How to Make a Tartan Throw

Our tartan throws and blankets are lovingly woven here in Scotland from the finest wool which means that correctly cared for they will last forever. Whether you are looking for a thoughtful gift, a touch of style or even the perfect accompaniment to a picnic, we have you covered. Our tartan blankets come in a range of styles and a host of popular tartans. Just select your favourite variation and you will be able to change the tartan accordingly.

We think they look fantastic draped over a couch or used to add a touch of colour to your bedroom décor. There are more ideas for how to style them for maximum impact in our Throw Style Guide. No matter what your colour scheme we have a tartan throw to match including popular grey, red, orange, purple and blue styles.

If you are handy with a needle and fancy giving it a try yourself though, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered there too! Our fabrics are all available by the metre and we have some handy tips to help you get started.

First of all, you need to choose your fabrics and decide how much you will need for your dream throw. Measure out how wide and long you’d like it to be, and then add on 2cm all the way around for seam allowances. For example, for a finished length of 100cm, you’ll need to allow 104cm with seam allowances included. Our 10oz wool fabric is 150cm in width, so you may also need to consider if you’ll need a seam in your blanket if you’d like it wider than this. If you need a seam, make sure you are taking the extra seam allowances on to account for this also. If this is the case, and you are opting for a tartan fabric pattern repeats (also known as sett size) are another thing to think about! Our 10oz wool has a standard repeat of 15cm (although contact us for your tartan’s exact repeat). For each panel, add on one repeat size – or if you’re like me and like to be safe add two! For example, if you need two pieces 100cm in width for a blanket width total of 200cm, add on at least 30cm plus seam allowances to your fabric width requirement.

For your double sided blanket, consider using two different fabrics too for something very fun. I like to back my blankets in a fleece fabric for something extra cosy and a way to add extra texture or weight. You could use cotton for warmer climates or we also do a faux fur variation which feels so luxurious. I also recommend using wadding sandwiched between your top and bottom layers to make your blanket thicker.

The next step is to cut your fabric pieces to size. Always measure twice and cut once to make sure your front and back pieces will line up exactly!

You can then pin the top and bottom pieces of the blanket together on all four sides with the right sides together. Layer the wadding on top so that when you turn it the right way round, it is inside the blanket. Sew with your 2cm seam allowance in a straight line around 3 sides of your blanket. On the fourth side, start at one corner and sew toward the middle, stopping about 20cm away from the middle of the blanket edge. Do the same on the other side, this should leave you with a 40cm hole in one side. Then, cut the corners off your throw at a 45 degree angle. This will help you get a perfect corner. Next, turn the blanket right-side out. You can then use a pair of closed scissors to push into the corners to get them nice and sharp.

Fold the raw edges of the opening into the blanket. I find it helps to press them with an iron the stay in place here. Pin the raw edges in place and sew closed with a narrow hem, or an invisible hand stitch.

When you have your finished blanket, it helps to add some quilting to hold the top and bottom pieces of fabric together and stop them flapping. You can quilt in the classic check pattern with lines going horizontally and vertically across your throw, or you can get creative and quilt patterns into your blanket for something unique to you!

For this, I recommend using chalk to mark out your design on one side before sewing. You can also put a few pins in along some of your quilting lines to stop one layer sliding and bunching as you sew.

If you’re as indecisive as I am then a patchwork quilt is definitely the way to go! You can have all of your favourite tartans on one beautiful throw! Use up all those scraps in your sewing room or buy a couple of our remnant bags for a great range of random tartans.

To start with, consider how big you want your blanket to be, and divide this up into even squares. For example, for a 100cm x 100cm throw, I might choose to use 10cmx10cm squares. You can then choose how many different fabrics you would like to use and order the correct amount, again adding on seam allowances – I suggest 1 cm for this.

Then this the best part – choosing your layout. When you have cut all of your tartan squares, lay them flat to decide how you’d like your finished blanket to look. It helps to take a photo when you’ve decided in case you forget!

Using your 1cm seam allowance, you can start to sew your squares into rows. Little sticky labels might help you keep track of which row is which here.

After each row. Press your seams for a really neat finish. If you’re using our wool fabric, I also recommend finishing off any raw edged with an overlocker or a zig zag stitch to prevent fraying

When you have all your rows sewn together, begin stitching them to each other. Keep stitching until you have a completed quilt top.

You can then finish your quilt off with a backing of your choice – I would go for something cosy and warm like fleece. Or, you can create a quilted back with another selection of fabrics! Finish this off in the same way as the double sided blanket above.

How to make a Picnic Rug

Another option to add a splash of tartan to your summer is a traditional picnic rug! We offer a variety of foldable waterproof backed picnic rugs in the Pride of Scotland range. If you want to give it a go yourself however, or you’d like your family tartan, have a look at our how to guide!

For your tartan picnic rug, you’ll need to choose your tartan fabric first before deciding how big you’d like the rug and ordering. Our 10oz wool fabric is 150cm in width, so take this into account when choosing your blanket size, and if you’ll need any seams. You will also need vinyl fabric in your desired rug size for the waterproof backing (a vinyl tablecloth would also work here), and double width bias tape for edging your picnic rug.

First of all, lay your tartan fabric on top of the waterproof vinyl fabric with the right sides of the fabric together. Line up your fabrics together and pin around all four edges, making sure there are no creases. You can then sew around three sides of your fabrics in a straight line, leaving a 2cm seam allowance. At the third edge, leave a 10cm gap in the middle of the seam. As with our other blanket styles, cut off the 4 corners on a diagonal for a neater corner. You can then turn the blanket the right way round and use scissors to gentle push the corners out.

The bias tape can then be pinned and sewn around all edges of your blanket. This will close up the hole in your rug seam and create a professional and neat finish, as well as protecting the tartan fabric when it is laid on the ground. Your picnic rug is now finished! You can play around with contrasting tape around the edge, or colours to match your backing or tartan!

You could also consider creating a folded rug with a Velcro strap for easy carrying on picnics! For this, you will need an extra length of fabric to create a strap, and some Velcro tape. Start by folding up your picnic rug into your desired (and memorable!) shape – something you can re-create time and time again! Hem your piece of extra fabric (I would recommend using the tartan), before pinning it to one side of your folded blanket. You can then fold the fabric over the top of the blanket to create a strap piece which will hold the rug together when folded. Mark the finishing point with chalk or pins – this is where your Velcro tape will go. Measure and cut the Velcro to the same width of your fabric strap and pin one side onto the blanket, and the opposite half onto the strap. Sew the Velcro in place (you may need to unfold the rug a little so you don’t stitch it shut). Then, sew down the fabric strap to one side of the rug and check that it still folds and fastens correctly. And there you have it, a beautiful and functional blanket!