Happy 4th of July, folks!  What’s more American than the 4th of July?  Not much.  (Maybe apple pie?)  And do you know what my favorite part of the 4th is?  Eating a picnic with friends.

We’re having our friends over this afternoon (along with their sleepy dog and their adorable twins), so my husband and I have spent the morning working on cook-out food and collecting every single blanket we’ve got so that we can hang out on the lawn with babies, dogs and yummy barbecue.  (We’ll probably have to fight off the dogs for the barbecue.  We might have to fight off the babies, too… they’re surprisingly grabby.)

It turns out, we have lots of different blankets- quilts, fleece blankets, flannel sheets, even a serape I got when I lived in Texas, but it turns out our blanket collection is sorely lacking a traditional gingham picnic blanket!  Crazy!

I don’t think I have time to whip one up before our friends come over (after all, I still have to make lemonade), but maybe I can make a gingham blanket for next year’s cookout.

This blanket is simple- made from three colors of granny squares, and I do love a good granny square.

Gingham Checks by Carole PriorThis is a pretty cool crochet pattern.  I can’t quite tell how it was worked, but I love the finished project.  You could make a whole set- pillows and a blanket.

Gingham Pillows by Lily Sugar’n CreamOr, if you’re not a crocheter, this super classy oversized gingham blanket would be perfect. (And how cute is that dog?!)

Gingham Knit Blanket by Martha Stewart Design TeamHappy 4th!  And happy picnicking!