2 Minute Tips with PBJ is a short video series sharing quick, beginner-friendly quilting tips to help build confidence in essential quilting skills.
This week's video is a quick how to on ripping seams cleanly when they are nested together. There is nothing sadder than ripping a seam out than ripping the fabric as well. There is also the chance of stretching the fabric out of whack, making it even harder to get the seams to line up correctly. So let's skip that all together and rip these nested seams out intentionally.
Watch the full YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/8dLr3BDR8gE
Here is the affiliate link to my favorite seam ripper mentioned in the video:
👉https://tidd.ly/4rJQQI3
(This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Patterns By Jen 💜 Read the full disclosure HERE.)
Why this Baby Tag Blanket is Perfect for Beginners
As a beginner what I needed was a quick finish. Something that I could look at, feel good about making and would excite me for the next project. I still need that when I try something new. For me, starting with a big project for a new skill is overwhelming, and this little Baby Tag Blanket is anything but big, except in cuteness. Just a front and a back, no seams to match, nothing to line up except the raw edges as you sew a straight stitch around the outside.
What You'll Need to Make a Baby Tag Blanket
The supplies needed for this project are also fairly simple. Other than a sewing machine and thread you will need:
• Two 16" squares of fabric
• Fifteen 5" pieces of ribbon. Any color, any width. In fact the more different they are the better.
Fabric and Ribbon Tips for a Beautiful Finish
My only real recommendation is to have a few ribbons that are black and white and add some red, too, if you can. But if you don't have those on hand that is ok, use what you have. It's a sweet finish we are after, nothing else.
Softer fabrics like minky and flannel will give the Baby Tag Blanket a wonderfully soft texture for baby to enjoy. Cotton will work, and it will soften over time, but honestly that soft fabric mixed with the texture of the ribbons is so good for their sensory development.
How Big Should A Baby Tag Blanket Be?
Baby Tag Blankets can be as big or as small as you like, and they can have as many or as few ribbons, too. I like this 16" square size, because as baby grows it can become a little doll blanket for their favorite doll or stuffy, but I probably wouldn't go bigger. A small 4" Baby Tag Blanket would be nice for in the car seat while out shopping, or anything in between. All you need to do is cut both the front and the back the same size and you are golden. P.S. It doesn't even have to be square!
Watch the Full Baby Tag Blanket Tutorial Here
Bonus: More Beginner-friendly Scrap Projects
The year is just getting started, but if you are looking for a couple of projects to build your foundational skills on, I have some to share.
This has been the favorite tutorial by far with an added, helpful twist. Gift this pincushion or keep it for yourself, either way, it's a great little project and perfect for scraps.
2 Minute Tips with PBJ is a short video series sharing quick, beginner-friendly quilting tips to help build confidence in essential quilting skills.
This week's video is a quick how to for getting nice flat seams in the middle of your blocks and quilting units. Spinning seams was something that really frustrated me and I stayed far away from it for a long time, until I discovered the issue was my stitching.
Watch the full YouTube Video:
Here is the affiliate link to my favorite seam ripper mentioned in the video:
Clover White Seam Ripper → https://tidd.ly/4rJQQI3
(This is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Patterns By Jen 💜 Read the full disclosure HERE.)
This little step is worth taking the time to learn, she says with her head down in acknowledged shame for waiting, and makes such a difference in your finished block.
Simple Fabric Hot Pad: An Easy Beginner Sewing Project
Looking for a low-stress sewing project? In this week’s Snippets with Patterns By Jen, I’m sharing a simple fabric hot pad that focuses on basic construction and clean finishing, without quilting or binding.
Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you click and decide you really do need that fabric, ruler, or notion, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps support Patterns By Jen and keeps my sewing room stocked with thread and rotary blades. 😉 You can read my full disclosure HERE.
Sometimes we just want to sew a little "something," not a quilt, or even a table runner, just a quick finish. While the hot pad may take a little extra fiddling, it's still a quick (and instantly usable) make. I share tips for creating less bulk and how to get a nice a finish.
This project is:
• Beginner friendly
• Scrap friendly
• Giftable
Supplies I used in the video:
That Purple Thang: 👉 https://tidd.ly/3ZTN4Qs (affiliate link)
Remember to use all 100% cotton supplies for this project. From fabric to thread, 100% cotton should be used when making something that will be used for hot things
This project is made easier with a walking foot. If you’re a new quilter, that’s one of my top recommendations for an early investment. It isn’t required, but it does make stitching layers like these much easier, and you’ll use it a lot in your quilting.
Snippets by Patterns By Jen are short, sweet tutorials designed to spark creativity, encourage new ideas, and bring joy to your quilting journey.
Share your finished hot pads with me in the Facebook group:
We’re kicking off the 2026 Monthly Color Challenge, and I’m so glad you’re here. This block of the month has become a favorite for so many quilters, and it’s always exciting to see a new year begin.
2026 Monthly Color Challenge: A Free Quilt Block of the Month
For 2026, our color inspiration is coming from frogs. When I first decided on that idea, I’ll admit I hesitated, would there really be enough variety to carry us through an entire year? But, as usual, Mother Nature knew exactly what she was doing. From subtle neutrals to bold, unexpected pops of color, our frog friends have plenty to offer. We have a year of beautiful color ahead of us.
Our color this month is green and inspired by the Northern Leopard Frog, a frog I remember trying to catch often as a child. According to Wikipedia the Northern Leopard Frog is a larger species of frog and can reach 4.3 inches in length. These frogs tend to be mostly green or brown, with black spots, but there are some that do not have spots and there are even some blue ones. It's amazing what you learn when you go looking for frog inspired color.
The fabrics I am using this year are Whisper Weave and Whisper Weave Too. They are basics from Benartex and have a wonderful texture to give these blocks some movement. February's colors are peppermint and evergreen.
Each month comes with its own How To video. I walk you through how to cut, stitch, and trim every part of the block, so no matter your skill level, you can make each block with us. You can find the link to the How To video each month at the bottom of the PDF instructions.
This month we are making the Ohio Star block with a slight variation to the center. This is one of my favorite blocks to make and by adding a little something to the center we can really make it our own.
Should you ever have questions throughout the year, you are more than welcome (and encouraged) to email me at jen@patternsbjen.com. You can also join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns by Jen Facebook group, where you can share your finished blocks and ask questions. Follow me on Instagram and use #monthlycolorchallenge when you post your fabric choices and finished blocks.
Here’s a look at the full block for February. You can download the pattern HEREand start sewing, I can’t wait to see your blocks when they’re finished!
If you’d like the Monthly Color Challenge blocks sent straight to your inbox, be sure to subscribe using the sign-up link below.
While it’s too late to receive the January and February instructions by email, you can still subscribe to have the March – December Monthly Color Challenge blocks (plus the final layout!) delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up HERE.
I’m so happy to be back with the Monthly Color Challenge and to have you here with me.
2 Minute Tips with PBJ is a short video series sharing quick, beginner-friendly quilting tips to help build confidence in essential skills.
One thing I’m especially passionate about, especially for beginners, is pinning seams correctly. This simple step can be a game changer when it comes to getting your corners to meet perfectly.
Not only does proper pinning improve your stitching, it also keeps your machine safe. By following my steps on how to pin and when to pull your pins while sewing, you reduce the risk of hitting a pin with your needle. No broken needles, bent pins, or worst-case scenario: messing up your machine’s timing.
Did you miss 2 Minute Tips with PBJ last week? Don’t worry, Snippets with Patterns By Jen is waiting for you! These short, hands-on tutorials drop every other Thursday on the PBJ YouTube Channel and are perfect for keeping your quilting momentum going.
This week’s Snippets with Patterns By Jen tutorial is all about cozy sewing. I’m sharing how to make a child-size Minky blanket with a matching doll blanket using just 1½ yards of Minky fabric.
A child-size Minky blanket hanging on a crib rail, made from strawberry print fabric.
This is a simple, beginner-friendly project that comes together quickly and makes a wonderful handmade gift for kids — especially when paired with a favorite doll or stuffed animal.
In the video, I mention a helpful link to my 2-Minute Tips with PBJ video on changing your rotary cutter blade, which you’ll find in the description below the video. It’s especially helpful when working with Minky fabric.
A doll wrapped in a matching Minky doll blanket made from strawberry print fabric, shown alongside the coordinating child-size blanket.
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