Hey everyone! Today we're making a cozy throw quilt that lets one beautiful wideback fabric do all the talking.
Here we go. First, let's talk about the fabric itself.
This is Black Opulent Medallion Cotton Wideback Fabric, from Michael Miller Fabrics. It is sold by the yard here at Linda's.
It is pure cotton, and it measures 108" wide. That is more than double a regular quilting cotton width, y'all. One width can cover a whole throw, with no piecing down the middle.
The design is a stunning black opulent medallion. The black ground gives it elegance and sophistication, and that medallion pattern adds a unique, classic touch. It looks just as at home on the back of a couch as it does folded at the foot of a bed.
This cotton is comfortable, made to last, and maintains its shape well. It is easy to work with, for beginners and seasoned quilters alike.
Why this fabric for a throw quilt?
A throw quilt is that grab-and-go quilt. About 50" by 60" finished. Big enough to cover your legs and tuck around your feet. Small enough to finish in a weekend, or a couple of good evenings.
Here's what I use, and why. A medallion design wants room to breathe. If you chop it into little squares, you lose those pretty medallions. On a whole-cloth style throw, the pattern stays whole. You see the repeat. You see the rhythm. Just like that, the fabric becomes the design.
And that 108" width is a gift here. Your top and backing both come from the same cut. No seam up the back. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Materials
- Black Opulent Medallion Cotton Wideback Fabric: 1 3/4 yards — a 63" cut length; across the 108" width you will cut two pieces, each about 52" by 62", one for the top and one for the backing
- Batting: one piece about 54" by 64"
- Thread: 50-weight cotton thread in black for quilting, and a good all-purpose thread for binding
- Binding: about 1/2 yard of coordinating cotton, cut into 2 1/2" strips — you will need about 220" of binding for a 50" by 60" throw
- Basic tools: rotary cutter, long ruler, pins or clips, safety pins for basting, an iron, a walking foot, and your sewing machine
- Needle: a fresh 80/12 needle
My finished throw is about 50" wide by 60" long. Cut your top and backing at 52" by 62" to start. That gives you room to square up after quilting.
Brief steps
- Press your fabric well. Lay it out flat, smooth it from the center out, and cut your two 52" by 62" pieces across the width. Set one aside for the backing.
- Make your quilt sandwich. Backing face down, batting in the middle, top face up. Pin or spray baste every 4" to 6" so nothing shifts.
- Quilt it simply. Set your stitch length to about 2.5mm, put on your walking foot, and stitch in the ditch around the medallions, or echo the shapes about 1/4" away. A soft meander works too. Completely up to you.
- Trim the sandwich square to 50" by 60". Join your binding strips, press them in half lengthwise, and sew the binding on with a 1/4" seam. Miter the corners, then stitch it down on the back.
- Give it a final press, fold it over the couch, and try not to claim it before someone else in the house does.
Practical tips
Take your time, it's not a race. This throw does not have to be perfect. You're your own worst critic, folks. A wobbly echo line just looks like texture from two steps back.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
One honest note. I once quilted a throw without checking the back, and the backing had folded over on itself. Oh my goodness. I took out about 12" of stitching, smoothed it flat, re-basted, and stitched again. Now I check the back early and often.
You have options, too. Stitch in the ditch for a flat finish. Echo quilting if you want those medallions to pop. My preference is a gentle echo, about 1/4" out. The rest is completely up to you.
For care, wash cold on a gentle cycle with like colors, and do not use chlorine bleach. That keeps that rich black looking rich.
Alrighty. This one is super duper satisfying, because the fabric does the beautiful part and you do the cozy part. Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Black Opulent Medallion Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
