That’s right….this is the Keep Your Pants Dry Picnic Quilt Tutorial.
Today we get to take part in our friend Melissa’s Summer Sewing Series over at The Polka Dot Chair.
And so today I decided to make something to eliminate one of my summer pet peeves.
If you are like me and you go to the park, the splash pad, the backyard…or anywhere really…and spread out your blanket, somehow you have found the only damp place on all the lawn to set up camp.
It could be 237 degrees outside but somehow underneath my blanket its a swamp!
Which means that when I stand up I have wet pants, a damp behind, a moist caboose…call it whatever you like but whatever it is…I don’t like it. So after a summer full of soggy buns I finally came up with a solution to my problem:
How does this wonder of summer time work you ask?
Well, I’ll tell you. (Its so simple I’m kicking myself I didn’t think of it earlier.)
It is a vinyl lined blanket! Soft quilting cotton on top and a water resistant bottom! SO SIMPLE!!! AND SO EASY TO MAKE!!!
All you need to make this glorious tush saving device is a cheap vinyl table cloth (they are always around and on sale at big box stores during the summer) and some coordinating fabric!
Once you have those two items decide what size you want your picnic blanket to be.
Me. I wanted one just my size…that I could sit on and wouldn’t have to share! So I made mine 60″ x 40″. However you can make yours any size you’d like. Just make sure that you cut your vinyl table cloth to the exact same size that you cut your coordinating fabric to.
Once you have your table cloth the same size as your fabric lay them right sides together and pin pin pin around the entire perimeter.
Now sew around the entire perimeter of your blanket leaving about a 6″ opening so you will be able to turn your blanket right sides out.
Turn your blanket right sides out using the opening.
Top stitch around the entire perimeter of your blanket. (Be extra careful as you top stitch along the opening so that you catch those layers together and sew that opening closed!)
At this point you can call your blanket finished…but I wouldn’t…depending on the size of your quilt the top and bottom layers may not always stick together so you will either want to throw some yarn ties in there or do what I did…which is….using your sewing machine run a few lines across the the width of your blanket. This will hold your top and bottom layers together securely.
And guess what.
You are done!
Fold it up. Pack it up. And sit yourself down…without fear of standing up with a wet behind!
The Keep Your Pants Dry Quilt Tutorial.
I told you…it is so simple and so easy….I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before now….
-liZ
Oh…and PS: Just, you know, in case you didn’t know…when using your blanket…put the vinyl side down on the lawn and the cotton fabric side up facing you. If not…this blanket will have the reverse effect and you will be one hot sweaty mess…and those pants of yours…well…they might not stay so dry.
And one more PS….to check out a summer full of fun summer sewing projects check out Melissa’s entire series HERE !
We made simple seats in Girl Scouts . Newspaper and contact paper. Quick and easy for kids to do. This is do much cuter❣❣❣
I made a waterproof play & learning blanket for a friend of mine. I used cotton backing, a liner for a shower, batting and a pieced top. The child could sleep on it, the Mom could use it as a changing pad and when I pieced it I pUT the alphabet and numbers on it so as they got older they could learn with it too. The Mom loved it and used it daily.
This is a wonderful idea. I’m thinking of adding some batting for a little cushion for an “old bum” like mine! LOL! Thanks for the tutorial!
I’ve just made two blankets like these for my grandson. I used waterproof material from the Internet which was only a couple of pounds a metre and cuddle fleece. I sewed two ties, one on each corner so it can be used with carrier. My daughter in law can tie it to the carrier or the car seat or over the pram. Then put it on the ground for George my grandson to play on whilst enjoying the park or beach.
So smart!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for this afternoon that features your tutorial: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/?p=89504 –Anne
I love this idea! Can this be washed in a washing machine?
I washed mine in the washing machine in cold and then line dried it and it was fine….