Beautiful Hand-made Picnic Rugs
How About This is proud to present its new line of bright, quilted picnic rugs. Hand-made out of sarongs from the wonderful island of Sri Lanka, these are designed to bring some colour and fun to the traditionally grey and cloudy British Summertime.
During a visit to the beautiful island of Sri Lanka in the early Spring, How About This fell in love with the vibrant and colourful sarongs worn by many Lankans. Made from cotton, these are pieces of material around one metre wide and sewn into a wide tube, that are wrapped around the waist in a number of different ways to create a comfortable and breezy alternative to trousers. Traditionally worn by men (women have wrap-around skirts called reddas as an alternative), the colours and patterns are hugely varied and interesting - just like the country. In the past, sarongs have been considered a piece of clothing for rural dwellers and the lower social classes. However, a number of companies are now looking to make sarongs more modern and popular for a wider audience, with pockets, belts and other accessories paired with modern patterns and varied colours and materials, and there is also a trend toward wearing the sarong as a formal garment to show national pride. Ultimately however, Lankan sarongs are simply beautiful pieces of material in a variety of fabulous colours and patterns.
How About This presents colourful, hand-made padded picnic rugs with water-resistant backing, so you don’t get soggy sitting on the damp grass. Each rug is around one metre square (exact size depends on the available material), has 2cm padding for comfort on the hard ground and is quilted. There’s also a tie attached to the back so you can roll them up and carry them easily. And, since picnics can get messy, they can also go in the washing machine at 40 degrees. The quilts and trim are cotton, the padding is polycotton (a mixture of polyester and cotton) and the base is a synthetic water-resistant material that is sturdier and better at repelling moisture than tent nylon (though be aware, it’s NOT completely waterproof).
Prices are extremely reasonable - especially given that these are all hand-made - and exclude p&p: £30 - £40 depending on size for pre-made rugs and £50 for made-to-order rugs (approx. one metre square).
Check out the pre-made rugs currently on offer:
If you’re after something made-to-order, here are some beautiful Lankan sarong fabrics to choose from:
And here are some rugs that have been specially designed from the sarong materials on offer:
And if you are looking for a picnic rug that’s completely bespoke, How About This would be happy to discuss getting creative and making something especially for you! Here are some quite different examples:
