Hey everyone! Today we're making a cozy lap quilt with one batik, and I'll show you how to piece big, easy blocks that let the fabric shine.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is the Anthology BA-15052 45" wide fabric per yard from Fabric Fanatics.
It's a batik. It's 45" wide. And it's sold by the yard here at Linda's.
The listing keeps it simple. Anthology is the name in the title, and BA-15052 is its number. It does not list specific colors, so I won't guess at them. For this project, the type and the width are what matter most.
Batiks are a really really good pick for a lap quilt. They press crisp and flat. They hide everyday use well. And that layered batik look gives you interest across the whole top, even with a simple block.
You do not need ten fabrics competing here. Let this one batik carry the quilt.
Completely up to you how you use it, of course. Big squares keep it fast and calm. Wide strips give you more piecing to play with. I'll show you the big-square version first.
The project: a cozy lap quilt
We're making a lap quilt that finishes about 48" by 60".
That is a good size, folks. Big enough to cover your legs on the couch. Small enough to finish without clearing your whole month.
Why does this fabric suit it? A lap quilt lives close up. You see it folded over a chair. You feel it in your hands. A batik gives you that rich, shifting look in every block, without any tricky matching at the seams.
Materials
- 2 1/2 yards of Anthology BA-15052 for the top and binding
- 3 yards of backing fabric, pieced to size, or wide backing cut to 54" by 66"
- Batting cut about 54" by 66", so you have extra all around
- Thread that blends with your fabric
- Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
- Pins or clips, and a walking foot if you have one
That yardage gives you room for twenty blocks, plus binding. Save the scraps for a matching pillow later.
Brief steps
One. Press your fabric first. Use a hot, dry iron. Batiks press crisp, and that makes cutting so much easier. Measure twice, then cut once.
Two. Cut twenty squares at 12 1/2" by 12 1/2". Lay them out in four rows of five. Turn a few squares a quarter turn as you go. With a batik, that little turn changes the light in a nice way.
Three. Sew the squares in each row together with a 1/4" seam allowance. Press the seams to one side. Then sew the rows together, nesting those seams where you can. Use an 80/12 needle and a stitch length of about 2.5.
Four. Layer backing face down, batting, then your top face up. Smooth from the middle out. Pin about every 4" so nothing shifts while you quilt.
Five. Quilt it simply. I like stitch in the ditch along the block seams, then an echo line about 1" inside each square. Go slow at the seam crossings. Slow down there or the needle can snap on a thick spot. That's your warning moment, folks.
Six. Trim the edges even. Bind with double-fold binding cut at 2 1/2" wide. That width wears well on a quilt that will get washed, folded, and loved. Just like that, you have a finished lap quilt.
Practical tips
Test your quilting on a scrap sandwich first. Ten minutes of testing saves you an hour with a seam ripper. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Want options? You have them. Meander freehand for a soft look. Use ruler work for crisp lines. Or tie off and hand quilt a few big stitches if you like it cozy. My preference is stitch in the ditch plus echo, but it is completely up to you.
I have sewn a row in backwards before. Oh my goodness, yes I have. Lay the row back in place, check the turn of the squares, and sew it again. The fix is part of the making.
And here's the permission beat, because I mean it every time. It does not have to be perfect. A seam that wanders a hair still keeps you warm. You're your own worst critic, folks, and nobody on your couch is measuring your blocks. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Anthology BA-15052 45" wide fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
