Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to make a roomy picnic blanket that is sturdy enough for the park and pretty enough for the porch.
Here we go.
Meet the Fabric First
This is the Forest Etchings Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard from Oasis Fabrics.
It is cotton. That matters outdoors.
Cotton presses well. It sews smooth. It washes up without a fuss.
And this one is wide. Really wide.
The width of fabric is 118 inches. That is the number to remember.
Most quilting cottons are around 44 inches wide. You would have to piece those for a big blanket.
With 118 inches, you do not. One cut can give you a top and a backing.
The color is forest. Deep dark green, with an emerald feel to it.
It has that Etchings look all through it. Think soft swirls moving across the surface.
That swirl and texture are your friends here. They add movement without extra piecing. They also hide grass and crumbs really, really well.
The Project: A Roomy Picnic Blanket
A picnic blanket is not a show quilt. It is a workhorse blanket.
It goes on the ground. Folks sit on it. Snacks land in the middle.
For this one, we will aim for a finished size of about 56 inches by 70 inches. That gives four folks room to sit and stretch out.
Why does this fabric suit a picnic blanket so well? Three reasons.
First, the 118-inch width means no long seam down the middle of your backing. Fewer seams means fewer weak spots on the ground.
Second, the forest green color feels right outside. It looks calm on grass, and it does not show every little speck.
Third, the Etchings swirl gives you a built-in quilting guide. You can follow the swirl, echo it, or meander right over it. Completely up to you.
Materials List
- 2 yards of Forest Etchings Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard
- Batting, about 60 inches by 74 inches — low-loft cotton or cotton blend
- All-purpose thread to match, plus quilting thread you like
- Rotary cutter, long ruler, and big cutting mat
- Safety pins or basting spray for layering
- Iron and ironing board
- Sewing machine with a walking foot and a universal needle, size 80/12
Here is the math. Two yards gives you a piece 72 inches long by 118 inches wide. Cut it in half across the width. Now you have two pieces, each about 59 inches by 72 inches. One is your top. One is your backing.
For binding, cut 2 1/2-inch strips from your trimmed edges. You need about 252 inches of binding for a 56 by 70 blanket.
Brief Steps
Step 1: Press and square up. Press the whole piece well. Lay it flat, smooth it out, and trim one edge straight.
Step 2: Cut your top and backing. Use those two 59 by 72 pieces. Set one aside for the top and one for the backing.
Step 3: Make your sandwich. Lay the backing wrong side up. Lay the batting on top. Lay the top right side up. Smooth from the center out. Pin every 4 to 5 inches.
Step 4: Quilt it sturdy. Start in the center and work out. A simple meander works great. So do straight lines about 4 inches apart. Use a stitch length of about 2.5 mm. Go slow around curves. Slow down or your lines get jerky, and that is no fun to pick out. Ask me how I know.
Step 5: Trim and bind for hard use. Trim to 56 by 70 inches. Join your 2 1/2-inch binding strips. Sew the binding to the front, miter the corners, then fold it to the back and stitch it down. For a picnic blanket, machine binding is my pick. It holds up in the wash.
Practical Tips From My Table
Take your time. It is not a race.
Your quilting does not have to be perfect. Truly. This blanket is for using, not for judging. You are your own worst critic. The folks on it will just be glad to sit down.
Quilt a little denser than you would a bed quilt. Lines 3 to 4 inches apart keep the batting from shifting after lots of washes.
Check your tension on a scrap sandwich first. Same fabric, same batting. Two minutes of testing saves a whole lot of seam ripping.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Just like that, you are ready for the park.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Forest Etchings Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
