How to Make a Rag Quilt
How to Make a Rag Quilt
Handmade quilts make beautiful home décor and thoughtful gifts. They're perfect for Christmas, new babies, and birthday gifts. A quilt has a polished, yet folksy quality that is just irresistible.
Rag quilts have a bit of a scruffier look than traditional quilts. This is because the seam allowances are on the front of the quilt, and they are intentionally frayed to add character. These quilts possess an especially rustic quality, which has contributed to their popularity.
Here are the basics of rag quilting:
1. Cut your fabric squares about 1 1/2 inches larger than you want them to be on the finished quilt. If you're going to use batting, cut squares that are 2 inches smaller than the squares of fabric.
2. Place a square of fabric wrong side up, center a batting square on top of it, and place another fabric square right side up on top. Pin together.
3. Stitch the layers together diagonally both ways, starting and stopping about a half inch from the edges. When finished it will form an X.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you've used all of your squares.
5. Stitch the squares together in rows of the desired width, making a 5/8-inch seam. Take care to ensure that the batting stays inside the squares and doesn't end up in the seam allowance.
6. Stitch the rows together, matching the seams as you go. Then sew around the outer edges of the quilt about 5/8 inches from the edges.
7. Make half-inch cuts in the seam allowances of each square, spacing the cuts about 1/2 inch apart. Be careful not to cut into the stitching. To avoid blisters, try wearing a leather glove on the hand you use to do the cutting.
8. Wash the completed quilt in cold water on the gentle cycle. Take outside and shake thoroughly before drying. Stop the dryer halfway through the cycle and clean out the lint filter, then clean it out thoroughly again at the end.
The raw edges that you clipped should be somewhat frayed after washing and drying. This is intentional, and they will fray more over time. Many rag quilters use only homespun fabric because it produces a better fray than other fabrics.
Most rag quilts are made with two layers of fabric with batting in between, but this is not a hard and fast rule. If you're using a very thick fabric such as denim, you may choose to omit the batting. Or if you prefer, you could use denim for the front and flannel or another lighter material for the back.
Rag quilts are great for staying warm on those cold winter days, and they make beautiful family heirlooms. They require more fabric than a standard quilt, but the end result is well worth it.
Make a Rag Quilt with Your Scraps of Fabric
Sewing is a very fulfilling hobby. If you can use a sewing machine and follow a pattern, you can make clothing, blankets, drapes and more. But the more you sew, the more scraps of fabric you end up with. Some people just toss them, but most save them in hopes that they can use them for something one day.
If you have tons of fabric scraps tossed into a closet, why not make them into a cozy rag quilt? Even if you've never quilted before, rag quilts are easy to make. They do not require the seams to be perfect, and you can finish them in just a couple of days.
Materials for Rag Quilts
You can make a rag quilt out of just about any kind of material, but some work better than others. Here are some that you might choose to use:
* Homespun fabrics - Homespun is the choice of most rag quilters. This is because it frays easily. The seam allowances on the front of the quilt are clipped specifically to produce fraying, and this is what gives rag quilts their scruffy look and soft feel.
* Flannel - Flannel is a good fabric for any kind of quilt, and rag quilts are no exception. It doesn't fray quite as readily as homespun fabric, but its soft texture does allow for a fair amount of fraying. Flannel makes a particularly cozy and warm quilt despite its light weight.
* Denim - Denim is rather tricky to work with when quilting, especially when you're making a rag quilt. Most patterns call for a top and bottom layer of the fabric to be used with a piece of batting in between each square. When using something as heavy as denim, you'll have to take care not to burn up your sewing machine. But denim does produce a nice look on rag quilts, so many quilters are willing to make the extra effort.
Using a combination of fabrics can make a very nice rag quilt. However, polyester blends are not recommended. They do not fray well and will not give the rag quilt its signature cuddly look.
A Quilt of Many Colors
Rag quilts have a causal appearance, so it's not necessary to use just two or three carefully matched fabrics. It's easy to get away with using just about any scrap you can find without defining a set pattern. This makes a fun, colorful and unpretentious quilt.
Using squares of different sizes also creates a nice effect on rag quilts. You might use large squares of two or three different fabrics, and alternate with squares made up of four smaller squares of other fabrics. You don't necessarily have to throw scraps out just because they're on the small side.
Rag quilts are fun and easy to make, and they give you a way to put all those fabric scraps to good use. You can whip one up in no time for a handmade gift on short notice. So the next time you're staring at a mountain of scraps, give rag quilting a try.
~Quilting Ebooks~
How to Quilt
Rag Quilt Instructions
The Patchwork Easy-As Method
206 Patchwork Quilt Patterns
Quilting
Handmade quilts make beautiful home décor and thoughtful gifts. They're perfect for Christmas, new babies, and birthday gifts. A quilt has a polished, yet folksy quality that is just irresistible.
Rag quilts have a bit of a scruffier look than traditional quilts. This is because the seam allowances are on the front of the quilt, and they are intentionally frayed to add character. These quilts possess an especially rustic quality, which has contributed to their popularity.
Here are the basics of rag quilting:
1. Cut your fabric squares about 1 1/2 inches larger than you want them to be on the finished quilt. If you're going to use batting, cut squares that are 2 inches smaller than the squares of fabric.
2. Place a square of fabric wrong side up, center a batting square on top of it, and place another fabric square right side up on top. Pin together.
3. Stitch the layers together diagonally both ways, starting and stopping about a half inch from the edges. When finished it will form an X.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you've used all of your squares.
5. Stitch the squares together in rows of the desired width, making a 5/8-inch seam. Take care to ensure that the batting stays inside the squares and doesn't end up in the seam allowance.
6. Stitch the rows together, matching the seams as you go. Then sew around the outer edges of the quilt about 5/8 inches from the edges.
7. Make half-inch cuts in the seam allowances of each square, spacing the cuts about 1/2 inch apart. Be careful not to cut into the stitching. To avoid blisters, try wearing a leather glove on the hand you use to do the cutting.
8. Wash the completed quilt in cold water on the gentle cycle. Take outside and shake thoroughly before drying. Stop the dryer halfway through the cycle and clean out the lint filter, then clean it out thoroughly again at the end.
The raw edges that you clipped should be somewhat frayed after washing and drying. This is intentional, and they will fray more over time. Many rag quilters use only homespun fabric because it produces a better fray than other fabrics.
Most rag quilts are made with two layers of fabric with batting in between, but this is not a hard and fast rule. If you're using a very thick fabric such as denim, you may choose to omit the batting. Or if you prefer, you could use denim for the front and flannel or another lighter material for the back.
Rag quilts are great for staying warm on those cold winter days, and they make beautiful family heirlooms. They require more fabric than a standard quilt, but the end result is well worth it.
Make a Rag Quilt with Your Scraps of Fabric
Sewing is a very fulfilling hobby. If you can use a sewing machine and follow a pattern, you can make clothing, blankets, drapes and more. But the more you sew, the more scraps of fabric you end up with. Some people just toss them, but most save them in hopes that they can use them for something one day.
If you have tons of fabric scraps tossed into a closet, why not make them into a cozy rag quilt? Even if you've never quilted before, rag quilts are easy to make. They do not require the seams to be perfect, and you can finish them in just a couple of days.
Materials for Rag Quilts
You can make a rag quilt out of just about any kind of material, but some work better than others. Here are some that you might choose to use:
* Homespun fabrics - Homespun is the choice of most rag quilters. This is because it frays easily. The seam allowances on the front of the quilt are clipped specifically to produce fraying, and this is what gives rag quilts their scruffy look and soft feel.
* Flannel - Flannel is a good fabric for any kind of quilt, and rag quilts are no exception. It doesn't fray quite as readily as homespun fabric, but its soft texture does allow for a fair amount of fraying. Flannel makes a particularly cozy and warm quilt despite its light weight.
* Denim - Denim is rather tricky to work with when quilting, especially when you're making a rag quilt. Most patterns call for a top and bottom layer of the fabric to be used with a piece of batting in between each square. When using something as heavy as denim, you'll have to take care not to burn up your sewing machine. But denim does produce a nice look on rag quilts, so many quilters are willing to make the extra effort.
Using a combination of fabrics can make a very nice rag quilt. However, polyester blends are not recommended. They do not fray well and will not give the rag quilt its signature cuddly look.
A Quilt of Many Colors
Rag quilts have a causal appearance, so it's not necessary to use just two or three carefully matched fabrics. It's easy to get away with using just about any scrap you can find without defining a set pattern. This makes a fun, colorful and unpretentious quilt.
Using squares of different sizes also creates a nice effect on rag quilts. You might use large squares of two or three different fabrics, and alternate with squares made up of four smaller squares of other fabrics. You don't necessarily have to throw scraps out just because they're on the small side.
Rag quilts are fun and easy to make, and they give you a way to put all those fabric scraps to good use. You can whip one up in no time for a handmade gift on short notice. So the next time you're staring at a mountain of scraps, give rag quilting a try.
~Quilting Ebooks~
How to Quilt
Rag Quilt Instructions
The Patchwork Easy-As Method
206 Patchwork Quilt Patterns
Quilting
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