Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn how to make a patriotic wall hanging quilt that lets one bold star print do the work.
Here we go.
The fabric first
This is the Blue USA Stars Navy Cotton Wideback Fabric from Timeless Treasures.
It is a cotton fabric, in a batik style.
It is 108 inches wide, and it is sold per yard.
That width is the big story here, folks. One cut can cover your whole wall hanging, with no seam down the middle.
The color is right there in the name. Blue and navy, with USA stars across it. A natural fit for a patriotic display.
The project: a wall hanging quilt
Our wall hanging finishes at about 36 inches wide by 44 inches long.
That is a really useful size. Big enough to notice from across the room. Small enough for an entryway or hallway.
We are keeping the front in one big piece. No small blocks. No points to match.
Here's why that suits this fabric. A star print wants room to shine. If we chop it into little squares, we lose the pattern. One large piece keeps the stars together. Just like that.
Your quilting adds the texture. Your binding adds the frame. Super duper simple, and super duper fun.
What you need
- 1 1/4 yards of this Blue USA Stars Navy wideback for the front
- 1 1/4 yards of a coordinating cotton for the backing, or use leftover wideback from the same cut
- One piece of low-loft cotton batting, about 40 by 48 inches
- 1/2 yard of coordinating cotton for binding and a hanging sleeve
- Thread to blend with the navy for quilting
- Your sewing machine with a walking foot and a size 90/14 needle
- A long ruler, rotary cutter or scissors, and safety pins or spray baste
- A wooden dowel or thin rod, about 38 inches long, for hanging
- An iron, because pressed fabric layers so much flatter
Brief steps
One. Press your fabric well. Square up one edge. Cut your front to 36 1/2 inches wide by 44 1/2 inches long. Center the stars how you like them before you cut.
Two. Cut your binding into five strips, each 2 1/2 inches wide. Join them end to end. You will get about 210 inches, and this hanging needs about 170. Press in half lengthwise.
Three. Layer your sandwich. Backing face down. Batting in the middle. Front face up, centered. Smooth from the center out.
Four. Baste it well. Pin or spray-baste about every 4 inches. A wall hanging wants to lie flat, y'all. Good basting helps it hang straight later.
Five. Quilt it simply. My pick is straight lines about 3 to 4 inches apart, or a gentle echo around a few stars. Run about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. You could also meander lightly across it. Completely up to you.
Go slow near the edges. Slow down or your layers can creep and pucker.
Six. Square up the quilted sandwich. Trim it to a clean 36 by 44 inches.
Seven. Sew the binding to the front with a quarter-inch seam. Miter the corners. Fold it to the back and stitch it down.
Eight. Make your hanging sleeve. Cut a strip 8 1/2 inches wide by 35 inches long. Hem the short ends, fold lengthwise, and sew the long edge. Hand-stitch it to the back, just below the top binding. Slide your dowel through.
Tips from my sewing room to yours
I'll admit my mistake, so you can skip it. I once hung a piece before I checked it in daylight. Now I hang it, step back six feet, and look. A quick steam and a night lying flat fixed mine.
Think about placement before you quilt. If one cluster of stars is your favorite, center that part. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Save your offcuts, too. That leftover width makes great backing for a runner, or binding for your next project.
Here's your permission beat, and I mean it. Your lines do not have to be perfect. A little wander is proof a real person made it. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Hang it up and step back. Oh my goodness, those navy stars pop.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Blue USA Stars Navy Cotton Wideback Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
