Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn how to turn a regular lap quilt into a wipe-clean lap quilt, using HeatnBond Iron-On Vinyl to laminate the top fabric before you ever sit down to quilt.
First, what this product really is
Let's be clear right up front, y'all. This is not yardage, and it is not an adhesive for holding layers together.
HeatnBond Iron-On Vinyl is a flexible, water resistant coating. You iron it onto the top of your fabric to protect that fabric. That is how you make your own laminated fabrics at home.
This bolt is 17 inches wide by 20 yards long, with a gloss finish. It is heat activated, it is permanent, and it is fusible on one side only. It works on fabric or paper.
It is also UV resistant and water repellent. You can sew through it with a regular foot or a non-stick foot.
And one more honest note. The vinyl itself is not meant to be used as an adhesive. If you need to bond fabric to fabric, that is a different HeatnBond product. This one's job is protection on the surface. Completely up to you how you use it, but let's use it for what it does best.
The project: a wipe-clean lap quilt
A lap quilt gets real life thrown at it. Coffee on the couch. Juice boxes with the grandkids. Snacks at a ball game. A lap quilt that rides along in the car.
That is exactly why this vinyl suits this project. Laminate the fabric for the top, and spills sit on the surface instead of soaking straight in. Most messes wipe clean with a damp cloth. Just like that.
Plan a finished size around 40 by 50 inches.
Materials
- Cotton fabric for the quilt top, pre-washed with no fabric softener
- HeatnBond Iron-On Vinyl Bolt, 17 in x 20 yds, Gloss Finish — one bolt covers project after project, so you'll have plenty left for placemats and tote bags too
- Batting and backing fabric for your lap quilt sandwich
- Thread for piecing and quilting
- Binding fabric
- An iron, set to medium heat, no steam
- The paper liner that comes with the vinyl — do not throw it away, you need it
Brief steps
Here we go.
One, piece your lap quilt top first, or cut one whole piece of top fabric if you want it simple. We're not reinventing the wheel here. Pre-wash everything without fabric softener, and pretest the vinyl on a scrap before you commit. Always.
Two, peel the vinyl from its protective paper. Place it sticky side down onto the top of your fabric. The roll is 17 inches wide, so work across a big top in sections, one width at a time.
Three, place that protective paper right back on top of the vinyl. Press and hold the iron on the paper for 8 seconds. Lift, move, and repeat until the whole surface is laminated. Slow down here, folks. Do not ever touch the iron directly to the vinyl, on either side.
Four, flip the project over. Press and hold on the back for an additional 4 seconds, section by section. Let everything cool before you sew or handle it much.
Five, layer your laminated top with batting and backing, and quilt it. A simple meander or stitch in the ditch is perfect. Go easy and let the machine feed. Then bind it like any lap quilt, and you're done.
Practical tips from my table
Medium heat, no steam. Say it with me. Steam and a hot, dry iron dragged across bare vinyl will get you in trouble fast.
If you see a little peeling or crinkling later, don't panic. Cover the vinyl with parchment paper and re-iron it. It settles right back down.
Care is easy. Wipe clean with a damp cloth first. If washing is a must, wash on gentle and line dry.
One safety note, stated plainly. This vinyl is not certified food-safe for direct food contact. So if snacks land on the quilt, that's life. Just don't build it as a food wrap. Food goes in a food-safe wrap or bag first.
And here's your permission beat. Your laminated sections might not line up perfectly. A corner might lift and need a second press. That is fine. You're your own worst critic, and nobody at the ball game is inspecting your seams. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the HeatnBond Iron-On Vinyl Bolt, 17 in x 20 yds, Gloss Finish at Linda's Electric Quilters.
