The daughter of a good friend has just gotten married. She and the gentleman have both had their own homes and also lived together for several years which always creates the dilemma of how to recognize this new union and give them something that they might have a use for. I hate to spend money on something that’s just going to be clutter. I know that they have outdoor activities that they enjoy and go to sporting events and such so maybe a “picnic sports blanket” would be a suitable addition to their household. This pattern by Nancy Zieman of Sewing with Nancy fame was a project that turned out well. As with any new pattern, when I’m in the middle I wonder if this is really going to work or if it’s going to be recycled into something else. The biggest challenge was with the velcro closure strap that ended up being too short. The pattern instructions said how far in to place the handle straps but they did not tell you how far from the top of the blanket they needed to be. I must have put them lower than was intended because the closure strap was too short. It did work ok but I was not pleased with the appearance so I removed the strap, recut a new one and sewed it into place. I’m so pleased I made that decision because now it does look good and I will feel good about giving it as a gift. I do have several other large pieces of fleece in my stash from projects that were planned but not executed so this one will probably get made again. All in all, a success!
