Here's a note from Erika Mulvenna, host of WeAllSew.com:

I hope you've had a chance to visit the WeAllSew.com website since my last visit here at the Bernina Blog. Did you know that you can keep up with We All Sew at our Twitter feed and Facebook fan page?

Working with the WeAllSew.com project has opened my eyes to the many charities that depend on help from sewers like us. In fact, there is a whole list of these organizations on the Sew to Serve page at WeAllSew.com. And, the list keeps growning as new charity organizations are added to the list weekly!

I decided it was time for me to start volunteering my sewing time and looked to the Sew to Serve list to get started. I found the American Patchwork & Quilting's 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge. What a great volunterring idea! Sew pillowcases (and after all, it's so easy anyone can do it!) and donate them to help make a difference. Check the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge website for all kinds of great information, like the free pillowcase patterns, or how to find a participating shop near you. After you donate pillowcases, you can add how many pillowcases you made to help reach the goal of 1 million!

I downloaded the Pillowcase with Ruffled Trim PDF pattern and during my last craft group meet-up stitched 6 pillowcases, yay! The pillowcase went together so quickly, it was really fun! I am challenging everyone in my crafting group to sew up at least one pillowcase at our next meeting.

Why not get started sewing for others and stitch some pillowcases along with me? And while you're at it, join in on the We All Sew Facebook fan page creative pillowcase challenge to win a Bernina goody-bag full of sewing goodness! Just join us on the WeAllSew.com Facebook fanpage and post a picture of your most creative pillowcase made for charily between now and March 31st. The most creative pillowcase wins! Read more about the contest at the WeAllSew.com fanpage!

Welcome back to Erika Mulvenna, who's working on a new project here at BERNINA of America:

Hello fellow sewers! Check this out, there's a new place on the web to find anything and everything about sewing, www.WeAllSew.com. This is the best sewing stuff on the web, from blogs, Facebook pages, how-to videos, Flickr feeds and even Twitter handles, all sewn up in one place!

WeAllSew.com highlights Sew to Serve, connecting you directly with organizations and projects that need sewing volunteers. Marine Comfort Quilts (http://www.MarineComfortQuilts.us) is dedicated to bringing some comfort and love to families of military men and women lost in service to our country through quilts and quilting. Find many more worthy places to sew some love by clicking on Sew To Serve!

Free stuff! Yup, there's even a whole section of links to free sewing stuff, like these embroidery designs (http://FreeEmbroideryStuff.EmbroideryDesigns.com/), quilt patterns (http://www.FreeQuiltingPatterns.info/), and projects like these great fabric containers (http://TheLuckyDucks.blogspot.com/2009/10/scrap-buster-scrap-bags.html). And talk about fresh, new links are being added to WeAllSew.com weekly, so always expect to see the newest sewing stuff!

Stay in the sewing loop by joining us on our Facebook WeAllSew.com fanpage and our @weallsew Twitter feed, and enjoy the sewing love.

Because, after all, I sew, you sew, we all sew! 

Although my baby was originally due in the second week of December, she suprised us all by arriving almost a full month early! Baby Kate was born on Saturday, November 15th and although she was pre-term, she was very healthy. I will be taking some time off from Bernina the next few months to settle in with the baby at home.

I barely got to start on all the sewing projects I had slated for Baby Kate - I thought I would have many more weeks to sew for her! Besides finishing up my diaper bag, the Amy Butler's Everything Bag, I managed to get a few things put together for the nursery.

These cute little birdies are from a free pattern at Spool Sewing, designed by Michael Fulkerson. I added wings to my birdies by cutting out teardrop shapes and tacking them on to the sides of the birds. The pattern calls for a 1/4" seam allowance, and I found that using the Patchwork Foot #37 made piecing together the small pattern pieces a breeze.

Once I finished sewing, turning, and stuffing the birdies, I picked out some good looking sticks and planned the positioning of the birds. My husband helped me to glue the birds to the sticks, and then he strung the sticks together with heavy fishing line.

The mobile hangs right over the rocking chair, and the baby can look up and watch the birds when we're rocking her. I also managed to finish sewing the curtains and a small clothes hamper for her room before her arrival.

Now I am looking forward to finishing some accessories for the crib, making a wall-hung growth chart, and of course sewing many, many little outfits - thank heaven for little girls!

I've had a copy of Amy Butler's new book, Little Stitches for Little Ones for a couple of months, and have been marking the pages of all the projects I want to make for me and baby. I decided to start with "The Everything Bag" not only because it will make a great tote-around for baby, but it will also make a great hospital-go bag to hold CD's, I-Pod, toiletries, and any other small must-haves. I used 100% cotton Alexander Henry fabrics for this bag. Here's the result!

Check out all the extra pockets on the inside and the handy divider.

This bag uses fusible fleece and interfacing to help add body and shape. Since there were many layers of fabric, interfacing, and fleece to sew through, I used the Walking Foot #50 to help keep the layers from shifting during stitching. I also used the Edgestitch Foot #10 for all of the finishing edgestitching in the project.

Now I just need to decide on which project to make next!

I love making custom receiving blankets for friends expecting a baby, and they have always really loved getting them. Now that I'm expecting, I'm looking forward to making some for my own little one. Not only are these easy-as-pie gifts to stitch up, but small prints and plain colors are perfect blank canvases for embroidery.

All you need is some soft, cozy cotton flannel in your choice of print or color (1 yard will do, but buying 1 1/4 yards makes the blanket into a perfect square). Step one, finish all four sides with a 1/2" hem; turn under and press 1" of fabric to the wrong side, then turn under and pin.

Step two, stitch along the edge to hem up the blanket using a straight stitch or a fancy, decorative stitch. If you're using a super-cool print or you want a plain blanket, then you're done! This is a blanket I made with a tea set design print, and I used the lettering stitch feature on my Bernina to add a little message to the hem.

These blankets are also great for embroidery! Here's a blanket I'm putting together for a Bernina project (which I'll let you in on a little later), using Oklahoma Embroidery Supply and Design's pack #12195 Baby 12.

And you don't have to stick to baby designs. This blanket is embroidered with a Hope Yoder design, Nashville Lace. I changed the thread colors to different shades of pink, and the corner will be perfect for a monogram (when we finally decide on a name!).

When embroidering on flannel, use a polymesh cut-away stabilizer next to the fabric - it will help to keep the stitching from distorting through many washes, and it will stay nice and soft for cuddling. It's also a good idea to use Isacord polyester thread on these blankets since it is made to be tough and colorfast. And most of all, have fun creating your one-of-a-kind gift that will surely be treasured and cuddled for a long time to come.