Hey everyone. Today you'll learn how to turn one beautiful wideback into a whole-cloth quilt, start to finish.
Here we go.
First, let's talk about this fabric.
This is the Beide Jacobean Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard from Marcus Fabrics.
It is cotton.
It is 108/110 inches wide.
That width is the whole story here, y'all.
It comes from the 108" Premium Quilt Backs collection, in American Icons.
The designer is Carrie Quinn.
The look is a Jacobean floral.
Think beige and cream.
Think soft, natural tones.
Think a monotone floral pattern that feels calm, not busy.
The tags also call out floral design details with a lace-like feel.
I love that for a whole-cloth quilt.
Why?
Because in a whole-cloth quilt, the fabric does the talking.
There are no small pieces to hide behind.
The print shows.
The quilting shows.
And that's exactly what makes it so pretty.
Why This Fabric Suits a Whole-Cloth Quilt
A whole-cloth quilt uses one large piece of fabric for the top.
No piecing.
No seams across the design.
So you need width.
At 108/110 inches wide, this fabric gives you that width in one piece.
For a queen top around 90 by 90 inches, you have room to spare.
For a generous throw around 60 by 72 inches, you have even more breathing room.
Completely up to you.
The floral design also gives you a quilting guide.
You can echo the shapes.
You can travel along a vine.
You can stitch in the ditch around a motif.
Or you can keep it simple with a soft meander.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Let the fabric help you.
Materials List
- Beide Jacobean Cotton Wideback — 3 yards for a throw about 60 by 72 inches, or about 3 yards for a queen top if you use the full width carefully
- Batting — the same size as your top, plus 4 inches on each side
- Backing — you can use this same wideback for the back, which makes matching easy
- Thread — a good quilting thread in a soft cream or beige to blend with the floral
- Binding — about 1/2 yard of a coordinating fabric, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- Your usual tools — rotary cutter, mat, ruler, pins or basting spray, and a walking foot or free-motion foot
A quick note on amounts.
Measure your finished goal first.
Then add your extra for quilting and trimming.
I like at least 4 extra inches on each side for batting and backing.
That little cushion saves headaches later.
Just like that.
Brief Steps
- Press your fabric well. Take your time here. Wrinkles quilted in are wrinkles that stay.
- Cut your top to size. For a throw, try 62 by 74 inches to allow for trimming.
- Layer it up. Backing face down, batting in the middle, top face up. Smooth from the center out.
- Baste well. Pin every 4 to 6 inches, or use basting spray if that's your preference.
- Plan your quilting. Try echo quilting around the floral shapes, about 1/4 inch out from the motif. Or add feather shapes in the open areas if you feel brave.
- Quilt slowly. Start in the center and work out. If you're free-motion quilting, aim for a steady pace and about 8 to 10 stitches per inch on your test piece.
- Check the back often. Smooth as you go. Slow down on the dense areas or a needle can snap if the layers shift and drag.
- Trim the edges square. Bind with your 2 1/2-inch strips, joining them on the diagonal.
Practical Tips From My Table
Make a small test sandwich first.
Really. Just 12 by 12 inches.
Test your tension there, not on the big quilt.
If the stitches look balanced top and bottom, you're good.
If you mess up a motif, don't panic.
I have quilted the wrong vine more than once.
We just pick it out, breathe, and go again.
It doesn't have to be perfect.
You're your own worst critic, folks.
Your family will see a warm quilt.
They won't hunt for one wobbly echo line.
Take your time. It's not a race.
Another tip: if echoing feels like a lot, switch to simple ruler work in a grid.
Or do a large meander all over.
Both look really really good on a floral like this.
My preference is the echo.
Yours might be different.
Completely up to you.
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 Beide Jacobean Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
