Hey everyone! Today we're making a snuggly throw quilt, and I'll show you how big, simple squares let a pretty blue batik do all the talking.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is the Banyan 80283-63 CHERRY BLOSSOMS SURF BLUE 45" wide fabric per yard from Fabric Fanatics.
It's a batik. It's 45" wide. It's made by Banyan. And it's sold by the yard here at Linda's.
The name tells you the look. Cherry Blossoms is the design name. Surf Blue is the color. So you get a soft floral feel in a calm, watery blue.
Batiks press crisp and hold an edge well. That matters here, because this throw is built on straight cuts and long, simple seams. No fussy piecing to fight you.
The project: a big-square throw quilt
We're making a throw that finishes about 48" wide by 60" long. That's a real couch size, folks. Big enough to share. Almost.
The design is simple on purpose. Twenty large squares, four across and five down. Each square finishes at 12", so the cherry blossoms get room to breathe.
Why does this fabric suit it? A floral print gets chopped up in tiny piecing. In big squares, it stays whole and pretty. One fabric, one layout, and the quilt looks finished. Super duper easy, and really really cozy.
And here's the permission beat. Your points do not have to be perfect. Your rows do not have to line up like a magazine photo. You're your own worst critic here, I promise. Take your time. It's not a race.
Materials
- 2 3/4 yards of Banyan 80283-63 CHERRY BLOSSOMS SURF BLUE for the squares and binding
- 3 yards of a coordinating 45" wide fabric for the backing, pieced to size
- One throw-size batting piece, at least 54" by 66"
- Thread to blend with the surf blue
- Rotary cutter, long ruler, and mat, plus pins or clips
- An iron, and a walking foot if you have one
Brief steps
One. Press your fabric first. Cut twenty squares, each 12 1/2" by 12 1/2". From a 45" width, you can get three squares across each cut, so take your time and keep that ruler steady. Set the extra fabric aside for binding.
Two. Lay the squares out in five rows of four. If the blossoms feel directional, turn every other square a quarter turn. That scatters the pattern nicely. Step back and look before you sew a thing. Completely up to you how they land.
Three. Sew each row together with a 1/4" seam allowance, an 80/12 needle, and a stitch length of about 2.5. Press the seams in one row to the left. Press the next row to the right. Alternating like that helps your corners nest when the rows join.
Four. Sew the five rows together, matching seams as you go. Press the whole top flat. You should be right around 48 1/2" by 60 1/2" before quilting. Just like that, your top is done.
Five. Layer the backing wrong side up, the batting, and the top right side up. Baste it well. Quilt it simply: stitch in the ditch along the big squares is clean and classic. A gentle meander works too, and it's forgiving. Go slow around the edges so nothing shifts.
Six. From your leftover fabric, cut six binding strips at 2 1/2" wide. Join them end to end. You need a little over 216" to go around, plus extra for joins and corners. Sew the binding on, fold it over, and stitch it down.
Practical tips
Press every seam as you go. I know, it's tempting to skip it. But a pressed top quilts flatter and looks sharper.
I have absolutely sewn a whole row on upside down and admired it for ten minutes. The fix is easy. Number your rows with little slips of paper before you start. Learn from my mistake, y'all.
Want it bigger for a bed? Add one more column and one more row. That takes you to about 60" by 72", and you'll want roughly a yard more fabric. Want it smaller for a lap? Use sixteen squares, four by four, and finish near 48" square.
Oh my goodness, this is my favorite kind of quilt. Big pieces, honest seams, and a finish you can actually reach this week. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks for sewing along with me, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Banyan 80283-63 CHERRY BLOSSOMS SURF BLUE 45" wide fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
