Hey everyone. Today we're making a cozy lap quilt, and you're going to learn how one plush fabric can do the whole job, front, back, and all that warmth.
Meet the fabric first
This is the Alloy Luxe Cuddle Frosted Powder Puff from Shannon Fabrics. Alloy is a soft, easy gray. Not too dark. Not too light. It goes with just about any room, y'all.
Here's what makes it special. Frosted Powder Puff has a signature wavy pattern. It looks like little rolling hills running across the fabric. And that frosted finish adds real depth and a little shimmer. You get a beautiful blended, two-tone effect without piecing a thing.
Now the numbers. I always give you the numbers. It's 100% polyester. It comes 58 to 60 inches wide. The pile is a deep 20mm, so it's nice and plush. And it weighs 610 grams per linear yard. That's a cozy, substantial feel. Not flimsy at all. Really really soft, folks.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. We're letting a good fabric shine.
The project: a cozy lap quilt
A lap quilt is exactly what it sounds like. It's a smaller quilt made for your lap. Think couch time and reading time. A finished size around 50 by 60 inches is just right for one person.
Why does this fabric suit it? Three good reasons. One, that wide 58 to 60 inch width means one panel covers the whole lap quilt with almost no piecing. Two, that 20mm pile and heavy weight give you warmth and drape all on their own. Three, the wavy, frosted texture is already interesting. You don't need a complicated pattern on top of it.
You can make this two ways. Use one panel for the top and one for the back. Or use it as the back with a cotton top. I like the back-to-back version. But it's completely up to you.
Materials list
- Alloy Luxe Cuddle Frosted Powder Puff — about 3 1/2 yards total for a 50 x 60 inch quilt, 1 3/4 yards for the top and 1 3/4 yards for the back
- Thin batting, about 52 x 62 inches, if you want extra warmth — optional
- All-purpose polyester thread to match
- Walking foot for your machine
- Size 90/14 ballpoint or universal needle
- Lots of pins or clips, and masking tape for marking
Those yardages give you a little extra to square up. Always measure twice before you cut. Plush fabric is forgiving, but it's still fabric, folks.
Brief steps
Step one. Lay the fabric out flat and let it relax. Cut two panels, each about 51 by 61 inches. That gives you seam room for a finished 50 by 60 inch quilt.
Step two. If you're using batting, lay it between the two panels. Put the pretty sides facing out. Smooth everything from the center out with your hands.
Step three. Pin or clip every 2 to 3 inches around all four sides. Minky likes to travel when you sew it. Plenty of pins is how we slow that down.
Step four. Sew around all four sides with a 1/2-inch seam. Leave an 8-inch opening on one side for turning. Use a longer stitch, about 3.0 to 3.5 millimeters, roughly 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Here we go, nice and steady.
Step five. Turn the quilt right side out through that opening. Push the corners out gently. Close the opening by hand or by machine, close to the edge. Just like that, you're almost done.
Step six. Add a few simple quilting lines if you like. A stitch in the ditch won't show much here, so try simple straight lines or a gentle meander. Keep them spaced wide. That plush pile doesn't need a lot of quilting to stay put.
Practical tips before you sew
Slow down at the machine. This fabric is thick, and rushing is where seams wander. At the bulky corners, slow down or the needle snaps, and nobody needs that.
Cut over a trash can if you can. Plush fabric sheds fluff at the cut edges. A quick shake saves you a lot of lint. And never press that pile with a hot iron. Finger press only.
And here's your permission beat. Your edges don't have to be perfect. Your quilting lines don't have to be ruler straight. You're your own worst critic — nobody curled up under this quilt will ever know. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it. Super duper easy once you get going.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Alloy Luxe Cuddle Frosted Powder Puff 58"/60" Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
