Hey everyone. Today we're making a simple lap quilt, and we're doing it with a sweet little starter kit riding shotgun.
First, let's talk about the kit itself. The 1101 Floral Sewing Kit from Famoré is a floral pattern sewing kit. It pairs a charming floral design with a versatile selection of tools. It is made for sewing enthusiasts who want function and a little style. Tags on this one tell the story fast. Beginner sewing. Craft kit. Gift set. Sewing starter. And yes, scissors are part of the fun here.
I like a kit like this for one reason. Everything lives in one place. You are not hunting drawers mid-project. You grab the kit, grab your fabric, and you get to work. That matters when you are new. It matters when you are teaching somebody new, too.
The project: a first lap quilt
Our project today is a lap quilt. Finished size, about 50 by 60 inches. That is a great couch size. Big enough to be cozy. Small enough to finish without losing heart.
Why does this kit suit this quilt? Because a lap quilt is mostly straight seams and simple cutting. You do not need fancy tools. You need the basics, close at hand, doing their job. A starter kit and a starter quilt are a perfect match. Here we go.
What you will need
- The 1101 Floral Sewing Kit for your everyday cutting and sewing tasks
- About 2 1/2 yards of quilting cotton for the top, or 30 squares cut 10 1/2 inches
- About 3 yards of fabric for the backing
- A batting piece at least 54 by 64 inches
- Thread, a machine needle in size 80/12, and pins or clips
- An iron, because pressing is half the battle, y'all
Brief steps
Cut your top fabric into 10 1/2 inch squares. Thirty squares gives you five across and six down. Lay them out on the floor first. Move them around. Live with it a minute.
Sew squares into rows with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press seams to one side. Then sew the rows together, nesting those seams where you can. Set your stitch length around 2.5 millimeters. That is roughly 10 to 12 stitches per inch. Nice and sturdy.
Layer backing, batting, and top. Smooth from the center out. Pin or baste well. Then quilt it simple. Stitch in the ditch along the seams is just fine. Echo quilting works too. Completely up to you.
Trim the edges square. Bind with 2 1/2 inch strips. Sew the binding on, fold it over, and finish it down. Just like that, you have a quilt.
Tips from my table
Slow down at intersections. Thick seam stacks can push your fabric around. Ease over them and nothing snaps or shifts.
Press every row before you join it. I know, I know. It feels skippable. It is not. Flat rows sew together so much easier.
And here is your permission beat, folks. Your points may not all match perfectly. Mine sure didn't on my early quilts. You are your own worst critic here. Nobody you love is grading that quilt. They are wrapping up in it. Take your time. It is not a race.
Made a crooked seam? We all have. Rip the few bad stitches, resew it, and move on. Fixing is a skill too, and this little kit helps you learn it gently.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. We're not reinventing the wheel here. We're just making something warm, one row at a time. Super duper satisfying, too.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 1101 Floral Sewing Kit at Linda's Electric Quilters.
