I, too, cut my inner flannel one inch smaller than the squares......just be sure the flannel has been pre-shrunk......I do not put anything heavier than flannel in for batting or it will be waaaaaaaaaaaaay too heavy. This is a fun quilt and very forgiving if you are a beginner. If not a beginner, just plain fun!!! Oh yes, one time I used a homespun for the center.....really frayed nicely but I also learned that I take the quilt to the local Laundromat for that first wash. Their drains are larger and can accommodate the tons of "fall out". I do dry it at home, but clean my filter several times during a dry cycle......

I don't use batting in the rag quilts, especially if you use flannel, that in itself is the batting. I also just use the two pieces, makes the quilt not so heavy.

I use three layers of flannel all the same size that way I don't have to worry about it slipping and it makes a nice ruffle at the edges of the block.

I don't use batting in my rag quilts. I also don't give them for newborns due to all the ragging = dust which they don't need to inhale. JMO

I made a flannel rag quilt for my DGD when she was very young. I didn't use batting. We live in the south, so the 2 layers of flannel provided all the warmth she needed.

woodju3, I have made lot's of rag quilts, and I use warm and natural in all of them. Before I started, I read a lot of how to instructions and they all said to cut the batting smaller, and to NOT catch the batting in the seam. In other words, the only quilting holding the square together was the "X" in the center. I didn't want to do mine that way, so I cut he batting so a small amount of it was caught up in the seam, but didn't show after I fringed it. It makes for a stronger square. I saw a rag quilt once that didn't have the batting (polyester) caught up in the seam, and the batting had shifted after washing. I know most people don't sew in the batting, and are happy with it, but I just choose to do mine differently.

I do the same as Kitsy. Patterned flannel for top and bottom layer, plain white flannel for center, all same size. Batting for sure isn't needed in between the two flannel layers.

I've made a ton of these following the guidance of my wonderful quilting friend. If you use batting-then 3 inches smaller than whatever outside fabric size you choose. 1 inch seams, so there is still an inch between the seams and the batting edge. I don't use batting if the outside fabric is heavy, same for peekaboo or mock cathedral windows. If outside is quilting cotton or nursery knits, then yes either WN batting or plain flannel. If anything else, such as flannel, denim or fleece then no batting (too heavy). As "auntpiggylpn" said-no batting no X. As for the edge clipping at the end, I invested in "Fiskars 8-1/2-Inch Softouch Spring Action Rag Quilter Snip" available at Joanns and Amazon etc. It's the Best. Heavy short jaws make the rag part of rag quilting a snap. The short jaws reduce (not eliminate) snipping into the seam. I'd post a photo but I'm clueless for photos of any kind. DH does all that. Heres the link: http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-2-Inch...s+rag+quilting if you want to see it.

I have even used my embroidery machine to stitch a design in to squares. It requires washable or tear away stabilizer, but if you have very plain fabrics, it looks nice. And I didn't do it on every square - just here and there.

I love making rag quilts! I usually just use two layers of flannel, no batting. Have also used cotton on front, and flannel for back with no batting. I wash the first time at laundramat, bring home and shake the you know what out of it, then dry in my dryer, emptying lint filter several times while drying.