DENIM “CHEATER CLOTH” PATCHWORK QUILT TUTORIAL

I am so excited to share that my latest collection, DENIM & DAISIES, is shipping to stores as we speak! Its been a long time coming and I am so excited for it to start getting into your hands. I cannot wait to see what you create with all of these amazing denim blues, oranges, caramels and creams.

Included in this collection is a specially created CHEATER CLOTH PATCHWORK fabric. I worked really hard to create a patchwork that appears vintage and scrappy and pieced together from a variety of fabrics and I do think that it worked. I promise you that most people will never be able to tell that it is not actually a patchwork but a single piece of fabric. Sometimes I even forget when I look at the quilts and bags I have made with it… true story!

Today I wanted to share with you the simple steps I took to create a simple patchwork throw that is used every day at our house and the one that all of my three adult kids have asked that I make for them too!

ABOUT THE PATCHWORK FABRIC

• The patchwork comes as yardage so you can choose how much of it you want to use for a quilt.
• It is 60″ wide from selvedge to selvedge.
• It comes in a DENIM and a CREAM colorway. The DENIM is all a variety of blue prints in the patchwork and a beautiful faded denim EYELET print for the background. The CREAM version has a tiny bit more color. It has a soft ivory background with a navy blue EYELET print. The patches are a mix of blues, oranges and caramels. Both colorways are super versatile for bags, backings, throws, clothes and pretty much anything you can dream up.
• We have used both PATCHWORK versions to make a variety of bags as well as throws. We will be using it as a backing fabric for our upcoming block of the month and I am hopeful that I can convince someone to help me make a jacket as well!

MATERIALS LIST: PATCHWORK THROW

• 2 yds. DENIM CHEATER CLOTH PATCHWORK
• 4 ¼ yds. coordinating fabric for backing [we chose a small cream print]
• ⅝ yds. binding [ we chose a darker denim blue woven fabric]
• Twin batting

A perfect pairing of the DENIM PATCHWORK and Sunflowers, don’t you think??

HOW TO MAKE THE PATCHWORK THROW

Size: app. 57″ x 66″

We have made two different throws and we will be sharing the CREAM SCALLOP one later this week. For today, I want to share with you how simple it is to make the DENIM PATCHWORK version shown here.

1. I recommend using 2 yards of the PATCHWORK fabric. Given that it is 60″ wide if you use 2 yards, you will end up with a patchwork app. 57″ x 66″ when all is said and done.
2. Choose another denim or cream fabric from the DENIM & DAISIES collection for the back for a perfectly blended reversible quilt. Since all of the other fabrics in the collection are standard 45″ wide fabrics, you will need 4 ¼ yds for the backing of your throw.
3. Make a regular quilt sandwich and either quilt it yourself with a small geometric stitch [straight lines, cross hatching, zigzag lines or even small meandering] or have it long arm quilted with something simple and repetative. Susan did her magic and we chose a small allover baptist fan for mine and I absolutely LOVE the result
4. Once the patchwork is quilted, trim it up so that it is even and square, trim off the selvedges and line up the ends so that it is straight across the patchwork. Note that it doesn’t have to be at the points of the patches to look “real”. It can just as easily be in the middle of the patches for a “setting triangle” look. Note what ours look like in the photos.
5. Next, bind your quilt with a coordinating fabric from the matching WOVEN COLLECTION or a favorite print from the collection. Personally I used (7) 2 ¼” strips for my quilts but feel free to use another size as is your preference.
6. Lastly, wash on warm and dry on warm for that gorgeous crinkly, worn, lived in denim look.

Lastly lastly, enjoy your super simple patchwork. And I challenge you to see if anyone notices that it isn’t actually a patchwork at all!!

Again, if you are waiting for info on how to work on the SCALLOP PATCHWORK, stay tuned for that info later this week.