Thread: rag quilt: batting vs flannel

I have a rag quilt on my bucket list. I've already made one with batting, and I know I can substitute flannel for the batting. Here's my question: has anyone used more than one layer of flannel for the batting?

Sorry, I can't answer your question. I haven't made one yet but, I have had lots of flannel for quite a few years and have toyed with the idea of making on or more of them. I'm afraid of having all that lint going through my dryer. I wouldn't want to worry about a dryer fire.
I'm sure someone will have an answer for you as I have seen lots of them on here. I think I would use just a couple of layers of flannel with the top. It probably depends on how warm you want it to be.

I made a queen size rag quilt out of flannel and then used flannel for the backing. I put a very low loft poly/cotton batting in it. I don't see why it can't be done, though. Mine was REALLY heavy when I finished. Good luck.

Why do you want to use more than one layer of flannel inside? Warmth? I don't see why you couldn't do it, but it will mean that you're cutting through 4 or more layers - unless you have one of those dies that cuts the squares and cuts the slits too.

Well, warmth is a consideration, and we do like heavier quilts. I was wondering if the rag part would be fluffier. I was also hoping flannel would drape softer than batting - I have a flannel top-batting-flannel back quilt that is wonderful, but I wish it was a little less stiff. Maybe I used the wrong kind of batting, it was one of the first quilts I ever made.

Originally Posted by Peckish

Well, warmth is a consideration, and we do like heavier quilts. I was wondering if the rag part would be fluffier. I was also hoping flannel would drape softer than batting - I have a flannel top-batting-flannel back quilt that is wonderful, but I wish it was a little less stiff. Maybe I used the wrong kind of batting, it was one of the first quilts I ever made.

You do get more ragging with 3 layers of flannel, and you have the opportunity to add another color in the ragging if you want. It is a soft quilt as well. But I've never made one with batting, only with 2 or 3 layers of flannel, so I can't compare the two, except to say that it seems to me that using batting is a lot more work than just the 3 layers of flannel, since you have to do some quilting on top to keep the batting in place, and you have to layer the batting "just so" in order to keep it just at the edges of the stitching. (If you use the 3 layers of flannel you don't have to quilt it with the traditional "x" since there's nothing to shift around inside the quilt.)

Originally Posted by dunster

You do get more ragging with 3 layers of flannel, and you have the opportunity to add another color in the ragging if you want. It is a soft quilt as well. But I've never made one with batting, only with 2 or 3 layers of flannel, so I can't compare the two, except to say that it seems to me that using batting is a lot more work than just the 3 layers of flannel, since you have to do some quilting on top to keep the batting in place, and you have to layer the batting "just so" in order to keep it just at the edges of the stitching. (If you use the 3 layers of flannel you don't have to quilt it with the traditional "x" since there's nothing to shift around inside the quilt.)

Good point Dunster! When I made mine, I didn't want to have to mess with the batting squares and I used 2 different colors of flannel and a layer of cotton. I liked how the ragged part looks variagated. I didn't sew the X either!

I made a rag quilt using cotton on the front a layer of flannel in place of the batting and then backed it with flannel. It ragged up wonderfully. It isn't too heavy and keeps me warm while watching tv. Let me look for the link to the pix here on the board.

Here it is! Univerisity of Michigan Rag Quilt

This was just one time through the washer and dryer after finishing it and I haven't washed it again. My only gripe is the pilling on the golden yellow backing. I had used a dark blue flannel to keep with the UofM colors. It is only on the backing so it isn't that big of a deal to me.