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I am thinking of making a picnic/beach quilt. We have been going to a lake a lot lately and I want a better place to all hunker down then a beach towel. You know, sit and have lunch or sit and watch the kids swim. Would it be crazy to make a quilt for this purpose? If so, what would you back it with? Or batt it with, since it will get damp? I read an article where they backed a favorite blanket with fabric shower curtain because grass and sand didn't cling to it.
Thoughts? Am I nuts?
I saw a picnic quilt today and they had used the laminated cloth for the backing. It is somewhat waterproof. It's also fairly expensive.
I wonder if it would be cheaper to buy the laminate and do it myself, I did that for a bag once.I laminated on the inside so the back wouldn't look all plasticy......also how would one quilt it? I'd think the laminate might tear........ I'll have to think on this more........
Thanks for the reply.
Old denim would make a sturdy quilt for the beach also.
No, not a crazy idea at all - in fact a very GOOD idea!
I think it's a great idea! How waterproof do you want it to be?
PUL (polyurethane laminate) is a wonderful completely waterproof material, it is soft and flexible. It's what's used for baby diapers. The polyester side is very soft, but it's not extremely durable(not like vinyl or tablecloth fabric-but SO soft and flexible!) it does pil and get pulls in it when my grandson wears it outside(with no pants on over it) to play in, especially if he's sitting on the concrete edge of the pool. Still. considering he's 2 and constantly on the go, it would probably hold up well enough for a blanket back. It is also very washable. We wash and dry diapers with hot water and high dryer heat every other day, those PUL diapers get a LOT of use/abuse!
You do not want to make too many holes in a waterproof fabric though, that definitely compromises it's waterproofing! You could make your quilt top, back it with the cheapest muslin you can find to quilt it, then make a PUL-type back to make it waterproof. You could just tack it down in a few places to keep it together.
forgot to add:
PUL is such a comfortable fabric I am making pillow covers for my grandson. He has a bad habit of taking off his diaper and wetting all over his bed and it ruins his pillows. PUL is soft enough he could sleep on it without a pillow case.
I think it's a great idea but I don't know about the laminating part. If it were me, I'd just make the quilt as usual. But that's me.
Heckfire, shoot, I always used some old quilts for picnics. that's what they're for. I would think if you could find a nice panel and keep it lightweight, tie it in equal spaces and go for it. It would wash and dry easily. Of course, I am NOT speaking of an heirloom quilt here, just a special made for the picnic, whatever wherever. I have an old old one that is not in good shape at all these days. Sis and I sit on it each week during our cook outs and play cards. Happy memory making.
If you are crazy, so am I. I just made one. DH and I have been going to the beach a lot this season so far and while we bring chairs and an umbrella too, I need to be able to relax a bit on a blanket and also have someplace to put all the other "stuff" we bring (little cooler with water and sandwiches, bag with reading material, sunblock, wet washcloth to wash sunblock off our hands, etc. etc.) So, I just raided my large scraps and used my 12" square ruler and cut out a bunch of blocks and sewed them together until I got the size I wanted. I backed it with an old sheet (one we had been taking with us to the beach anyway) -- no batting. We love it!!
Ginny B
Just do like Ginny said. Cut big blocks out of whatever fabric, and back with a sheet. No batting required. Tie and bind. Light weight and easy to wash. Denim does however make great sturdy top. Can still back with sheet. Would be a little harder to wash and dry.
Thanks for the replies everyone! I've got quite a lot to think about. Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I posted the message then went to my Mom's for a few days.