Weatherproof fabric for stadium blanket
 

Has anyone made a quilt for outdoor use? It will be used during all kinds of cold and rainy weather and I would like to make a patterned quilt using musical instruments on one side and the weatherproof fabric on the outside, but I'm not sure of what type of fabric would work best. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Wool is warm and retains much of its insulating properties when wet. For a rainproof layer I would look at camping type fabrics used for backpacks, tents, jackets, etc.

Jo-Ann's and Walmart carry that "rubberized" fabric that is used for baby diapers covers and changing pads--and you could use a solid. Or, what about tarp? I saw an article in a quilting magazine about a woman that uses different colored tarps(I've only noticed blue, but she seems to have found many different colors) to make up the top and probably the back to. just used a bigger needle and thicker thread.

There's a waterproof spray that you can put on your fabric, like Aqua Armor.

When my grandson was younger we went to all of his baseball practices, and games. It was sometimes cold. I would use some type of wool if you're in cold weather. I remember a blanket that was issues in the armed services, very warm. I did try a piece of plastic between the layers, did not work, plastic was real cold. They now have covers that will go over your chair and yourself, zip it up and there's no wind, rain that can get in, only your head is showing. You can use an umbrella there. I appliqued huge letters of the team names on mine, using a white piece of naugahyde I had. Check under MyPod on google. Syl

Odif manufacturer of 505 spray make a liquid you can paint on any fabric to make it waterproof, otherwise you could use the plastic coated fabric you can get in the home furnishing fabric section of Joanns. I've used it for outdoor furniture cushions.

i would probably just make the quilt and then bring a plastic tarp to lay down first

Or use the quilt/blanket for warmth - and then wear a see-through plastic or rubberized poncho for wind and water protection.

The vinyl coated cotton fabric is very soft , flexible and not cold. I line most of my totes with it. I love to use it to make zipper bags too. It sews like cotton fabric too.

How does it tolerate washing/laundering?

It washes and dries fine. I haven't had a problem with it.

I made lot of bibs and changing pads for my grand using it. I've seen lot of the diaper covers made from it too. I used Riley Blake.

What are sleeping bags made of? I always took one for outside games when cold and rainy and put my feet in, pulled up to neck and I was nice and toasty!

After living in Bremerton, WA and freezing all the first winter, I learned the value of a fleece coat. Fleece does not absorb water, wind doesn't go through it, and stays nice and toasty through the day outdoors. If I were making any kind of blanket to stay dry and warm, I would use fleece. Just remember to shake the water out of it before bringing it into the house. They do not absorb, but water does stand on it, so shake it off. If you make a custom size fleece blanket, with strategically placed snaps, and a built-in hood, you could watch a triple header staying nicely warm, and dry while doing it.

I use a vinyl table cloth to lay on the ground with the flannel side up and then lay a blanket over it. Years ago I also had the vinyl pad from a play pen that had given up the ghost and used that until it too wore out. That was really good because it was lightly padded and stayed in place better than the table cloth. You could put some grommets in the corners of a table cloth and stake it down to keep it in place and then lay the quilt over that.

I believe there is a product that is called Gortex that is waterproof.

I used some of the PUL fabric at JoAnns for a travel dirty clothes bag. It is waterproof, has a nice hand and I don't think wind would get thru either. It mostly comes in kiddy type patterns as it was made for bibs and diaper covers. I found a black and white zigzag that is easy to see in my suitcase! It would work well on one side and you could sit on it (with the PUL down) if the seats are wet. It is not located in the fabric area but I found it near the trims and elastic. It comes on a roll or bolt (I forget which)