Hey everyone! Today we're making a sturdy picnic blanket, and you're going to learn how one wide piece of fabric can become a blanket with no pieced seams across the top.
Here we go. The fabric we're spotlighting is the Natural Antique Library of Rarities Cotton Wideback Fabric, from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. This is a cotton wideback. It measures 108 inches wide.
The colors are soft and natural. Think beige, cream, and tan. The look is antique and vintage, tied to the Library of Rarities name. The tags also note music and music notes in the pattern mix.
That warm palette is really, really good for outdoor use. It looks classic on the grass. And it does not shout every little crumb. It is sold by the yard.
Why a Picnic Blanket Suits This Fabric
A picnic blanket needs to be big. It needs to be simple. And it needs to take real life without fuss.
Our finished blanket will be about 60 by 72 inches. That gives four folks room to sit. Or two folks room to stretch out with lunch in the middle.
Here's why this wideback shines here, y'all. At 108 inches wide, you can cut your top in one solid piece. No center seam to line up. No piecing strips together just to get enough width.
You can cut the backing from the same fabric, too. Vintage on the front. Vintage on the back. Super duper easy, and it looks finished on both sides.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. One good fabric. One big rectangle. Some simple quilting. Just like that, you're ready for the park.
Materials
- Natural Antique Library of Rarities Cotton Wideback Fabric — 4 1/4 yards total (about 2 1/8 yards each for the top and the backing, plus the leftover width for binding and a carry strap)
- Low-loft batting — one piece about 62 by 74 inches, cut a little larger than your finished size
- Thread — 50-weight cotton thread in cream or soft tan to blend with the natural colors
- Size 80/12 needle for any piecing, and a 90/14 needle for quilting through all three layers
- Rotary cutter, long ruler, cutting mat, iron, and basting pins or spray
- Optional: two 1-inch snaps or a tie for rolling up the finished blanket
Brief Steps
Step one: Press your fabric well. Square up the cut edges first. With a piece this big, work on the floor or a large table.
Step two: Cut the top and backing. Cut each piece 62 by 74 inches. Save the leftover strip from the 108-inch width. It is perfect for binding.
Step three: Build your sandwich. Backing face down. Batting in the middle. Top face up. Baste well, with pins every 4 to 5 inches, so nothing shifts.
Step four: Quilt it simply. A gentle meander is my pick here. It holds the layers and stays soft for folding. Straight lines spaced about 4 inches apart work too. Sew at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Tie off cleanly at the end.
Step five: Trim the sandwich square to 60 by 72 inches. Cut binding strips 2 1/2 inches wide from your leftover fabric. Join them, sew the binding to the front, miter the corners, then fold it to the back and stitch it down.
Step six: Make a simple carry strap if you like. Use leftover fabric, fold it into a strip, and stitch the edges. Roll the blanket, wrap the strap around it, and you are ready to go.
Practical Tips
Slow down on those long quilting lines. This is a big, floppy sandwich. If you rush and push it, the layers can shift. Slow down at thick spots, or the needle can snap.
I learned this one the honest way. I once basted a big blanket too far apart. I got a little pucker in the middle. The fix was simple. Unpin that area, smooth it flat, re-baste closer, and quilt on. No drama needed.
Pick the quilting style that suits you. Meander, straight lines, or big echo curves are all fine. Completely up to you. My preference is the meander, because it folds soft.
And hear me on this: it doesn't have to be perfect. A picnic blanket is made to be used. You're your own worst critic. Take your time, it's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Keep the finished blanket in the car. You will find reasons to use it, folks. Alrighty?
Thanks for sewing along with me today, everybody. I hope this blanket joins you for a lot of good lunches outside. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Natural Antique Library of Rarities Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
