Free project: Caroline’s beachy picnic mat tutorial

Caroline and I came up with a rough idea for a beachy picnic mat to go in our summer shop window. We wanted to show off our new denim and the fun Beach House charm packs, which together make a fab, hard-wearing outdoor mat for playing and picnicking!

And then she went away and made it and just crushed it! This mat is so bright and fun and so full of cool details – it’s a showstopper for sure. So I’m thrilled I can finally share her pattern with you along with some snaps of those details!

This isn’t a complete step by step tutorial, but we’ve got a supplies list, diagram and cutting instructions for you to work from. Once you’ve cut and laid out your pieces, the quilt comes together easily!

Supplies:

• One Beach House charm pack
• Skinny quarters of Kona Cotton Solids in Candy Pink, Carrot, Natural, Lipstick, Nightfall, Lapis, Cactus, Cypress, Ice Frappe, Breakers, Grapemist, Wisteria and Deep Blue (substitutions are absolutely okay! this is a great scrap buster)
• 1 metre Cotton Denim in Ceasar
• Aurifil 50wt variegated thread in 3817
• Cot size wadding
• Optional: Spray baste
• Optional: Heat n’ Bond Lite for appliqué
• Optional: Embroidery floss, hoop and needle for embroidered detail

Layout:

Cutting instructions:

Cut 5″ squares as follows:

10 x Denim
2 x Candy Pink
1 x Carrot
1 x Natural
3 x Lipstick
2 x Nightfall
2 x Lapis
2 x Cactus
2 x Cypress
1 x Ice Frappe
1 x Breakers

Cut 6″ squares as follows:

2 x Lipstick
1 x Candy Pink
1 x Carrot
3 x Nightfall
2 x Lapis
2 x Cypress
1 x Grapemist
1 x Cactus
1 x Deep Blue
1 x Riviera
1 x Breakers

Cut 6″ squares on the diagonal, pair them up as shown in the diagram and sew together to create squares.

Details:

The denim backing gives this quilt strength so it will stand up to outdoor use, but it’s also fun to incorporate into the patchwork on the front!

These fussy cut lobsters are a fun and easy addition to the quilt with no-sew iron on adhesive.

Caroline added a paw print in honour of her dog, Munchi.

The half square triangles feel appropriately nautical!

Variegated thread adds a fun design detail to the quilt back.

Use your remaining Kona strips to create a scrappy rainbow binding!

Ta da! A happy beachy picnic mat!

Thanks, Caroline!