Stitch a baby quilt

1. Draw and cut out squares from thin card to use as templates. You will need the following sizes: 8cm, 8.5cm, 11.5cm and 15.5cm. The quilt is made up line by line, working from the centre out on either side.

2. For the centre line, cut six 8cm squares from one fabric print and five 8cm squares from a contrasting design. Stitch together with a 5mm seam allowance, alternating the materials, and press. Add a 4.5cm wide strip of plain cotton sashing to each long side, which should measure 80cm.

3. Working in tandem to create the two wide lines on either side of the centre, cut three 15.5cm squares from two different fabrics. Cut each square in half diagonally to make 12 large triangles in total. Cut three 11.5cm squares from four different prints and cut each one in half diagonally to make 24 smaller triangles in total.

4. Stitch the smaller triangles together in pairs along one short edge, ensuring each pair is the same way around. Press the pairs before stitching each one to the long edge of a larger triangle, creating a 15cm square. Join the squares together to make two wide strips.

5. Pin the wide strips to either side of the centre line, next to the sashing, leaving an equal overhang of approximately 2.5cm at each end. This will be trimmed away later. Add another 80cm length of sashing to each long side, ignoring the overhang.

6. For the two outer strips, cut 10, 8cm squares of one print and 12, 8cm squares of another. Cut 22, 8.5cm squares from various fabrics, including a couple of plain ones. Cut these 22 squares in half diagonally to make 44 triangles. Sew the triangles together in pairs along the long edge to make 22 coloured squares and press. Join these to the 8cm squares in an alternating pattern to make two lengths, 11 squares by two squares.

7. Stitch the lengths to each side of the quilt as before, and add sashing to the outer edges. Trim away the overhang from step 5 to align the vertical sides of the quilt and sew lengths of sashing to these edges to create a border around the quilt.

8. Assemble the quilt by pinning the top to wadding and backing fabric at regular intervals. Topstitch along the edges of each patchwork length, starting from the centre and working out in both directions to avoid the backing fabric rucking up. Trim excess wadding and backing before adding binding to the quilt with 4.5cm wide strips of plain cotton.

Stitch a cot mobile

1. Download the fox template, then trace it onto card and cut out. Draw around the template onto the reverse of a leftover piece of fabric measuring 10cm x 12cm. Place right sides together with a second rectangle and pin together.

2. Stitch around the shape, leaving a gap along the back. Trim around the shape using a 3mm seam allowance, clipping the curves and corners. Turn out and stuff with fibre filling. Make three more in this way.

3. Cut a 25cm length of piping cord and tie a knot in one end. Push the knot into the gap of an animal, fold the raw edges in and oversew securely. Add cord to the other motifs.

4. Cut a 4cm wide piece of plain cotton long enough to be tied across a cot or pram. Fold the long raw edges into the centre, before folding in half lengthways to enclose them, making a tape. Pin the ends of the cords inside the tape at regular intervals before top stitching, 2mm in from the edge.