybirdy or IG @Berry_Birdy  You can also download the PDF version HERE

 Micro Mini quilts are one of my favourite things to make at the moment. They are quick, use up scraps, and can be used for so many different things including; Phone rest / Prayer quilt /  Valentine / Ornament / Coaster / Mug Rug / Luggage tag I had been gifted a darling box of fabric scraps a few months ago and I have been enjoying sifting through the pieces finding the perfect centres to these minis. I loved the look of this sweet girl and teddy which has a vintage feel to them. They are slightly smaller than a gift card (approx 3" X 4") so that I can send them in the mail! The following are the paper-pieced instructions and you can click on the link to download them too. Get the pattern HERE I also created a few using the same technique, I simply made the strips different sizes. You can also check out my YouTube video where I show step by step how to make one without the pattern. Click HERE to watch! Don't forget to subscribe to my channel to see my new postings and c...

Sew up this darling needlebook in no time and use up some sweet little fabric to showcase in the centre! These make great gifts for your quilting and sewing friends.   You can find the custom made pins in my shop on Instagram @berry_birdy_shop  Instructions; Copy the template to your desktop and print it out so it measures  2" X 2 1/2". Cut it out leaving at least 1/2" around the outer edges. 1. Shorten your stitch length to 1.5 - 1.8mm.  2. Beginning in the centre of the envelope, place the cat (or other fussy cut fabric in the centre covering the #1 space. The pieces need to be slightly larger than the area they are covering.  3. Place a pink strip along the #1 and #2 line with right sides together on the wrong side of the template (the back of the paper). Pin in place. Hint; It can be helpful to hold it up into the light for positioning. 4. Flip the template over and sew along the line in between the #1 and #2 areas extending at least 1/8” beyond the line on ...

It's May again, which means the Micro Mini Sew-A-Long has now begun!  It runs May 1st - 31st which gives you plenty of time to whip up a super small adorable creation! This is the 5th year of the sew-a-long and if you check out the tag #microminisal on Instagram you will see hundreds of micro mini creations that are inspiring and soooo darling! If you would like to take part in the Sew-A-Long (aka SAL), simply follow me on Instagram at @berry_birdy for updates, and #microminisal to see who is participating and their tiny, cute little entries to win some fabulous prizes! What's a Micro Mini? It's a teeny, tiny little mini quilted project that is 8" or smaller. (The first year it was 6" and I decided that 8" may be better for those who are trying out tiny sewing for the first time :)). It can be a tiny quilt, a postcard, a luggage tag, anything you would like that is quilted. How do I participate? Follow @berry_birdy on Instagram and use #microminisal when post...

 Mini Paper Pieced Egg There is always time for a last minute gift, and you can whip this sweet egg up in no time! SEWING TIPS; When sewing the binding around the egg, begin sewing on the side or bottom, gently “guide” the binding in (no pull but gently push) around the curves. You can find full instructions for making this heart on my YouTube Channel - BerryBirdy. www.etsy.com/shop/berrybirdy or IG @Berry_Birdy Paper pieced pattern can be found at the end of the instructions. Instructions; Photocopy and cut out the rectangle template. (You will cut out the egg shape later on in the sewing process.) 1. Shorten your stitch length to 1.5 - 1.8mm.  2. Beginning in the centre of the egg (the tiny square), gather two  pieces of fabric and place them with right sides together. The  pieces need to be slightly larger than the centre square areas   (about 3/4” X 3/4”). Place the pieces on the wrong side of  the template (the back of the paper). Pin in place. Hi...

Micro Mini Bunny With Easter approaching I simply had to share with you all this super darling little bunny pattern, especially with the Micro Mini Sew along coming up in May! Find the pattern at the end of the article with a link to download. Finished quilt measures 5" X 4 1/2" tall. (Micro Mini sew along from May 1-31, 2022) What is the Micro Mini Sew Along? During the month of May on my Instagram and Facebook page, you can join in the fun of “sewing small”! Dig out your tiny scraps, reduce patterns, or simply go for it and stitch up a quilted project that measures 8” or less. There will be challenges throughout the month including, “smallest quilt”, “treasures from the trash” (sewing a project with only fabrics from your trash bin). Will there be prizes? Oh yes! There will be 15 sponsors this year and some amazing prizes including fabric packs, patterns, quilting tools, needle minders, and more.  How can you participate? All you need to do is create your own Micro Mini Qui...

Love is definitely a funny thing. The dictionary describes it as an intense feeling of deep affection. Wikipedia explains love as ‘encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states.’ However we try to explain it or understand it, love is very exciting, complicated and even painful.  I have spent a good portion of my life dedicated to those I love, by comitting my time, energy, and efforts while creating lasting and meaninful relationships. I have collected these lasting memories that are being stored on the shelves of my life. James M. Barrie said it perfectly; “God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” I still remember my first love...Ah! The sweetness of young love! We were in Grade 1, and on Valentine’s Day he presented me with the most wonderful handmade gift, a stuffed heart. It was made of flannel and had white lace around the outer edges. It looked like it was something he made, with hot glue holding it together, although I am sure he ...

Use it or loose it by Lesley Chaisson of Berry Birdy Designs I read a story of a quilter who had bought and saved many precious quilting fabrics for years. Her stash was impressive and quilting skills admired. Upon her untimely passing however, her quilting fabrics were given away and sold off (of course for a portion of the cost of them!). There was no one in the family who had interest or  desire to continue on with her most beloved hobby. Why do I share this with you? First, let me tell you about my daughter. A few years ago she bagan sharing her  fabric collection with me by presenting me with various pieces of 2 1/2” squares. She would cut them up for her projects and her fabric packs on Etsy, and then give some to me. The little square piles ended up in baskets, on shelves in my sewing room, and carefully stacked neatly in drawers, until I eventually decided they needed a better home. Once these darling pieces started piling up, I realized that when I started a new proje...