Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to make a cozy throw quilt that lets one wide fabric do the heavy lifting.
Here we go.
Meet the Fabric First
This is the Brown Rust Etchings Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard from Oasis Fabrics.
It is cotton. That matters for a throw.
Cotton feels soft in your lap. It presses well. It quilts up smooth and easy.
And this one is wide. Really wide.
The width of fabric is 118 inches. That is the number to remember.
Most quilting cottons are around 44 inches wide. You would have to piece those together for a backing.
With 118 inches, you do not. One cut can cover a whole throw.
The color is brown rust. Warm. Deep. A little bit dark.
It has that Etchings look all through it. Think soft swirls moving across the surface.
That swirl is your friend here. It adds movement without extra piecing. It also hides everyday use really, really well.
We are not reinventing the wheel here. We are just using the width we already have.
The Project: A Cozy Throw Quilt
A throw quilt is the quilt you actually live with. It lives on the couch. It goes over your legs at night.
For this one, we will aim for a finished size of about 50 inches by 60 inches. That is a good lap size for one person, or two folks sharing on the sofa.
Why does this fabric suit a throw so well? Three reasons.
First, the 118-inch width gives you a top and a backing from one cut. No long seam down the middle of your backing.
Second, the brown rust color feels warm and grounded. It looks right with wood, leather, and cream.
Third, the Etchings swirl gives you a built-in quilting guide. You can follow the swirl, echo it, or meander right over it. Completely up to you.
Materials List
- 2 yards of Brown Rust Etchings Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard
- Batting, about 54 inches by 64 inches
- All-purpose thread to match, plus quilting thread you like
- Rotary cutter, long ruler, and big cutting mat
- Safety pins or basting spray for layering
- Iron and ironing board
- Sewing machine with a walking foot and a universal needle, size 80/12
Here is the math. Two yards gives you a piece 72 inches long by 118 inches wide. Cut it in half across the width. Now you have two pieces, each about 59 by 72 inches. One is your top. One is your backing.
Save your trimmed strips. Cut 2 1/2-inch strips from the leftovers for binding. You need about 220 inches for a 50 by 60 throw.
Brief Steps
Step 1: Press and square up. Press the whole piece well. Lay it flat, smooth it out, and trim one edge straight.
Step 2: Cut your top and backing. Cut the 2-yard piece in half. Set one half aside for the top and one for the backing.
Step 3: Make your sandwich. Lay the backing wrong side up. Lay the batting on top. Lay the top right side up. Smooth from the center out. Pin every 4 to 5 inches.
Step 4: Quilt it. Start in the center and work out. A simple meander works great here. So does a soft echo around the swirls. Use a stitch length of about 2.5 mm. Go slow on the curves. Slow down or your lines get jerky, and that is no fun to pick out. Ask me how I know.
Step 5: Trim and bind. Trim the quilt to 50 by 60 inches. Join your 2 1/2-inch binding strips. Sew the binding to the front, miter the corners, then fold it to the back and stitch it down. Machine, hand, or a mix — completely up to you.
Practical Tips From My Table
Take your time. It is not a race.
Your quilting does not have to be perfect. Truly. A throw is for using, not for judging. You are your own worst critic. The person snuggled under it will just feel warm.
If your meander gets a little wobbly, keep going. The swirly Etchings print is forgiving. It softens small wobbles and makes the whole quilt look calm.
Check your tension on a scrap sandwich first. Same fabric, same batting. Two minutes of testing saves a whole lot of seam ripping.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Just like that, you have a throw ready for movie night.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Brown Rust Etchings Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
