Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to turn a pack of crisp white 10-inch squares into a clean, bright layer cake quilt.
Here we go.
First, let's look at the fabric
This pack is 10in Squares Kona Solids White Colorway 42pcs.
You get 42 pre-cut squares in the pack. Each square measures 10 inches by 10 inches. Together that is about 2.65 yards of fabric, already cut for you.
The fabric is Kona Cotton Solids from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. It is 100% high-quality cotton with a plain weave. The listing describes a smooth hand and a reliable finish, and that is exactly what you feel when you press a square flat.
The colorway here is White. The description calls it crisp and bright. There are no prints in this pack and no other colors mixed in. Every square is that same clean white.
That matters for this project. With an all-white top, your seams and your quilting do the talking. The texture becomes the design. Just like that, simple turns elegant.
And the fabric is machine washable. A finished quilt you can actually use and wash is always my favorite kind.
The project: a layer cake quilt
We are making a throw-size layer cake quilt. It will finish at about 57 inches by 66.5 inches. That is a generous lap quilt for the couch, or a lovely fold at the foot of a bed.
The layout is simple on purpose. Six squares across. Seven rows down. That uses all 42 squares in the pack, with nothing left over.
Each square finishes at 9.5 inches after your seams. Six times 9.5 gives you 57 inches wide. Seven times 9.5 gives you 66.5 inches long. The math checks out, folks.
Why does this white pack suit this quilt so well? A layer cake quilt is all about big, easy piecing. No small cuts. No fussy points to match. And because every square is the same white, you never have to stress about placement. Turn a square any direction and it still works. Completely up to you how you quilt it, and that quilting is where your personality shows up — a soft meander, gentle echo lines, or pretty feather work all read beautifully on white.
Materials list
- One pack of 10in Squares Kona Solids White Colorway 42pcs — you will use all 42 squares
- Batting, one piece about 62 inches by 72 inches
- Backing fabric, about 3 1/2 yards, pieced to about 62 inches by 72 inches
- Binding fabric, about 1/2 yard, cut into 2.5-inch strips
- Piecing and quilting thread, 50-weight is a good everyday choice — white thread keeps the look clean
- A size 80/12 needle for piecing and quilting
- A rotary cutter, ruler, mat, pins or clips, and a walking foot if you have one
Brief steps
1. Press and lay out. Press all 42 squares flat. Lay them out in 7 rows of 6 squares on a bed or the floor. Since they are all white, this step goes fast. Check for any square that needs one more press.
2. Sew the rows. Sew the 6 squares in each row together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Each row should measure about 57.5 inches by 10 inches before you join the rows. Press each row's seams all to one side. Press the next row's seams the opposite way, so the seams nest when you join them.
3. Join the rows. Sew the 7 rows together with a 1/4-inch seam. Pin at every seam join. Your top should now measure about 57 inches by 66.5 inches. Give it one good final press.
4. Layer and baste. Lay your backing right side down, add the batting, then place the top right side up. Smooth from the center out. Pin or baste every 3 to 4 inches.
5. Quilt it. Start in the center and work out. Stitch in the ditch along the row seams is a calm place to start. Then add echo lines about 2 inches apart, or a freehand meander across the whole top, at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Slow down over thick seam joins or the needle can deflect.
6. Bind it. Join your 2.5-inch binding strips end to end. You will need about 260 inches of binding. Sew it on, fold it to the back, and stitch it down. Take your corners slow and neat.
Practical tips from my table
White shows everything, so start with clean hands. I mean that kindly. A quick wash before you sit down saves a smudge you will stare at for years. Ask me how I know. I once pressed a whole top with a speck on my iron. I caught it early, cleaned the iron, and kept going. Mistakes happen. We just fix them and move on.
Chain-piece your rows to save thread and time. Sew one row's squares without cutting the thread between them, then clip them apart. It keeps your order straight, too.
And here's your permission beat. It doesn't have to be perfect. If one seam drifts a hair past a perfect 1/4 inch, your quilt will still keep somebody warm. You're your own worst critic. Nobody is measuring your blocks at the family gathering. Take your time, it's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
This one is super duper easy to gift, too. It goes with every room, every couch, every season. We're not reinventing the wheel here. We're just making something clean and useful, really really well.
Thanks so much for spending a little time with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 10in Squares Kona Solids White Colorway 42pcs at Linda's Electric Quilters.
