Hello,

I hope I am posting this question in the correct forum. I am new to these boards and new to quilting.

I am going to be making my first rag quilt. Would love any advice, tips, etc.

I bought pre-cut squares from ebay (I will post a pic) the fabrics are a mix (is it ok to have mix?): cotton, flannel and minky (only four squares of minky). I have tried to do some research on rag quilts and I am learning that minky doesn't "rag" . . . . however, I have seen pictures of rag quilts made from minky and they have ragged?? So I am a bit confused about that. Have any of you used minky for rag quilts?

I am looking forward to meeting everyone and learning lots on this forum!

Happy Friday everyone!

I have never mixed fabrics like that , so I can't help with that , but love your colors and it will make a beautiful quilt :lol:

I've never used Minky but if it's the same feel as fleece it won't rag. I've mixed denim and flannel and had excellent results. I've seen flannel and cotten mixed with good results. Here's the funny thing...cheaper-made fabrics fray better.

Flannel and cotton shrink at a different rate - the flannels much more than the cotton. Minkey almost looks like a knit, which would not ravel well at all.

Personally, I would stick to the flannel for the rag quilt OR the cotton. The amount and look of ravel will be different for each and I think it might look messy.

I made a rag quilt for my niece with lady bug fabrics. I had like 12 different lady prints or something. I used flannel and cottons. Then I bought a bit of minky and put that in it too. I did not prewash anything. And it turned out just fine :) The minky doesn't rag very well but it still looks and feels very nice in the quilt. So I just made sure that I didn't put 2 minky pieces next to each other or as as a back piece to a front. So when you sew your blocks together you dont ever sew the minky with minky. I like to sew one row with the rag side up and then do the next side with the rag down. That way both sides are ragged. And you get 2 quilts instead of one. Also if you pick a different colors for the other side the contrast looks really fun when you rag it.

Thanks for all the great comments, tips and suggestions! I also really appreciate the prompt responses!! I posted on another forum and didn't get any answers LOL

I was thinking since I just have four pieces of the minky that I would that in the four corners???

I have a little while to think about what I will do. I am making this for my daughters birthday while she is away at Cispus. Hopefully I can do it in five days LOL

Hi EmsMom nice to meet you and welcome to the board! I did a flannel rag quilt (baby Quilt) a while back, and I got instructions off of youtube MissouriQuiltCo. She used minky or whatever that fabric is and it was precious. I did mine with several different prints like patchwork, came out real cute, will send pic, ok.

I have mad several rag quilts combining fleece and flannel with good results.

The fleece (and minky) doesn't "rag" or unravel. But, you can (and do!) cut it along with the flannel and when you wash it, the edges still wrinkle up.

I say, go for it! I think it will be cute!
Be sure to post a picture when you are done! :)

I have made lots of rag quilts and used cotton and flannel and it turned out great. I would guess that the cotton and flannel edges would rag nicely and hide the minky edges that don't. I love the colors and patterns you chose and it will be a beautiful quilt when you get it done. Please post a picture and show us!!

Maybe 2 layers of cotton and one of minky?
Two layers would rag, and you cut through the minky too... Just a thought :D:D:D

Welcome to the board! Lots of friendly and helpful people here!

really like the colors and choices in your fabrics :)

Wow - I LOVE this place. You are all so very helpful and encouraging!! I had posted this question on this first board I found online and nobody at all responded or even said hello LOL

I think I will go ahead and do it with the "mix" of fabrics. Like I said - I only have four squares of the minky so I will probably use that on the four corners.

I wish I could take credit for the fabrics but I can't -- I got them on ebay already in that set. I figured for my first quilt it might be easier for me to just buy precut blocks.

I am sooo excited I might have to start it while my daughter is sleeping instead of waiting until she goes to cispus for 5 days LOL

Thanks again - you all have helped me tremendously and made me feel very welcome.

That is beautiful!!! I LOVE all the colors. Thanks for sharing it!

Also thanks for the info on youtube - I will watch that tonight!!

Me too!

maybe not all the fabrics will "rag" but most of them will and they all will be clipped. so i think you will be all right.

Your choice in colors are awesome. I've never made a rag quilt but I think they are beautiful Your daughter will love it because YOU made it.

Cute fabric! I don't have any suggestions but I want to welcome you to the board from Colorado!

I am having a hard time figuring out a pattern and wondering if I made a mistake buying precut blocks (I bought 42 blocks that are 6.5"). I bought graph paper to try and figure out a pattern and I just can't come up with anything (maybe I am trying to make the quilt too uniform - if that makes sense). My quilt will need to be 6X7 and I have the following fabric blocks:

10 blocks of little black dress fabric
6 plaid blocks
4 raspberry blocks
10 pink blocks
4 minky (which I thought I could use in the 4 corners)
8 light pink blocks

Any idea what pattern I could do?

Thanks! (sorry for all the questions - I'm about as new of a quilter as one could get although I have sewn a little bit but never quilted in the past)

I am not an experienced quilter. I only really make I Spy quilts. but I have made 2 rag quilt . I would lay them on the floor and just move them around until you are happy with the result. There is no right or wrong way ..
Love the colours..
Enjoy making the quilt.Would love to see it when finished

Welcome, lots of knowledgeable people on this board and they are willing to help if they can.

I love the colors and do what you want and see if it turns like you wanted it to, always the best way to learn. Just jump in with both feet and try it.

Thanks -- I am probably just maybe being a little too "picky" trying to get a perfect, uniform pattern . . . I will do as you both suggested -- thank you!!

What are I Spy quilts? Would love to see a pic of one.

Sorry I can't send pictures.. Do a qoogle ..They are fun to make..
I love making them because I don't have to make decisions on what colour goes with what and how to place them ....lol

I made a quilt this summer from flannel and minky. Worked out great!! It's true the minky doesn't rag but it does curl up and it looks pretty good. I have another one to make soon. They are pretty easy to do and they are very warm. So a winter kid would really appreciate one.

I just looked at some of the pics from the pictures forum for I Spy quilts. Oh my gosh - they are amazing! I could never do anything like that -- would love to though. They are beautiful.

Thanks again for the help. I am enjoying this forum a lot.

I spy quilts are easy.. You just need a stash of different pictures or coloured squares..... I sometimes sew 2 pictures/colours the same to make a quilt where the child has to find the pairs..
I have now found alphabet fabric to I have the alphabet in the quilts as well.... Fun no stress quilt...lol
Just thought I could do a rag quilt in I Spy...

Thanks Ginger. I am really excited to make this for my DD.

karen - thanks for the enouragement - they look very difficult to do. The ones I looked at were absolutely stunning. A rag-I Spy quilt would be great I think.

It is silly but I feel like a kid in a candy store -- I am so excited to start.

Hi,

Welcome, I am still a newbie to this wonderful site. However
if I may, I just finished a raggy quilt in pinks, lights and have a design = just basic squares. As I do not know how to post pictures I would be happy to send a picture to you. I have it hanging on the line outside so it is easy to see pattern.

I was inspired by a gals site which I will try to find and foward. O K found it - Creations by Kara, in the search box type in baby rag quilt tutorial. She has step by step pics and sewing. Easy to just look at design and tell how many squares of each you will need. Don't worry, just be sure to have spring loaded scissors for ragging. If you like you may email me at:
[email protected] - and I will forward pics. I waited too long to take quilt to town to laundry to wash and dry in commercial dryer and had to add another row all the way around. Just finished Wed. then went to quilt Expo in Portland, WOW.

Cindy
Mudsprite

Thanks Cindy. I emailed you. I also live in WA state and work in Portland. I hope to attend the quilt show next year.

Love the fabrics you bought!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know what you are planning to use for batting but, "osnaberg" (available at Joann's) works very well. It is lighter than normal batting but, frays very, very nicely. Just cut the blocks of osnaberg the same size as the rest of your blocks so when you cut, it will fray.

You will become addicted to this site just like you will to quilting!! It's wonderful...just like having your very own quilt guild. I also have a question about rag quilts. I love them for gkids and baby gifts, etc. However, how do you choose fabrics that shrink the same amt. I bought flannel for a rag quilt and it shrank at different rates and now some of my strips are much shorter than others. I end up cutting away so much just to even it up. Am I missing something? (probably) Please educate me!!

I have made a couple of baby quilts with Minky and flannel and cotton fabrics, but not a rag quilt. Please show up a picture when you finish it. I find Minky very difficult to work with, so I gave away all of my scraps to a very happy quilter.

Minky doesn't "rag" but looks wonderful...you just have to place your squares of minky in the same direction. If you back with a flannnel, there will be ragging on those seems as well. It looks lovely, as does chenille.

Thanks Sue. I'm excited to start.

2pedersens - thanks for the info on that batting. I am using warm & white batting. I'm not sure what size to cut the batting squares. My quilt squares are 6.5.

Nancy - I think I am already addicted LOL I love this site!! The quilt I am doing has different kinds of fabric so I am hoping it turns out. I have heard mixed things re: that. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

ruth -- I will post a pic when I am finished. This quilt I am doing only has 5 blocks (front and back) out of minky. . . I thought I would use the four blocks as the four corners . . . Hoping that works out well.

marine mom - thanks for the tip on placing the squares of minky in the same direction!

I've made 10 grandkid quilts using minkee, flannel and fleece and they have all turned out great. I've used warm and white batting - cut 1" smaller than blocks, and then used a 1/2 inch seam. The minkee and fleece rag really cute if you rag them about 1/4 wide. I'm sure your's will be darling! Love the fabric - also I wouldn't be afraid of putting the minkee in the middle rather than on the corners - it just all seems to work.

I usually use flannel on one side and cotton on the other.

I have made a few rag quilts first one kingsize flannel ( leave it to me to start with hard) Any how the hint I want to share is if you have a guy you would like to make a quilt for, us plaid homespun. It looks so masculine and is soft and beautiful. It rags very nicely. I made one for my grandson, and another for my son in law. They were both pleased.

Hi, I have made a couple of flannel and chenill rag quilts the chenill realy rags well.