Spring and summer are nearly here, and it’s the perfect time to plan a picnic. We partnered with Jamba Juice to try their refreshing energy bowls while making a cheerful DIY pom pom picnic blanket. Round picnic towels and beach blankets are everywhere right now, and making one yourself is easy, affordable and a lot of fun. Pom poms add instant personality—if you love crafting, they’re an addictive finishing touch.
For our picnic we sampled four of Jamba Juice’s energy bowls: Island Pitaya, Açaí Primo, Chunky Strawberry and Fruit & Greek Yogurt. Each comes in a convenient to-go container, making them ideal for a picnic spread. Our favorite was the Island Pitaya Bowl—it’s tropical, packed with fruit and antioxidants, and perfectly pink for this project.
DIY Pom Pom Picnic Blanket
Total Time: 60–90 minutes
Supplies
2 yards of 60″ wide (or wider) terrycloth, microfiber or another absorbent fabric
6 yards of double-fold bias tape (if your fabric frays)
5½ yards of each trim you choose (we used fringe and two pom pom trims)
Yarn in your chosen colors
Pom pom maker
Fabric glue
Jumbo/yarn needle
Scissors
Pencil or chalk
Directions
1. Make a simple compass: cut a piece of yarn about 30″ long and tie one end to a bottle (or other anchor) and the other end to a pencil or piece of chalk.
2. Fold your fabric in half with the right sides together. Hold the anchored bottle on the center of the fold, extend the yarn fully, and draw a half-circle with the pencil so the arc reaches the fold at both ends.
3. Cut the half-circle through both layers and unfold to reveal a full circle.
4. If your fabric frays, glue double-fold bias tape around the entire edge of the circle. Microfiber typically won’t need this step.
5. Make pom poms according to the instructions for your pom pom maker. For multicolored pom poms, wrap yarn in color blocks as you go.
6. Thread the yarn tail from each pom pom onto a jumbo needle and stitch the pom poms onto the blanket, or glue them in place and trim excess yarn. Space pom poms about one foot apart, or customize spacing to your taste.
7. Attach any additional trim by gluing it along the edge of the fabric in small sections. If you used bias tape, glue the trim over it and over the pom pom attachment points. We layered fringe first, then added pom pom trim.
8. Let the glue dry completely before using the blanket.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
Pack a cooler, take your new pom pom blanket outside, and enjoy a colorful picnic. A handmade blanket like this is made to be used and shared.
This post was created in partnership with Jamba Juice. All content and opinions are our own. Thank you to the sponsors that help keep creative projects like this possible.