Hi Emsmom, I live in Washington State just up the road in Olympia and am currently working on rag quilts for my friend's first grandchild. Here is what I do:
Lay out the fabrics the way you like them for the top (I like your idea of using the minki in the corners)
Turn them all over to keep the placement the same (They should now all be showing the wrong side up)
Lay out the fabrics for the back (It is best if you use flannel on one side and cotton on the other front and back so that each "block" is both types of fabric, then mix up the flannel and cotton on both sides of the quilt)
No batting is necessary
Mark your rows 1-whatever you decide (6.5 fabric squares should make about 5x5 blocks so for a 6x7 quilt that would be 14 squares wide by 18 squares long)

Have I lost you yet? You may need more fabric and you would have several options. I like to use chenille, flannel, and cotton in mine but Minki will work just fine mixed in with the other fabrics.

I've been thinking about trying a tutorial but I'm not sure if anyone would use it. Rag quilts are so easy and so cute but they are really messy!

Feel free to PM me (private message) and we can talk off line if you like. Best of luck with your new challenge and have a great time quilting. We would all love to see a picture when it's done.

Hi Emsmom!
I am pretty new here too. Have been reading posts daily for several months, just don't post often.
My experience with minky (I have made 2 rag quilts with it), is that it does not rag like cotton and flannel, but both of mine were made with minky on one side and flannel on the other and they turned out so very cute. You should use the minky that you picked out. It is really cute. The minky fabric is very warm and so very soft. It's your blanket, so go for it.
Here are my first 2.

Hi, I'm new to this message board but I would like to know what is Minky? Thanks for any info you can help with.

Thank you all so much for your encouragement, help and great instructions! It is greatly appreciated. I also appreciate all the pics -- all of the quilts are beautiful. I might just have to stay up and do some while my daughter is sleeping I am so excited to start.

Deb - I presume that is your granddaughter in your quilt pic -- she is absolutely adorable! You can tell she absolutely adores the quilt!

Patti - it is nice to meet another "neighbor". We are in the Ridgefield area. I will definitely let you know if I need assistance. Thanks so much for offering. I am actually the exact same fabrics for the back. I "cheated" and bought my blocks already cut, in a "kit", off of ebay. So, I bought two of the same kit of fabrics. I just thought for me it might be easiest that way for my first quilt.

grammamel - I am sure there is someone here that can answer your question re: minky better than I since I am new as well. I can tell you that it is very soft and even though it doesn't "fray" like cotton or flannel is does "curl". From what I can tell - using Minky is more of a personal choice.

If what you guys call 'rag' quilts are what we call 'chenille' - it is helpful to be careful that you get rid of a lot of the little bits before you put it into the washer and dryer in order to fluff it up. Otherwise, you could have a clogged washing machine. My friends often take them down to the laundromat to use the commercial machines and dryers for this purpose. Is 'minky' what we call 'polar fleece' or fleecy'? If so, it doesn't unravel as the flannel or cotton does, but could be a nice contrast. I generally wash mine inside a doona/douvet cover for the first wash, which collects most of the debris that I have missed with the initial shaking and combing, and then I wash it sparately before putting in the dryer.

I make a rag quilt for each grandchild as a HS graduation gift using their old jeans. I back each square with flannel. Both jean and flannel stashes are 'out of control'! I put them together in a random pattern and use blue, tan, and black jeans. They do make a mess in the washing machine. Using a commercial machine is a great idea. I went to the hardware store and bought my very own wire brush to help the fray the edges. The older they get and the more they are washed the softer they get.

I just finished my first lap rag quilt. I used cotton for the top and flannel for the bottom. It ragged really well and is so warm! Here is a picture if I get it to work right.

I have yet to make one. Sorry

No you make chenille with a ragging-like process, but rag quilts are usually squares sewn together, clipped , and the edges rag, similar to chenille, as they are washed and dried.

I love pink. I saw that said Pink is not a color, it is an attitude. I have mixed fabrics with good results, go for it. And I love minky, you might want to make sure that the grain runs the same way. I put it in my quilts so it goes down. You can feel the grain when you rub it.

Do not mix quilt store fabrics and JoAnn or other simular store fabrics as I did and the only one fabric I used that was not quilt store quality was awful. Donna Gedeon, Aurora Colorado

I have made several fleece rag quilts for all my Gkids (15)& they all love them. They don't ravel, but curl up & looks raggie. No batting needed with these. I use two layers & they are really cudly & warm. I have also made & sold several rag denim photo quilts & again use fleece on the back so no batting is needed either. They also are very warm.
Just jump in & start your quilt. You will find once you've finished your first one, you will be hooked. There are lots of beginner patterns for you to try. Also to keep your cost down, check out good will & Salvation Army stores. You can find some real treasures there.
Welcome from another in Washington

When I was in a shop in BC, I saw an absolutely exquisite rag quilt that the ragging looked like chenille. They said they used inexpensive flannel for the "batting", sewed their seams at 1" and cut every 1/4 inch. Another way you could use your Minky that would not stop the fray look is the make a smaller block with minky and border it with the flannels which will "rag" so much better. Then you have the variety of texture that is so amazing with minkie but still have the "chenille" seams. I then take mine to the local laundramat!!! :) More fuzz created than you could ever dream!!!!

I've used both and the inexpensive flannels rag just as well. My "picture" is of a rag quilt, where I embroidered on a square. It is just before washing, but even JoAnn's chenille worked well!

I work at a LQS and they have this cutter. I forgot the name of it but they rent it out for use. You bring in your squares (before they are sandwiched) and put them throught this cutter. It cuts all edges in 1/8 in. strips or maybe even 1/16. It looks great and so much easier than sitting and cutting yourself.
If you use one of those you could use any fabric and it would turn out great.
Good luck and welcome to this forum.

Nice color. On my rag quilt I used 3 layers. Cheap flannel in center. When cutting to rag, cut at an angle & it will rag fluffier.

Thanks so mcuh for all the help and tips!

Did you use a half inch seam allowance or wider? Nice quilt!