Hey everyone. Today we're making a cozy wool appliqué lap quilt, and we're building the appliqué from a small, beautiful pack of merino wool.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric first
This pack is the 1/32 Merino Wool Packs: Sue Spargo, from WonderFil USA.
It is 100% premium grade Australian Merino Wool. The description says it is proficiently woven. It is richly dyed, too. And it is raised to a perfect hand.
That gives you a soft fabric. It feels luxuriously felted. It is designed for ease of stitch penetration. So your needle passes through nicely. That matters for hand appliqué.
The colours boast an even, saturated dye. They also possess unparalleled colorfastness, per the product description. In plain terms, you get rich colour in a block.
Now the real numbers. Each piece is a Fat 1/32. That measures 9 inches by 7 inches. That is 22.9 cm by 17.8 cm.
One pack includes 6 pieces. There are 10 colourways available. The listed usages include wool appliqué, rug hooking, quilts, apparel, and crafts.
Be clear on what this is. This is not yardage for a whole quilt top. These are small wool pieces. We are using them where they shine. They become the appliqué shapes on top of larger background blocks.
The project: a wool appliqué lap quilt
We will make 12 background blocks. Each block finishes at 12 inches square. Sew them 3 blocks across and 4 blocks down.
That top measures 36 inches by 48 inches. Add a 3-inch border all around. Now you have about 42 inches by 54 inches. That is a lovely lap size for a couch.
Why does this wool suit it? The small pieces are ideal for leaves. They are great for petals and berries. They work for birds, hearts, and simple houses, too.
One 9-by-7 piece can give you several shapes. Small shapes let the saturated colour do the work. Just like that, plain blocks turn warm and personal.
Materials list
- 1 pack of 1/32 Merino Wool Packs: Sue Spargo — 6 pieces, each 9 inches by 7 inches
- About 1 1/2 yards of background fabric for the blocks and border
- Batting at least 46 inches by 58 inches
- About 1 3/4 yards of backing fabric
- About 1/2 yard for binding, cut into 2 1/2-inch strips
- Freezer paper or template plastic, a fine marker, and sharp scissors
- Hand-sewing needles you can thread comfortably, plus thread for blanket stitch
- Pins, a ruler, and a rotary cutter for the background blocks
Brief steps
1. Cut your blocks. Cut 12 background squares at 12 1/2 inches. That includes a 1/4-inch seam allowance all around. Cut your border strips at 3 1/2 inches wide.
2. Plan one simple motif per block. Draw it on paper first. Keep it bold. Keep it simple. A flower, a leaf branch, or a heart is plenty.
3. Trace and cut the wool. Trace each shape onto freezer paper. Press it lightly to the wool. Cut slowly and smoothly. Slow down here, folks. Rushed cutting gives you jagged edges. Take your time.
4. Place the shapes. Lay them on a block. Step back and look. Move them until you smile. Then pin them in place.
5. Blanket stitch around each shape. Aim for stitches about 1/4 inch apart. Aim for about 1/4 inch deep, too. Keep them even as you can. Then move on without fussing.
6. Sew the blocks together. Use a 1/4-inch seam. Press the seams. Add the border strips. Press again.
7. Layer, quilt, and bind. Layer the backing, batting, and top. Quilt simply if you like. Stitch in the ditch between blocks is a fine choice. Echo quilting around a motif is lovely, too. Completely up to you. Finish with your 2 1/2-inch binding.
Practical tips from me
Test your stitch on a scrap first. Wool thickness feels different from cotton. Give yourself ten minutes to find your rhythm.
Use the same motif family across blocks. Repeat leaves in different colourways. That ties 12 blocks together. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
If a shape lands a little crooked, leave it. Hand appliqué should look hand-done. It does not have to be perfect. Honestly, y'all, you are your own worst critic here.
I have absolutely cut a petal too small before. I cut a second one a touch bigger. Then I layered it right over the first. Problem solved, and it added dimension.
Work one block at a time. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. I hope this little lap quilt lands somewhere loved. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 1/32 Merino Wool Packs: Sue Spargo at Linda's Electric Quilters.
