Hey everyone. Today we're making a throw quilt, and you're going to learn how to let a printed Cuddle do the patchwork work for you.
Meet the fabric first
This is the American Dream Multi Digital Cuddle Fabric per yard from Shannon Fabrics. It's a Cuddle Fabric, and it's part of the Shannon Studio Cuddle Prints.
Those prints feature exclusive designs curated by Shannon's in-house team. This one mimics a beautiful patchwork quilt in stars and stripes. Oh my goodness, it is fun.
The colors are vintage shades of red, white, and blue. Not bright and shiny. Soft and lived-in. Like a quilt that has already been loved a while.
Here are the real numbers. It's 100% polyester. It's 58/60" wide. It's printed digitally on a 2.5mm pile fabric, at 340 grams per linear yard.
That 2.5mm pile matters. It's smooth and ultra-soft. It has that classic Cuddle feel without a lot of bulk in your seams.
Shannon lists coordinating colors too. Scarlet, Navy, Jeans, Merlot, Black Cherry, Snow, and Cardinal. That gives you real options for a backing or binding. Completely up to you.
Care is simple. Machine wash cold with like colors. No fabric softener. Tumble dry no heat, and no dryer sheet.
I reach for a print like this when I want the look of piecing without piecing twenty different fabrics. We're not reinventing the wheel here. The print is the design.
The project: a patriotic throw quilt
A throw quilt here is a simple whole-cloth style throw. One beautiful printed front. One cozy backing. A little quilting to hold it all together.
We're finishing at about 50" by 60". That's a good lap size. Big enough for the couch. Small enough to finish in a weekend.
Why does this fabric suit it? Because it already looks like patchwork. Stars and stripes are laid out for you. You get all that patriotic charm, and you skip the cutting table marathon.
That smooth surface also shows well. The vintage red, white, and blue reads clearly from across the room. Up close, it still feels soft against your skin. Just like that.
Materials list
- 2 yards American Dream Multi Digital Cuddle for the top — that gives you about 60" of length to trim to size
- 2 yards coordinating Solid Cuddle in Scarlet, Navy, or Snow for the backing
- Batting, about 52" by 62", low-loft cotton or polyester
- Matching polyester thread for piecing and quilting
- 90/14 stretch or ballpoint needle
- Walking foot, pins or clips, and a long ruler
Brief steps
Here we go. First, let your Cuddle relax flat. Trim your printed top to 50" by 60". Take your time. It's not a race.
Second, layer it up. Backing face down. Batting in the middle. Printed top face up. Smooth from the center out.
Third, pin or clip well. Cuddle can shift a little. I pin every 4 inches or so. Slow and steady wins here.
Fourth, quilt it simply. Stitch in the ditch along the printed patchwork lines where you can. Or echo around a few stars. Or do a gentle meander. All three work — I prefer stitch in the ditch on this one, so the print stays the star.
Use that walking foot. Lengthen your stitch to about 3.0 to 3.5mm. Slow down on the thicker spots, or the needle can struggle.
Fifth, trim your edges even. Then bind, or fold the backing over for a self-binding edge. Tie off your ends clean, and press with your hands, never a hot iron on Cuddle.
Practical tips from my table
Cut Cuddle from the back side when you can. It keeps the fluff off your table. And shake your cut pieces outside. Trust me on that one.
Your quilt does not have to be perfect. If a quilting line wobbles a little, it wobbles. You're your own worst critic. Nobody on the couch is checking your lines. They are checking how soft it is.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. I have had plenty of throws where my backing shifted just a touch. The fix is simple. Unpick that small section, re-pin, and sew it again. No drama.
For gifting, think timing. This is a super duper cute make for summer holidays, veterans, or a porch swing. Make it in the colors as shown, or back it in deep Navy for a quieter look. Completely up to you.
Alrighty, folks. Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the American Dream Multi Digital Cuddle Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
