DIY Colorful Picnic Blanket for the Summer House

A picnic blanket should be beautiful, warm, and affordable. By using fabric scraps, old dresses, robes, curtains, and skirts that are just cluttering up your closet, you can create something that not only keeps you warm but also delights the eye and soul. Plus, you won't mind tossing it in the trunk or spreading it out on the ground for a picnic.

Easier said than done. After another closet audit, I gathered a small pile of items suitable for a blanket.

I didn't rip the clothes apart, as that would leave holes in the fabric. I simply cut small 22x22 cm squares from everything I could (including seam allowances).

I laid them out on the floor to form the future pattern.

I stitched the horizontal rows together to form one long strip. First, I placed two pieces of fabric right sides together and sewed them (1+1), then I did the same with the 2nd and 3rd pairs of pieces. Then, I stitched the already connected pieces together in the same way (2+2=4+2).

I stitched the squares for the other lines in the same way.

Next, I had to sew the horizontal rows together. I started with the top one: I placed it right side to the next row and stitched them. Then I sewed the third row to the second, the fourth to the third, and so on (I ended up with 8 rows).

You need to sew them so that the squares align with each other.

I cut out batting to match the size of the finished panel. I laid it out on a flat surface and placed the stitched front part of the blanket on top, right side up.

The back of the blanket is cut to the size of the finished top part (I chose a dark fabric so I wouldn't mind spreading it over grass or leaves). But you need to place it on top of the previous stack, right side down, wrong side up.

I pinned all three layers together and stitched around the perimeter. Be sure to leave a small opening for turning the piece inside out.

Turn it inside out and carefully sew the opening shut. Iron it. The blanket is ready (and the fabric scraps were put to good use).

I recently saw a masterpiece online... I want to try it someday. You won't get by with just old dresses there. But I think it's worth it.