Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Picnic Blanket

Good morning everyone! I'm sad to say that this is our last project tutorial for Round 2. But! Jennifer and I are cooking up some new ideas for the near (and not quite so near) future that we hope you'll like just as much.

But, for now, today's project is a sweet and simple picnic blanket:

quilted picnic blanket


The finished size is 5' square, big enough for a proper picnic or to cuddle up in on a cool summer night. You don't need batting or binding for this blanket but I do recommend flannel for the backing. It adds weight and warmth and softness.

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Materials:

Four - 12.5" (unfinished) quilt blocks (We used the Martha Washington Star)

Fabric for top:

at least 2.5 yards* (3 yards if you will use this fabric in your blocks)

*This measurement is pretty exact so if you plan to prewash your fabric, make sure you have a little extra yardage. Also, sometimes fabric isn't cut straight and you could lose a few inches that way. To cut most efficiently, it's best to use a non-directional fabric. If you use a directional fabric, you will need more yardage.

Cut your top fabric as follows:

Four - 2.5" x 12.5"
Four - 2.5" x 14.5"
Two - 14.5" x 32.5"
One - 32.5" x 60.5"

pq12
(Click to see a larger size)


For your backing fabric:
I used Amy Butler's flannel for the back of this blanket (it's super soft). The back should measure 60.5" x 60.5"*

*If you want to use all one fabric you will need just over 2.5 yards cut using the diagram below:

One - 41" x 60.5"
Two - 20" x 30.5"

pq13
(Click to see a larger size)


Step 1: Assemble the top. Add one 2.5" x 12.5" strip to each of the four blocks.

pq1

Add one 2.5" x 14.5" to a side adjacent to the first strip.

pq2

Place a block on either side of the 14.5" x 32.5" piece and sew together. Make sure a 2.5" strip is on the outside edge (opposite the large piece in the middle.) Repeat with the other two blocks.

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Arrange your strips and sew together to complete the top. Make sure the 2.5" strips are on the outside edge of the blanket.

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Step 2: Assemble the back:

Sew your two smaller pieces together along the 20" edge using a 1/4" seam. Sew this to your larger piece to complete the back.

Step 3: Assemble the blanket. Place the top and backing, right sides together.

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Pin and sew around all sides using a 1/4" seam. Leave an opening that's at least 8". Turn the blanket through the opening and press edges flat.

Topstitch around the edge of the blanket.

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Quilt as desired.

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Have a picnic!

quilted picnic blanket

quilted picnic blanket
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