Hey everyone. Today you are going to learn how to make a big, no-seam picnic blanket from one wide piece of fabric.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is the Black And White Large Swirls wideback, from Studio E Fabrics.
It is 100 percent cotton.
And it is 118 to 120 inches wide.
That width is the whole story here, y'all.
The color is listed as white and black.
The designer is Chelsea DesignWorks.
The genre is Abstract, and Black & White.
The pattern is large swirls.
Big, flowing swirls. Not tiny. Not fussy.
It is listed as a quilt back and quilting cotton.
This listing is sold by the yard.
So you order the length you need. No more. No less.
And those large swirls give you movement.
You get a finished look with zero piecing.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
Why it suits a picnic blanket
A picnic blanket needs to be big.
It needs to be sturdy. It needs to wash well.
And it needs room for people and food.
Because this fabric is 118 to 120 inches wide, one cut does the heavy lifting.
You can use it for the top and the back.
That matters when you are sitting on it.
Nobody wants to sit right on a bumpy seam.
The cotton feels good in warm weather.
It is not slippery. It stays put on grass.
Completely up to you how big you make it.
I like about 72 by 72 inches finished.
That fits two adults and a basket, easy.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Materials list
For a finished blanket about 72 by 72 inches, gather these:
- 2 1/4 yards of Black And White Large Swirls Cotton Wideback Fabric per yard — at 118 to 120 inches wide, that gives you enough length to cut a top and a backing panel, each about 74 by 74 inches before finishing
- Batting or a thin flannel layer cut to about 74 by 74 inches — optional, but it adds a little cushion on hard ground
- Binding fabric or prepared binding, about 310 inches total — the blanket perimeter is 288 inches, plus extra for corners and joining
- All-purpose thread in black or white
- Long ruler, measuring tape, rotary cutter or scissors, and pins or clips
- Optional: four small fabric ties or loops, if you want to roll and carry it
Brief steps
First, lay your fabric out flat.
Measure twice. Cut once. Take your time.
Cut two panels, each about 74 by 74 inches.
One is your top. One is your back.
If you want the cushion layer, cut it the same size.
Second, layer them up.
Put the backing down, right side out.
Add the batting in the middle, if you are using it.
Put the top on, right side out.
Smooth from the center outward. Really really smooth.
Pin or clip every 6 to 8 inches around the edge.
Third, stitch around the outside.
Use a 1/2-inch seam allowance if you are binding it.
Or stitch and turn it, if you prefer that finish.
I prefer binding here. It holds up outdoors.
Slow down at the corners. The layers are thick there.
Slow down or you will fight the fabric.
Fourth, quilt it lightly to hold the layers.
Follow a few of those large swirls with your stitching.
That is called echo work, and it looks great here.
Keep your stitches about 8 to 10 per inch.
You do not need dense quilting. Just enough to travel across and keep things together.
Fifth, add your binding all the way around.
Miter the corners. Tie off your ends clean.
Just like that, you are done.
Practical tips
Prewash if you want a softer blanket from day one.
Cotton will relax a little. That is normal.
I learned that the hard way, folks.
My first picnic blanket had crooked binding on one side.
I left it. We used it for years.
And listen. It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic. I promise you that.
Nobody at the park is checking your corners.
They are checking if there is room to sit down.
Take your time. It is not a race.
Shake it out and fold it small after each use.
Wash it cool, and dry it low when it needs it.
Alrighty. Oh my goodness, this one is fun to use.
Thank you for sewing along with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Black And White Large Swirls Cotton Wideback Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
