Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to make a soft, cheerful throw quilt with a sweet 1930s feel.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is 30s Playtime in Sky.
The number on it is 33630 16.
It comes from Moda Fabrics.
The collection is 30s Playtime.
And the colorway is Sky.
That is a soft sky blue.
It revives cheerful 1930s reproduction prints.
They feel happy, light, and vintage.
This is quilting fabric.
It is sold by the yard.
And this yardage is 45 inches wide.
It suits vintage-style quilts.
It also suits reproduction sewing and coordinated projects.
I love this blue for a throw.
It is calm, but it is not dull.
You see that playtime charm up close.
Why it suits a throw quilt
A throw quilt is a smaller quilt for everyday use.
You drape it over a couch or chair.
You pull it over your lap on cool evenings.
Ours will finish about 50 by 60 inches.
That is a good size for one person.
It is also easy to fold and gift.
This Sky print is perfect for that job.
The soft blue works as the star fabric.
The reproduction print gives it story and charm.
And simple blocks let the print really shine.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Big squares, steady seams, and a cozy batting.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Super duper cute, and really really useful.
What you will need
- This 30s Playtime Sky fabric — 2 yards for the main blocks and outer border
- Coordinating quilting cotton in cream or white — 1 yard for alternating blocks and inner border
- Coordinating quilting cotton for backing — 3 1/4 yards of 45-inch-wide fabric, pieced, or a wideback you already love
- Batting — one throw size, about 58 by 68 inches
- Binding fabric — 1/2 yard, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- 100% cotton thread, 50-weight, in soft blue or cream
- Universal or quilting needle, size 80/12
- Rotary cutter, mat, ruler, pins or clips, and a good iron
Let me walk through those numbers.
We will cut 10 1/2-inch squares.
They finish at 10 inches in the quilt.
Make 15 squares from the Sky print.
Make 15 squares from your cream fabric.
Lay them out in 5 rows of 6 squares.
That is 30 squares total.
That gives you a 50-by-60-inch top before borders.
Set your stitch length to 2.5 millimeters.
That is about 10 stitches per inch.
Use a scant 1/4-inch seam allowance throughout.
If you want a larger throw, add a border.
A 3-inch border all around adds 6 inches each way.
Completely up to you.
Brief steps
- Press both fabrics well, then cut your 10 1/2-inch squares. Take your time and keep edges straight.
- Lay out the squares, alternating Sky and cream, in 5 rows of 6. Step back and check the balance.
- Sew each row together with a scant 1/4-inch seam, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
- Sew the rows together, nesting those seams, and press the whole top flat.
- Add a 2-inch cream inner border if you like a frame, then layer the top, batting, and backing.
- Baste well, then quilt simply. Stitch in the ditch is lovely here, or try a gentle meander.
- Trim the quilt square, join your 2 1/2-inch binding strips, and bind all around.
- Press the finished throw, add a label if you wish, and give it a good shake-out.
On that quilting step, go slow and steady.
Slow down around thick seam joins.
Slow down or the needle snaps, folks.
I rushed a join on my first throw.
Oh my goodness, that pucker was not pretty.
I just took out a few stitches and eased it flat.
Easy fix. Just like that.
Practical tips
It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic.
A throw that gets loved and washed is a success.
Take your time, it's not a race.
Press after every row.
That one habit keeps your top flat and square.
Check your square size after the first two.
If they are shrinking, check that seam allowance.
You have options for the quilting, too.
Stitch in the ditch is clean and classic.
Echo quilting around the squares adds soft texture.
A loose meander is fastest and very forgiving.
I prefer stitch in the ditch for this print.
It lets that sweet sky blue do the talking.
But the other ways are lovely, too.
Completely up to you.
Alrighty, that's our soft sky-blue throw quilt.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 30s Playtime Sky 33630 16 45" wide fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
