I have made a few rag quilts and I don't clip them. When I make them I use cotton for the top and bottom with flannel for the batting. I sew a 1/4 or 1/2 inch seam depending on who it is for. Kids I do 1/4. After it is sewn together, I throw it in the washer, with regular detergent, running it through the whole cycle on the strongest setting. It frays great, but you will have a very large pile of threads to cut off. I wash it a second time, trim anymore threads that come up, then throw it in the dryer and it is good to go. Flannel is 100% cotton so if there is any shrinking which I haven't noticed, it shrinks together.
I made one for my dad who was in a nursing home before he passed away last year and they washed it a lot! It is still in great shape. I made sure I got that back.
Hope this helps you.