It's a picnic blanket because, knowing my brother, he'd otherwise stuff it into a closet as "heirloom" and I prefer my quilts to be used after I put that much work into them. I don't object to worn out quilts, I'd rather make them another. I am using cotton for the front and heaver cotton for the backing.
I've not done HRT's before but I have Tri-recs so I'll give that a go. I've done a few mock-ups and like the method of HRT's that makes two at once but I have to over cut pieces and then square them up and I really dislike squaring up. Beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.