When I was working on a rag quilt I had to stitch x's across each block. The first time I did it, I used my ruler and marked it with a pencil (it didn't mark well). After that I just tried to wing it. What I ended up with..some off centered x's. What is the normal process for doing this?

Thanks.

I don't know what normal is, but my suggestion is to use masking tape or painters tape. Tape it right on the quilt top, use is as your guide as you sew a straight line, then pull it off and re-use it for the next line.

You can use masking tape as a guide, sew beside the tape...reposition and use again. :D:D:D

Sounds pretty normal to me. :) Thanks to both of you!!

I use a blue, water removing marking pen. When I toss it in the wash afterwards (cold water) it all comes out.

What brand do you use?

Wing it and have fun. A rag quilt is a fun snuggle thing to enjoy.

I've got mine all pieced together, but today my scissors decided they didn't want to cut through flannel anymore. So, I've got to find some new ones before I can finish the cutting part.

I don't mark the X's. I just sew from corner to corner.

frankly as long as you do some quilting in the squares you can do X's or swirls or anything else. don't fret over your X's being off a bit.
i eye ball them myself.

I use masking tape to mark my X's. Reposition it and use several times. You get a perfect X every time.
I also use masking tape when I'm quilting a grid, you can use narrow or wide tape depending on the look you want.

I just wing it on rag quilts..and have had good luck everything always lines up like it is supposed to.

I just eyeball my X's and don't worry if they are off just a smidge or so. When the flannel is washed, it will shrink some and you can't tell that the X's were off.

That is exactly how I do it!!

That is exactly how I do it!!

I do a single line quilting design on my embroidery unit on the machine. There are many hand quilted look designs on the cd's

you know once it is washed no one will even notice if those lines are straight, the idea is to (quilt) the layers together so they do not shift, you do not have to do an x, you can run a wiggly line down in one direction anywhere, then wiggle a line across the other direction, so everything is held. i usually just use a decorative stitch and make it easy; one of the great things about rag quilts as they are fast and easy, you do not need to be so precise as to mark your squares, relax and have some fun with them :)
you can get some really fun great designs when you get creative with raggy quilts, be adventerous, it is the easiest method to experiment. you are still getting practice stitching, but you don't have to (sweat the small stuff) because when it gets washed it will not be noticed!

I just start sewing from one end to the next. I actually told my DGD not to make the lines straight. We did squiggles, wiggles and circles. I wanted her to have fun and not be so hard on herself. It came out great.

I'm with most, I just sew corner to corner, I haven't made a rag quilt but, I did make a 3" blocks and just tried to stay straight and all appear to be. If someone looks that close, then they deserve to find a flaw.

I line up my squares and before I sew them, I take the top square and fold over the opposite corners one at a time and then crease an X on the top fabric piece only. It remains marked long enough for me to sew it, and there is nothing to erase or to stick to the fabric. It works for me.

Before you buy scissors for the job, there is a rotary cutter that is specifically designed to cut chenille strips without cutting through the entire quilt. It has a cutting shield under the blade that you insert between the layers. It might be worth a look?

I just line up the corners by eye - it looks OK to me.

Just eyeballing corner to corner works for me but you could gently fold and press an X prior to sewing - just sew down the fold and not have to worry about washing out any markings.

I made a few rag quilts & started with doing an X on the blocks.Ended up making a free motion heart in the centers.No one noticed because they're scrunchy blocks :D
BTW...a pair of spring loaded scissors makes a diff. Got mine at Joanns with 50% off.

Does anybody have a link for this? I finished my first rag quilt last night. I really enjoyed doing it, but I really disliked the cutting part.