Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to make a soft throw quilt from one wide cotton fabric, front and back, with simple quilting.
Here we go.
First, let's talk about this fabric.
This is the Cream Blooms Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard from Marcus Fabrics.
It is cotton.
It is 108/110 inches wide.
That width does a lot of work for you.
The designer is Judie Rothermel.
It comes from the 108" Premium Quilt Backs collection.
The Blooms part of that collection name fits.
The color is a warm, gentle cream.
Beige and natural tones sit in the background.
And the print is blooms and flowers.
Soft, pretty, and calm all at once.
Because it is a wideback, you skip piecing.
No seam running right down the middle.
Just like that.
Why This Fabric Suits a Throw Quilt
A throw quilt lives on the couch.
It gets pulled over laps every night.
It needs to be pretty and practical.
This cream floral does both jobs well.
The light color brightens up a living room.
The flower print hides everyday wrinkles nicely.
And that wide width covers a throw easily.
My throw here finishes about 50 by 60 inches.
That is a good size for one person.
It also folds neatly over a chair arm.
Want it a little wider for sharing?
Cut your pieces a bit wider.
Want it longer for tall folks?
Add a few inches to the length.
Completely up to you.
My preference is using the blooms on both sides.
Front and back match, so there is no wrong side.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Materials List
- Cream Blooms Cotton Wideback — 2 yards; the 108/110-inch width gives you a front and a back from one cut
- Batting — one piece about 54 by 64 inches, low-loft cotton or a cotton blend you like
- Binding fabric — 1/2 yard of a coordinating quilting cotton, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- Thread — a good quilting thread in cream or a soft natural that blends with the blooms
- Your usual tools — rotary cutter, large mat or a cleared floor, long ruler, pins or clips, safety pins for basting, and an iron
Here are the numbers I use.
Your 2 yards give you 72 inches of length.
And you have 108/110 inches of width.
Cut a piece 64 inches long first.
Then split that piece down the width.
Now you have two pieces, each about 54 by 64 inches.
One becomes the front.
One becomes the back.
Trim both to 54 by 64 inches after layering.
Quilt it, then trim the finished top to 50 by 60 inches.
For binding, you will need about 220 inches.
That is five to six 2 1/2-inch strips joined together.
Brief Steps
- Press your fabric well. Wide fabric folds deep, and those folds can throw off a cut.
- Lay it flat on the biggest surface you have. A clean floor works just fine here, folks.
- Cut one piece 64 inches long, then split it across the width into two pieces about 54 by 64 inches.
- Layer them: back wrong side up, batting in the middle, front right side up on top.
- Smooth from the center out, then pin-baste every 4 to 5 inches so nothing shifts.
- Quilt simply. Try stitch in the ditch around the edges, then a soft meander or gentle echo lines across the blooms.
- Keep your quilting about 8 to 10 stitches per inch, steady and relaxed, with a size 80/12 needle.
- Trim the quilt to 50 by 60 inches, square the corners, join your binding strips, and bind all the way around.
Practical Tips From My Couch
Slow down when you quilt the middle.
Slow down or the layers creep and pucker.
I rushed a throw like this once.
Oh my goodness, I had a wrinkle stitched right in.
We just picked out a few inches.
Then we smoothed it and stitched again.
No harm done.
It doesn't have to be perfect.
You're your own worst critic.
Take your time. It's not a race.
One more tip, y'all.
Let the blooms guide your quilting.
Echo around a flower here and there.
You do not need to outline every single one.
A little echo quilting goes a long way.
And check your bobbin before you start.
A throw this size uses more thread than you think.
Super duper simple, and really really cozy when it's done.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Thank you for spending a little time with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Cream Blooms Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
