Want to get the most out of the beautiful sunshine and warm days? Then pack yourself a picnic and head to the beach or a nearby park! I know packing a meal to go might seem like a big to-do to get all the food and utensils, napkins, plates. etc. ready. Well, I have come up with a way to package all you will need to serve your picnic in a small bundle that’s easy to transport on your outing.

What you will need:

  • 2 coordinating fabrics, about 1/2 yard each
  • Matching or contrasting ribbon, approximately 12 inches
  • Needle and thread (or a sewing machine)
  • Scissors
  • Your favorite picnic items to fill your bundle

Directions:

  1. Cut your first 1/2 yard of fabric in half and sew right sides together, leaving about a half-inch gap to pull your fabric out the right way. Now pull the fabric through the hole and you will have a rectangle of fabric with your print on both sides and a small hole in the seam. Fold in edges where the hole is, pin, and sew the gap shut, so that all sides have a seam.
  2. Take your second coordinating fabric and cut so it measures the length of your rectangle and about 3/4 of the height plus an inch all the way round. Fold 1/2 inch all the way around. Now repeat your 1/2-inch fold and sew around all edges so there is a nice seam instead of the raw edge.
  3. Next, pin your smaller fabric with the right side facing up to the bottom of the first larger rectangle. Sew both sides and bottom together, leaving the top open to form a pouch.
  4. With the pouch facing up so you can see both fabrics, sew a few vertical lines up the smaller fabric to make different sized compartments in your pouch. I chose to make 3 sections at approximately 2 inches wide for my utensils, a section approximately 4 inches wide to hold napkins, and a larger section for small plates.
  5. Finally, turn your picnic package over and sew the middle of your ribbon (approximately 12 inches) to the back in the middle of your rectangle. Now when you roll up your bundle you can secure it shut by tying the ribbon around.
  6. You may want to add your own little decorating touches with buttons, lace, rickrack, or fabric paint. Just be sure it is washable!

Now hit the sunshine and enjoy your new project with some great food and fellowship.