A colouring blanket is a soft throw with line art printed on it, ready to be filled in with fabric pens. Many come in at about 150 x 125 cm, with their own set of pens.
The design is large, so it works best a little at a time rather than in one sitting. Several people can colour at once, so it suits couples, friends or a quiet evening round the table.
Many designs are printed as white outlines on a black background, which gives a stained-glass look once coloured. Choosing the design is half the fun, so it is worth looking at the whole pattern first.
What makes the difference is the washable ink. According to the manufacturer, washable water-based ink comes out in a normal wash, leaving the printed outlines ready for another round. The care label sets the temperature and drying.
If you want to keep a finished piece, permanent fabric pens do the opposite: what you colour stays. Just keep track of which areas were done in which ink.
Two small tips before you start. Lay the blanket flat on a table rather than on your knees, and put the caps back on the pens between sessions. Start with lighter colours; darker ones are easier to add than to take away.
For adults it is a calm, screen-free way to unwind in the evening, much like a mindful colouring book. As a gift, it suits people who love crafts but already own plenty of colouring books.
