I love doing the rag quilts, I have done about 6 of them and working on a blue jean one for my daughter though its taking forever because its a King and heavyyyy. If its a good quality flannel I just use the front and back. I don't wash before putting it together and I have had no problem so far with shrinking, I do wash them 4 or 5 times to get as much as the strings out as I can before giving them away. I just got the Accuquilt die but have not used it yet, soon though.