A spiraling seersucker pattern quilt makes a tactile treat for little hands and feet. Mix colors and stripes (we used seven types of seersucker), and vary the directions of the stripes. 

For a dash of color to match the backing and binding, the quilt is stitched in yellow along the seams, a technique called "stitching in the ditch." To make a 40-inch square quilt, start with a 10 1/2-inch center square and add 5 1/2-inch-wide strips.

How to Make a Log Cabin Pattern

Tools and Materials:

• Rotary cutter
• Seesucker fabrics, bandjfabrics.com
• Cotton pima poplin (backing), bandjfabrics.com

Binding a Quilt How-To:

This technique involves binding the layers of a quilt -- front, batting, and back -- with a strip of fabric around the edge.

1. To make binding, use a rotary cutter to cut strips of 2 1/4-inch wide fabric on the bias. Stitch strips together to make a piece a few inches longer than the quilt's perimeter.

2. Fold the binding strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together; do not press. Beginning in the middle of 1 long side on the quilt front, align and pin the binding's raw edges to the quilt's raw edges. Start sewing the binding to the quilt with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Fold the fabric at the corners. When you get all the way around the quilt, fold the end of the binding under for a neat look.

3. Finish the binding by folding it over the edge of the back of the quilt and hand-stitching it in place, as shown: Holding the binding against the back of the quilt, secure it by blind stitching its folded edge every 1/8 inch, picking up just a couple of threads of the quilt back beyond the seam allowance with each stitch.

Topstitching Technique How-To:

We used a method known as "stitch in the ditch." This involves stitching along the piecework seams.

Make a running stitch along the seams, stitching through all the layers of fabric. Or use a sewing machine. With either technique, you can use a contrasting color or one that blends in.

Sources: Cashmere top and bottom, ericatanov.com, Cashmere Laurel Leaf Bonnet, in Elfin Yellow, florahenri.com