In need of good rag quilt instructions
04-07-2009, 11:15 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 565
So I've decided that the quilt my 10 year old and I are going to work on together is a rag quilt, with flannel. I'm looking for free online instructions...or if someone here can give me very detailed instructions...basically so detailed and easy to understand that my 10 year old can understand it. I want her to be able to read it with me and understand what needs to be done to make this quilt.
Thanks for all you do!
Thanks for all you do!
04-07-2009, 11:23 AM
#2
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
04-07-2009, 02:51 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,688
I wrote these out years ago---
1. Buy your flannel—2 colors, or more. Maybe about 7 yards all together—it’s hard to know how much to get. One pattern says 6.25 yards for a twin size. I’d hate for there not to be enough for the size you want, then have the store not have more of your color. I usually buy 1-3 yards of several colors that match, then I have enough to play around with them. It sounds like a lot, but remember it’s the back too.
2. Also buy some Warm and Natural cotton batting—about 3 yards because it’s extra long? (I’m not good at yardage—but that one you can get more of if you need to.)
3. There are many options as to square size. You can cut your flannel into 6 inch, 7 inch, 8 inch squares. The bigger they are, the faster it’ll go together, but the smaller the squares, the more interesting your pattern will be. I always cut the flannel into 7 inch squares. If you want, you can cut any scrap pieces into rectangles 7 x 4 inch pieces. Two rectangles sewn together will equal one square. They add even more fun to the finished product!
4. Cut the batting into 5 ¾” squares. For rectangles, the batting needs to be 5 ¾ x 2 ¾ inches.
5. Choose 2 flannel squares of the same color and 1 batting square. Layer the squares of batting between the 2 quilt squares so the right sides of the flannel are facing the out. (let me know if you need a picture) Then sew each square from corner to corner—so there’s an X across the square. I eye it up, but you may want to draw on a line to follow. Use a continuous seam to sew these together, first one line, then the other. Are you familiar with the continuous seam? It’s so easy, and makes things so much faster, AND it saves on thread!
6. For any rectangle pieces, I just sew a wavy line from the middle of one short side to the middle of the opposite side.
7. Complete every square and rectangle in this way.
8. Lay out the squares in the pattern you like. Take a picture if you have a digital camera.
9. Pick up each row by starting at one end and stacking each square under the previous one. Label each pile with its row number. Pin the row number on the top square.
10. Sew all the rows together, using a ½ seam. Make sure all seams are on the same side.
11. Sew each row to the next, pinning at every seam so they match perfectly. Lock the seams—meaning have one folded to each side as they are sewn together. Make sure all seams are on the same side. (I always goof at least once and have to rip a row apart.) It pays to double check.
12. Now sew around the whole quilt using a ½ seam.
13. Once the whole quilt is together, you need to rag it. I place the quilt, folded at a seam facing toward me, on the ironing board, and clip almost to the seam—all the way from one end to the other—about ¼- ½ inch apart. The directions say to snip right to the seam, but I have never gotten that close. Now and then, you will cut through the seam. Just stick it under your sewing machine and repair it by sewing over that area again. It happens.
14. Once ever seam is clipped, clip around the whole outside.
15. Now, shake your beautiful creation outside to get some of the lint off.
16. Most directions say to wash the quilt now, but I have found it works to just spray the front well with water, and wet the back a bit too. You decide what you’d like to do.
17. Shake the quilt outside again. Then put it in the dryer. The dryer will be what makes the seams rag up.
18. Now and then clean your lint filter and even shake the quilt outside again.
19. Smile, you’re done.
1. Buy your flannel—2 colors, or more. Maybe about 7 yards all together—it’s hard to know how much to get. One pattern says 6.25 yards for a twin size. I’d hate for there not to be enough for the size you want, then have the store not have more of your color. I usually buy 1-3 yards of several colors that match, then I have enough to play around with them. It sounds like a lot, but remember it’s the back too.
2. Also buy some Warm and Natural cotton batting—about 3 yards because it’s extra long? (I’m not good at yardage—but that one you can get more of if you need to.)
3. There are many options as to square size. You can cut your flannel into 6 inch, 7 inch, 8 inch squares. The bigger they are, the faster it’ll go together, but the smaller the squares, the more interesting your pattern will be. I always cut the flannel into 7 inch squares. If you want, you can cut any scrap pieces into rectangles 7 x 4 inch pieces. Two rectangles sewn together will equal one square. They add even more fun to the finished product!
4. Cut the batting into 5 ¾” squares. For rectangles, the batting needs to be 5 ¾ x 2 ¾ inches.
5. Choose 2 flannel squares of the same color and 1 batting square. Layer the squares of batting between the 2 quilt squares so the right sides of the flannel are facing the out. (let me know if you need a picture) Then sew each square from corner to corner—so there’s an X across the square. I eye it up, but you may want to draw on a line to follow. Use a continuous seam to sew these together, first one line, then the other. Are you familiar with the continuous seam? It’s so easy, and makes things so much faster, AND it saves on thread!
6. For any rectangle pieces, I just sew a wavy line from the middle of one short side to the middle of the opposite side.
7. Complete every square and rectangle in this way.
8. Lay out the squares in the pattern you like. Take a picture if you have a digital camera.
9. Pick up each row by starting at one end and stacking each square under the previous one. Label each pile with its row number. Pin the row number on the top square.
10. Sew all the rows together, using a ½ seam. Make sure all seams are on the same side.
11. Sew each row to the next, pinning at every seam so they match perfectly. Lock the seams—meaning have one folded to each side as they are sewn together. Make sure all seams are on the same side. (I always goof at least once and have to rip a row apart.) It pays to double check.
12. Now sew around the whole quilt using a ½ seam.
13. Once the whole quilt is together, you need to rag it. I place the quilt, folded at a seam facing toward me, on the ironing board, and clip almost to the seam—all the way from one end to the other—about ¼- ½ inch apart. The directions say to snip right to the seam, but I have never gotten that close. Now and then, you will cut through the seam. Just stick it under your sewing machine and repair it by sewing over that area again. It happens.
14. Once ever seam is clipped, clip around the whole outside.
15. Now, shake your beautiful creation outside to get some of the lint off.
16. Most directions say to wash the quilt now, but I have found it works to just spray the front well with water, and wet the back a bit too. You decide what you’d like to do.
17. Shake the quilt outside again. Then put it in the dryer. The dryer will be what makes the seams rag up.
18. Now and then clean your lint filter and even shake the quilt outside again.
19. Smile, you’re done.
04-13-2009, 05:45 AM
#4
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: KY
Posts: 232
One thing I do different is:
I do triple stitch once around the whole quilt about 3/4" from edge then I do another triple stitch 1/4" in from the previous round. This reinforces the outside edge which gets the most abuse, wear and tear, etc.
Just a suggestion.
Angie
I do triple stitch once around the whole quilt about 3/4" from edge then I do another triple stitch 1/4" in from the previous round. This reinforces the outside edge which gets the most abuse, wear and tear, etc.
Just a suggestion.
Angie
02-03-2011, 08:59 AM
#5
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 62
Hi Bam,
Thanks for the instructions, but, after you have joined your squares to make the amount you want in each row, do you open up the seams when you are joining all the row or do you pin one seam one way and the other the other way? WHEW!! long sentence and question.
That's the part that's confusing to me.
Thanks for your help
Thanks for the instructions, but, after you have joined your squares to make the amount you want in each row, do you open up the seams when you are joining all the row or do you pin one seam one way and the other the other way? WHEW!! long sentence and question.
That's the part that's confusing to me.
Thanks for your help
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