Hey everyone. Today we're making a bright lap quilt, and we're letting a bold aqua print bring all the cheer.
Here we go. Simple cuts. Straight seams. No fussy blocks to match. Just a cozy quilt for the couch, the porch, or your favorite reading chair.
Meet the fabric first
This is the Aqua Wink Colorblock Party 43/44" Cotton Fabric Per Yard. That name tells you a lot, y'all.
It is 100% cotton. It is a quilting cotton in a standard 43/44-inch width. It was made by In The Beginning Fabrics.
The collection is Colorblock Party. The color is aqua, fresh and bright. The tags call out stripes and multiple colors, so this is not a quiet blender. This one wants to be seen.
The product notes say it is lightweight. It also tends to hold its shape, even after being washed. That matters for a quilt you will use every day. Nobody wants a lap quilt that goes limp after two washes.
I love a fabric like this for a simple top. The color does the heavy lifting. The pattern already has energy. Our piecing just needs to stay clean and let it shine. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
The project: a lap quilt
A lap quilt is a small throw, made to be used. Think about 48 by 60 inches finished. Big enough to cover your legs. Small enough to finish in a weekend or two.
This fabric suits it perfectly. Cut it into big pieces, and the aqua colorblock look stays bold. Slice it too small, and you lose that party feel. Big strips and big squares keep it happy.
You have options here. Use this fabric for the whole top in wide strips. Or mix it with two calm solids and let aqua be the star. I prefer the mix. It gives your eye a place to rest. Completely up to you, though.
Materials list
- 2 yards of this Aqua Wink fabric for wide strips or large squares
- 1 yard total of coordinating solid cotton, if you want a mixed top
- Batting, at least 54 by 66 inches, so it extends past the top
- Backing fabric, at least 54 by 66 inches
- Binding fabric: about 1/2 yard, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- All-purpose thread in aqua or a soft neutral
- A size 80/12 or 90/14 quilting needle
- Rotary cutter, ruler, pins or clips, and a walking foot if you have one
Here are the real numbers for my version. Cut the aqua fabric into strips 8 1/2 inches wide across the width. Cut the solids the same width. Sewn with 1/4-inch seams, each strip finishes at 8 inches. Seven strips give you about 56 inches of length before binding. Trim to the size you like best.
Brief steps
- Press your fabric well. Square up the ends before you cut.
- Cut your strips or squares. Keep your ruler steady and your cuts straight.
- Lay out the strips on a table or the floor. Move them around until the color feels balanced.
- Sew strips together with a 1/4-inch seam. Press seams to one side as you go.
- Layer backing, batting, and top. Smooth from the center out.
- Baste every 4 to 6 inches with pins or spray. Take your time here.
- Quilt in simple lines. Try stitch in the ditch along the seams, then echo one line 1/4 inch away.
- Trim the edges square. Sew on your binding, fold it over, and stitch it down.
Practical tips from my table
Set your stitch length to about 2.5 millimeters for piecing. That is roughly 10 stitches per inch. Short enough to hold. Long enough to rip out if you need to. And we all need to, sometimes.
Slow down at the quilting stage. A lap quilt can shift under the needle. If you rush, you get a little pucker. I have done it. The fix was simple. Stop, smooth, and restart slower. Just like that, it behaved.
Press, press, press. A pressed seam sits flatter. It also makes stitch in the ditch so much easier. Your needle finds the ditch instead of wandering.
Here is your permission beat, folks. It does not have to be perfect. You are your own worst critic. A seam that is off by a hair will disappear once this quilt is folded over someone's knees. Take your time. It is not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Start simple. Let the aqua do the talking. This one is super duper fun because the finish comes fast.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Aqua Wink Colorblock Party 43/44" Cotton Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
