Hey everyone, Corey Pearson here. Today we're turning a stack of pretty little 5-inch squares into a cozy throw quilt you can finish without ever cutting your main fabrics.
Meet the Fabric
Our star today is the Shimmer Tonals Charms pack from Connecting Threads. It comes with 40 pieces of fabric, all cut into tidy 5-inch squares, ready to sew the minute you open the package.
These squares come from the Shimmer Tonals collection, part of the Basics & Blenders line. Every square carries a subtle texture with tonal pearlescent metallic printing. That little bit of shimmer catches the light as the quilt moves. Oh my goodness, it really does sparkle.
Because this is a multi-color pack, you get a whole spread of colors in one bundle. The tonals are designed to play nicely together, so you are not guessing whether this blue likes that green. Somebody already did that homework for you.
And since the squares are pre-cut, your rotary cutter gets the day off. We are not reinventing the wheel here. We are just sewing.
The Project: A Simple Charm Throw Quilt
A throw quilt is the hardest-working quilt in the house. It lives on the couch. It covers cold feet during movies. It naps like a champion. A finished size around 48 by 57 inches is just right for one person and a bowl of popcorn.
Charm squares suit a throw perfectly. The patchwork does the design work for you. The pearlescent shimmer keeps simple squares from looking plain, and the multi-color mix means every row feels a little different.
Materials
- 2 Shimmer Tonals Charms packs (80 squares total; one pack makes a smaller lap or baby size)
- 1 yard of a coordinating fabric for borders
- 1/2 yard for binding, or about 2 1/2-inch strips cut from your border fabric
- About 3 yards of backing fabric
- Throw-size batting, roughly 54 by 63 inches
- Thread to match, a size 80/12 needle, and your trusty 1/4-inch foot
Brief Steps
Step 1: Lay it out. Arrange your 80 squares in 10 rows of 8. Step back and squint. Move the darkest squares around until no two neighbors match too closely. Completely up to you how they land.
Step 2: Sew the rows. Join squares with a scant 1/4-inch seam. Each square finishes at 4 1/2 inches, so ten squares give you a 45-inch row before borders. Press seams in opposite directions from row to row so they nest.
Step 3: Join the rows. Eight rows sewn together give you a top about 36 by 45 inches. Take your time here. It's not a race, and nested seams make this part really really satisfying.
Step 4: Add borders. Cut border strips 6 inches wide and add them all around. Now your top measures about 48 by 57 inches. Just like that, it's throw-sized.
Step 5: Layer, quilt, and bind. Sandwich the backing, batting, and top. Quilt it simply — stitch in the ditch along the seams works, or a gentle meander if you want to freehand. Then bind it with your 2 1/2-inch strips and tie off your ends neatly.
Practical Tips
Chain piece and save thread. Feed squares through in pairs without clipping threads between them. You'll sew those rows in half the time.
Watch the shimmer direction. Honestly, I don't fuss over it. The pearlescent print is tonal and forgiving, so a square turned sideways still looks right. But if one lands wrong and bugs you, that's your sign to flip it. You're the boss of this quilt.
Press, don't push. Lift the iron and set it down instead of sliding it. Sliding can stretch a little 5-inch square out of shape, and then your corners won't meet. Ask me how I know. I learned that one the honest way.
Slow down at intersections. Where four corners meet, ease off the pedal. Bulky seams can shove your needle sideways, and a snapped needle helps nobody.
And here's the thing I always say: it does not have to be perfect. A throw quilt gets loved, washed, and dragged around the house. A slightly wobbly seam will never once stop it from keeping somebody warm. You're your own worst critic — the person under this quilt will only see the pretty colors.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Grab a couple of charm packs, put on some music, and sew a row or two a night. Super duper easy, and super duper cute on the couch.
Thanks for sewing along with me, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Shimmer Tonals Charms 5 Inch Squares Multi Color Quilting Cotton Fabric at Linda's Electric Quilters.
