Intermediate Project 3:
Picnic Blanket
238 Part 4: A Gallery of Projects
What You Need
• Knowledge of straight seams, button holes, and
sewing corners
• Squares: 16 14
x
14-inch (35.5
x
35.5 cm) cotton
fabric
• Backing: 54
1
⁄2
x
54
1
⁄2-inch (138.5
x
138.5 cm)
denim fabric (it’s best to buy a fabric that’s
60inches [152.5 cm] wide on the bolt)
• Roll cover: 2 rectangles 18×7-inch (45.75×17.75
cm) cotton fabric
• Handles: 2
1
⁄2×7-inch (6.25×17.75 cm) cotton
fabric
• Ruler
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Iron
• Three buttons
• Ball of yarn
Perfect for a picnic by the lake or a day
down at the beach, this patchwork picnic
blanket is a great project to test out your
sewing skills. The 4 x 4 square design can
be made from a variety of prints or colors.
You can create a pattern or make it totally
random.
Use quilting cotton for the top layer (fat
quarters work great!) and a durable fabric
like denim or a heavyweight twill for the
bottom layer. The blanket has an attached
built-in roll cover with a little handle to
make it super easy to lug around.
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Measure and cut out all the pieces. All seams will
be sewn at
1
⁄
2
-inch (1.25 cm) seam allowance.
Lay out the 16 squares to determine your design.
Start by sewing the top row of blocks together.
Sew the center seam with the fabrics right side
together and continue until you have four blocks
connected into one row.
Press the seam allowances in the top row all in one
direction. Press the next row’s seam allowance in
the opposite direction to make it easier to match
the corners.
3 4
1
2
239Intermediate Projects
You can put the squares in
anyorder.
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7 8
5 6
With the right sides together, place the top layer
on top of the backing fabric. Pin around the entire
outside edge, leaving the sides of one block open
to turn right side out.
Repeat until all the rows are joined. Press the
seams open.
To connect the rows, with the right sides together,
line up the raw edges of the first and second row,
being sure to line up the seams for each block.
Pin, and straight stitch.
Repeat until you have four rows each with four
blocks sewn together.
240 Part 4: A Gallery of Projects
Leave this space open
for turning the blanket
right side out.
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Sew around the pinned edge. Backstitch at the
opening to reinforce the threads. Clip the seam
allowances at the corners, and set aside.
To sew the handle, fold the handle fabric in half
lengthwise, and sew a straight stitch down the long
raw edge side. Turn it right side out, and press flat.
Topstitch the edges of the handle. Pin it in between
the two cover pieces, right sides together. Pin and
sew around three edges, leaving the end to the left
open.
11
9
10
241Intermediate Projects
Place the handle 3
1
⁄
2
inches (9 cm)
from the end of the cover piece, right
side facing up.
Sew an X to reinforce the ends of the handle.
Topstitch around the edge of the cover piece.
12
X stitch for
reinforcement.
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Sew three buttonholes 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the
finished edge.
Place the open end of the cover in between the two
layers of the blanket, centering it on the block. The
side with the handle should be facing down, the same
direction as the back layer. Pin and sew the opening
closed.
Thread a large needle with yarn, and pull through
both layers of the blanket at the points where the
corners meet. Tie in knots to secure.
Fold the blanket in half, and fold it in half again so
it is the width of one square. Roll up and wrap the
cover around the blanket.
15 16
13
14
242 Part 4: A Gallery of Projects
This is the left-open corner. Be sure
to turn the edges inside to match the
existing seam allowance.
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