Here is a project I've been wanting to do for a long time. Since first seeing and falling in love with the original version at my friend Sam's home.
A really simple faux fur throw (absolutely no patchwork in this project).
One of the reasons I haven't already made is because I do not like 95% of the faux fur I see for sale. So much of it feels gnarly and looks costumey, not so appealing for this type of project. The fur that Sam used is perfect for a project like this, but there was none like it to be found in my search.
Until Ian and I happened upon this faux chinchilla last week. We decided it was a good color and nice soft hand (super soft, in fact). I have always imagined the back to be flannel, creating an ultra warm and lux-feeling blanket (plus it was quite cold the day I purchased these). I chose a really nice quality gray flannel (but I'd love to see a version with a really bright color or surprising print on the underside!).
Keep in mind, this project is pretty much halfway the minute you've purchased the fur and backing fabric. It really is that easy (although if you wanted to make this ultra warm, you could add another layer of flannel fabric between the front and back layers...but I don't think it would be necessary to go as far as adding batting).
Luxe Faux Chinchilla Coverlet
Materials:
Faux fur of your choice, 60" wide, 2 yds. (mine was $18/yd)
Cotton Flannel for backing, 44" wide, 3 yards. (Trim the selvedges off on each side of the width)
Thread to match fur
Scissors
Rotary Cutter and cutting mat are a bonus to have
Pins
Disappearing marker
To Make:
1. Straighten the cut edges of the faux fur before starting, if necessary. You will need to piece the flannel together to make it the size of the piece of fur. (I have a sketch illustrating the piecing I will upload as soon as my scanner is working again.) Press all seams to one side, flat.
2. Once both sides are the same size, lay them out on the floor to smooth them out completely, right sides together, fur on floor and flannel on top. Pin well along 3 of the 4 sides, careful to keep all layers smoothed out. (At this point you can leave the 4th side unpinned for now.)
3. Stitch around the 3 sides you pinned, backstitching at the beginning and end. Clip the bulk at the corners, then turn entire coverlet right sides out, pushing out corners fully.
4. Now you're ready to close up the 4th side. With the coverlet laid out flat and smooth (easiest if flannel side is the top layer), turn the edges of the fur and the flannel inside the coverlet a generous 1/4" and pin well.
5. Topstitch all around each of the 4 sides, staying close to the edge. As you stitch over that 4th side, it will catch those edges you turned under. Backstitch at the beginning and end.
6. In order to keep the layers together, I added 6 small bartacks even spaced over the body of the quilt. Use a ruler and a disappearing marker to mark on the flannel side. Stitch small bartacks on the marked areas, through all layers. (I can't even see these on the fur side.)
I love the texture that it adds to our front room, the kids are fighting over it, Peter napped with it this afternoon, and Gracie wants to marry it. My work is done...
