Could I Make a Rag Quilt of Scrubs Squares and Flannel Squares?
 

I've been searching online for flannel quilt patterns and rag quilt patterns but they all seem to use two layers of flannel and a layer of batting.

I have a bunch of old scrubs (nursing/doctor clothing) here and I thought I could just cut them into squares and cut flannel into matching squares and make a rag quilt without the batting. What do you think?

I thought of fleece too, but I think that would be too hard to sew evenly because it stretches so much.

I'm looking for something really simple to teach my DIL to sew, and want to make a simple quilt that won't cost much. I'm fairly new to quilting myself, and don't know how willing to learn she is (she seems pretty resistant to most things I share).

why not, it's your quilt, do as you please. there's no quilt police here. you never know till you try it. show us your finished project.

I know I can do whatever I want. I'm wondering if it will sew together well, wash well, etc.

I've seen great quilts made of scrubs. Scrub tops have great novelty prints, so they are fun to use.

I've also seen rag quilts with cotton on one side and flannel on the other. They seem to work out just fine.

I guess I didn't word my question very well. I want to make the quilt using just the scrubs and flannel without any batting. All the patterns I've seen use batting, so I'm wondering if it will be a stable quilt without the batting?
Thanks!

I made a rag quilting using cotton and 2 different colors of flannel. That way I didn't have to sew the X on each square and it gave me a fuller raggedy edge.

Will you please explain? Did you make the squares of a mix of flannel and cotton? The one I saw made was with fleece and had no x, just the edges of the squares sewn together. Then the 1/2 left ouside the seams was clipped to get the ragged edge.

You can do whatever you want with any material. I used jeans on one side and cotton on the other side and no batting. I don't see the difference with your scrubs other than it will be a light kinda quilt. If you feel you need batting then cut a couple blocks from the scrubs and put flannel on the other side. So you would have flannel on one side , scrubs on one side and scrubs as the batting. It can work and most of the rag quilts I seen sew an x on them. But then again you could sew lines or whatever you want to keep it all together.

I have tons of ALL SORTS OF FABRIC. The rag blanket I'm working on right now is light weight recalaimed drapes and corturoy. To maintain some consistancy the sections are all drapery/sheeting/corduroy. I flip the pieces over so I've got drapery/cord/drapery/cord.....................

I'd suggest to use flannel on the backs of the scrubs, and scrubs on back of he flannel.

Ditto Lynnie! you can make a rag quilt with an old dust rag if you want! DIL may want to make something not as time consuming. Start her off with a simple cheater or a small wall hanging or mug rug.

I guess my only question would be how much do the scrubs fabrics fray? If they are cotton or blends I don't see why they wouldn't work. I've made several rag quilts for charity and do not put batting in them, just use a third layer of flannel in between. And I too have seen them made with cotton and flannel or even just cotton fabrics with batting between. Maybe you could sew up a sample quilt of just 8 or so squares, clip it and wash it and see what happens.

I used cotton for the top layer. Then 2 layers of flannel. I didn't put any batting in it so there wasn't any need to secure it by sewing an "X" in each square. Here is a link to the rag quilt I did. http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t152774.html

I never use batting my rag quilts. I do use 3 layers though - center is flannel, and the front and back can be quilter's cotton, flannel, corduroy, homespun... If you don't use batting, you don't have to quilt an X in each square, you don't have to fuss with getting the batting in the middle, and you have an extra layer to rag.

I think it would be beautiful .... kinda' like an I-Spy rag quilt. Using only the scrub fabric and 1 layer of flannel will make it weigh similar to a regular quilt. Once you get it lap-sized, you'll know how much you want to do. The great thing about rag quilts is that you adjust the size as you go .... lap size to throw size to full-bed size. I am looking forward to seeing pictures.

Scraplady, as evryone said you make them with anything.
However, the scrub fabric will not fray the same as cotton or flannel but if it;s simply to teach then you might not mind.
You can also use for the centre instead of batting any stiffer fabric that would not move around; a felt type of fabric a decorator fabric... remember how heavy you want it. As a beginner, flannel on the back for softness and scrub on the front for prints would be a nice light quilt.
Hope this helps

Carole

Most scrubs that I've seen are just regular fabric, so they should work just fine, whether they are 100% cotton or a blend.

Thanks everyone for all your advice! I think I understand now. Except for the X thing, but I'll look up more patterns.

I've made a rag quilt with flannel on the front side and all cotton on the other side and it worked out well

I know it is your quilt and you can do whatever you want. However......

If I were teaching someone to quilt I would not start with a rag quilt. I would use the fabric to make a more traditional quilt ..top, batting and back.

Rag quilts should fray on the edges. That is why a more loosely woven fabric is used.. That is not to say the scrubs would not work. I would put the scrubs in the middle or one the back if you are using only two layers.

I always say you have to respect the nature of the fabric if you mix different fibers, weave, textures and weights. I believe you need to experiment to make sure if you are getting the look you want.

It appears also based on how you have described your student that you need to consider what she wants and avoid making something she may never use.

I've found that any woven fabric will rag out---------maybe every fabric is not equal, but this is for a RAG quilt and persoanlly, I don't see where the amount of ragging makes much difference.

For one of my granddaughter's floor quilts, I even used double knit which won't fray at all. But I used it as the very back piece so each square had two layers "outside" that did fray. And when two blocks were stitched together, there were 2 pieces frayed, two double knit, 2 more frayed. It's on the floor, not in a show.

I'd use the scrubs for the front piece. There are so many cute and clever designs.

And I disagree about teaching a newbie to sew with a rag quilt. It's so much quicket to get to the finished product, and have something useful, than all the steps necessary to make a traditonal quilt.

Thanks for your advice. I will be teaching her to sew more so than how to quilt. She hasn't sewn since high school. So we don't really care if it frays, or looks like a traditional rag quilt. I think the square cuts on the fleece will be cute enough. I'm guessing the flannel will turn toward the back and we will cut the almost 1/2" that sticks out past the seam into little sections, right?

The object is just to get her used to sewing and see if she likes it -- the other object is not spending a lot of money if she doesn't. Since I already have a bunch of scrubs and bought some fleece I am leaning toward this as a fun and easy beginner project. It will be good practice threading the machine, getting used to the speed and sewing straight seams, etc.

That's a super cute quilt! Mine will be more plain, the scrubs are solid colors, although I saw some pink and white zebra fleece on sale at Wal-mart I'm probably going to buy. I already have lilac fleece and those are are her two favorite colors. I'm thinking it will be a real eclectic quilt but fun to make.