Hey everyone. Today we're making a cozy lap quilt with a sweet cream star fabric, and I'm going to walk you through it step by step.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This one is American Freedom #18 Cream Stars from Marshall Dry Goods.
It's 100% cotton quilting fabric.
It's 45 inches wide, and it's sold by the yard.
The background is a soft cream.
The stars scattered across it give it a classic, patriotic feel.
Not loud. Not fussy.
Just really, really pretty up close.
That cream base is why I love it for a lap quilt. It plays nice with reds, blues, and plain solids. And it still looks good all by itself. Completely up to you how bold you want to go.
Because it's a standard 45-inch quilting cotton, it presses well. It cuts clean. And it sews like the cottons most of us learned on.
Why a lap quilt suits this fabric
A lap quilt shows off a print.
You're not cutting this fabric into tiny pieces.
You're giving those stars room to breathe.
A finished size around 45 by 60 inches is a good target. That's big enough for a couch, a porch chair, or a lap in a cold car. And small enough to finish in a weekend or two.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. Big pieces, straight seams, and a simple layout will do the job beautifully.
Materials list
- 2 yards of American Freedom #18 Cream Stars for the quilt top center and border pieces
- 1/2 yard of a coordinating solid for an inner border, if you want one
- 1 3/4 yards of backing fabric
- Batting cut about 50 by 65 inches, a few inches bigger than your top on all sides
- 1/2 yard for binding, or about 2 1/4-inch-wide binding strips
- All-purpose quilting thread in a soft cream or light tan
- A size 80/12 needle for piecing
Those amounts leave you a little wiggle room. And y'all, wiggle room is a good thing.
Brief steps
Step 1: Press and cut. Press your fabric first. Then cut a center panel about 36 inches wide by 48 inches long. Cut border strips 5 inches wide for the sides, top, and bottom.
Step 2: Add your border. Sew the side borders first with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Press the seams toward the border. Then add the top and bottom borders the same way.
Step 3: Layer it up. Lay your backing wrong side up. Smooth your batting on top. Then center your quilt top right side up. Take your time here. It's not a race.
Step 4: Baste and quilt. Pin or spray baste every 4 to 6 inches. For quilting, try stitch in the ditch along the border seams first. Then add a gentle meander across the center. Keep your stitches around 8 to 10 per inch if you're setting a stitch length by hand feel, and just stay consistent.
Step 5: Bind it. Trim the edges even. Sew your 2 1/4-inch binding strips around the front, then fold and finish the back. Just like that, you're done.
Practical tips from my table
Slow down at the corners.
That's where layers like to shift.
If a corner puckers a little, don't panic. I have ripped out a seam or two in my life, folks. Admit it, fix it, and move on. A seam ripper is not a report card.
Want a second option? Skip the solid inner border and let the stars run edge to edge. Or add that solid border for a quiet frame. I prefer the frame on this cream, but the other way is lovely too. Completely up to you.
And here's the permission beat I mean every time. It doesn't have to be perfect. You're your own worst critic. The person snuggled under this quilt is not counting your stitches. They're just warm.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks for spending a little time with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the American Freedom #18 Cream Stars 45" wide Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
