Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to turn one bundle of 10-inch squares into a cozy lap quilt, start to finish.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This bundle is called 10in Squares,42pcs/bundle Organic, from Cloud9 Fabrics.
You get 42 squares in the bundle. Every square measures 10 inches. That is a really friendly size to start with.
The fabric is 100% organic cotton. The description tells us that right up front. No guessing needed there.
And oh my goodness, the prints are fun. You will see gardening tools. You will see flowers. You will see sweet, whimsical illustrations too.
The colors feel fresh and cheerful. Think greens and pinks. Think yellows and blues. They play nicely together without matching perfectly.
That mix is exactly why I like it for this project. A lap quilt loves variety. Every block can show off a different print.
The project: a simple lap quilt
We are not reinventing the wheel here. No tiny pieces. No tricky points to match.
You will lay all 42 squares in a simple grid. Six squares across. Seven rows down. Just like that, you used the whole bundle.
Here is the math, and I love this part. Sew each square with a quarter-inch seam. Each finished square measures 9 1/2 inches.
Six across gives you 57 inches wide. Seven down gives you 66 1/2 inches long. That is a generous lap quilt, folks.
It is perfect for a couch. It is perfect for a porch chair. It also makes a really really sweet gift.
Materials list
- One bundle of 10in Squares,42pcs/bundle Organic — all 42 squares
- Batting, about 60 by 70 inches
- Backing fabric, enough to make a piece about 62 by 72 inches
- Binding fabric, about 1/2 yard, cut into seven 2 1/2-inch strips
- All-purpose sewing thread in a soft neutral
- A size 80/12 needle in your machine
- Pins or clips, a rotary cutter, a ruler, and a mat
Brief steps to make it
Step one. Lay out your squares on the floor. Move them around. Balance the greens, pinks, yellows, and blues across the quilt.
Step two. Sew each row together. Use a quarter-inch seam. Press the seams in one row to the left. Press the next row to the right. Those seams will nest together nicely.
Step three. Sew the seven rows together. Take your time here. Pin at every seam join. It is not a race.
Step four. Layer your backing, batting, and quilt top. Smooth it out well. Pin or spray baste it, completely up to you.
Step five. Quilt it simply. I would start with stitch in the ditch along the rows. Then maybe add one echo line inside a few squares. Keep it easy.
Step six. Trim the edges square. Join your binding strips. Sew the binding on, and finish it by machine or by hand.
Practical tips from my table
Slow down at the seam joins. Those nested seams get a little thick. Slow down or the needle can deflect. Nobody needs a broken needle today.
Check your stitch length too. I like about 2.5 millimeters, roughly 10 stitches per inch, for piecing. It holds well. It is still easy to pick out if you need to.
Yes, you might need to pick one out. I sure have. I once sewed a whole row in upside down. The flowers were charming. They were just facing the wrong way. I laughed, I unpicked it, and I sewed it again.
That is your permission beat, y'all. It does not have to be perfect. You are your own worst critic. Your family will only see a warm, cheerful quilt.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Lay it out your way. Move a square twice if you want. Completely up to you.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We will see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 10in Squares,42pcs/bundle Organic at Linda's Electric Quilters.
