A colouring blanket is a soft throw with line art printed on it, ready to be filled in with fabric pens. Most measure around 150 x 125 cm and come with a set of pens in the box.
There is no set order: one flower tonight, a corner of the pattern tomorrow. It is wide enough for two or three people to work on it at the same time.
Many designs are printed as white outlines on a black background, which gives a stained-glass look once coloured. Large areas fill quickly; small detailed zones take longer but look striking when finished.
What makes the difference is the washable ink. With water-based washable pens, manufacturers state that the colour comes out in a normal machine wash, so the same design can be coloured again. Always follow the care label on the blanket.
Permanent fabric pens are for the reverse: a design you want to keep, which will not wash out. It helps to decide before you start which parts should be permanent.
Two small tips before you start. Pull the fabric flat on the table and cap each pen as soon as you put it down. Testing a colour on a small corner shows how it looks on the fabric.
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.