Christmas colouring blanket: the gift, and the date to order by

Last order date for a colouring blanket by Christmas in the UK

Order by 10 December. Delivery to UK addresses takes 6 to 12 days from your order, so an order on 10 December should arrive between 16 and 22 December. We keep two days in hand for the Christmas post.

After 10 December you can still order, but we can't promise it arrives before the 25th, and we'll say so rather than guess. There is no countdown and no "last few left" on this site: the date above is the only deadline.

Who is a colouring blanket a good Christmas present for?

It suits adults who already colour, doodle or knit in the evenings, and anyone who likes a project they can pick up and put down. It makes a good present for a mum, a nan or a grandad who enjoys a quiet activity, for a couple who spend their evenings on the sofa, and for teenagers who like detailed drawings.

If it's for a grown-up, our page for adults shows how detailed the patterns are.

Who a colouring blanket isn't for

Someone who doesn't enjoy colouring won't be converted by a bigger page. And for very young children, a large blanket covered in small shapes is a lot to ask: the maker gives no minimum age, so we don't print one. If in doubt, choose something else; we'd rather lose the sale than see it in a drawer.

What's in the colouring blanket box, and how to wrap it

One colouring blanket of about 150 x 125 cm and 24 colour markers. The parcel weighs around 450 g, pens and packaging included. Folded, the blanket is soft and squashy, so it wraps like a jumper: a sheet of kraft paper and some string do the job.

If you add the permanent pens (+ £8.99), they may arrive in a separate parcel. Allow for that if you are wrapping everything together.

Colouring the blanket together on Christmas Day

It is one of the few presents that gets opened and used on the same afternoon. Spread it over a table or across two laps, share out the 24 markers and let everyone take a corner.

Christmas Eve box ideas for adults: a colouring blanket

Christmas Eve boxes aren't only for children. Fold the blanket, add the pens, a hot chocolate and a film, and the evening of the 24th is sorted. It works best opened early in the evening, when there are a few hours to colour.

A colouring blanket as a Christmas gift for nan or grandad

For grandparents who like a calm activity, it doubles as a throw for the armchair, and it is something to colour with the grandchildren on a visit. The pens are easy to hold and the shapes are printed clearly in black and white.