Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn how to turn one wide piece of galaxy fabric into a cozy, reversible throw quilt.
Here we go.
The fabric first
This is the Blue Galaxy Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard from Timeless Treasures.
Let's start with the numbers.
It is 108 inches wide.
It is cotton, sold per yard.
The look is right there in the name, folks. Blue is the color story. The tags tell the rest of it: navy, dark, night, sky, and stars. This is a deep blue galaxy print, like a clear night sky.
Here's why the width matters so much. A throw quilt needs a top and a back. At 108 inches wide, one cut of this fabric gives you both, side by side. Just like that.
The project: a throw quilt
A good throw quilt earns its keep. It lives on the couch and comes out for movie night.
My throw finishes at about 54 inches wide by 64 inches long. Want it smaller for a lap? Trim it down before you bind. Completely up to you.
This fabric suits a throw for three reasons. First, that night-sky print gets room to shine. Second, the 108-inch width gives you a top and a back from one piece of yardage. Third, the same print on both sides makes the whole quilt reversible.
Let's do the math together.
Order 2 and a quarter yards. That is one piece 108 inches wide by 81 inches long.
Cut a 9-inch strip off one end, the full 108 inches long. That strip becomes your binding. The big piece left is 108 by 72 inches. Cut it in half lengthwise, and you have two pieces, each 54 inches wide by 72 inches long. One is your top. One is your back.
What you need
- 2 1/4 yards of this wideback fabric, for the top, back, and binding
- One throw-size piece of batting, at least 58 by 76 inches before trimming
- Thread in a dark blue to blend with the sky
- A long ruler, rotary cutter or scissors, and pins or clips
- Your sewing machine with a walking foot and a size 90/14 needle for the quilting
- An iron, because pressed fabric layers so much flatter
Brief steps
One. Press your fabric. Cut the 9-inch binding strip first. Then cut the remaining piece in half lengthwise, into your top and back.
Two. Subcut the binding strip into three strips, each 2 1/2 inches wide by 108 inches long. Join them end to end. You get about 320 inches of binding, and your throw needs about 250. Press the binding in half lengthwise.
Three. Layer your quilt sandwich. Back piece face down, batting in the middle, top piece face up. Smooth from the center out. Pin or spray-baste well.
Four. Quilt it. My pick is a loose freehand meander with a few loopy stars worked in. It suits a night sky, and it is forgiving. Run about 8 to 10 stitches per inch, and keep the quilting lines a few inches apart so the throw stays soft.
Five. Square up the quilted sandwich and trim it to 54 by 64 inches. Go slow at this step. A trimmed edge that wanders will wave at you through the binding.
Six. Sew the binding to the front with a quarter-inch seam. Miter the corners, fold it to the back, and stitch it down by hand or machine.
Seven. Drape it over the couch and step back. Oh my goodness. That deep blue sky against a plain sofa is really really pretty.
Tips from my sewing room to yours
I'll admit my mistake here, so you can skip it. I once cut a backing exactly to size, quilted away, and watched it shift and come up short. That is why this pattern cuts the top and back long, then trims after quilting.
Try two quilting options. Do the freehand meander and stars like I do, or keep it simple with straight lines on the diagonal. I prefer the meander. Completely up to you.
Here's your permission beat, and I mean it. Your loopy stars do not have to be perfect. Real stars twinkle unevenly anyway. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. One wide cut for the top, the back, and the binding. If I can do this, y'all can do it. Super duper easy.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Blue Galaxy Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
