Hi! I'm new to making quilts. I want to make a rag quilt that's roughly 50"X62" using 8" squares an a 1" seam allowance. The problem is, I have no clue how much fabric to buy. I think I'm calculating it right at around 10 yards, but I feel like that's a lot. Any help would be appreciated as I'm on a tight budget and don't want to spend more than I have to!

It will depend on how wide your fabric is and what type of fabric you plan to use. Homespun (which makes beautiful rag quilts) really shrinks a lot. Cottons on the other hand shrink less. But you can get about 20 8" squares from a yard of 44" wide fabric. I'm not real good at this but as near as I can figure you're going to need 8 across and 9 down so that's 72 blocks. You should need almost 4 yds of front and 4 yds of backing. But like I said, I'm not good at this.

I just found this site that may be helpful:

http://www.quiltshops.com/calculator/calculator.htm

You put in your size blocks and width of fabric and it'll give you what you need for your yardage. Based on 8 across and 9 down you'll need 3.1 yards for your front.

That is so cool!!! figuring yardage is something I need help with too. This is going in my favorites. But I still allow a little more for shrinkage and miscuts. I sent it to my sisters too.

I am always aghast at how much fabric it takes to make a rag time. I think it feels like so much more because you are cutting both the front and the back at the same time. I cut one out this weekend and also did a middle layer of cream flannel.

bbair if you do some searching on the board you will find lots of threads about rag quilts. Two topics that have been discussed since the Holidays are 1" verses 1/2" seam allowances and binding. I don't know if you saw those.

best of luck and don't forget to post pics when you are done :)

Oh wow. That calculation website is great! I've actually never made a quilt before, but I'm moving into a new apartment next year and I'm remodeling my living room so I wanted to make a nice blanket. Thanks for your help! I'll be sure to come back if I have any more questions. And I'll definitely look around to see what kind of advice has already been posted. =)

thanks for this

Hi, it's me again. I went out and got some cute fabric today.

I ended up getting a total of 10 yards (5 of polka dots, and 2.5 of the two solids) incase I messed up, and if I had extra I was just planning on making a few throw pillows.


What are your thoughts on pre-washing the fabric?

Also, I've heard mixed ideas about putting and X in the middle of each block sandwich. How do you keep these from coming unraveled after being washed/used a lot?

I love your fabric :D:D:D
Increasing your seam allowance to one inch and only clipping within a 1/4" from the seam, when the quilt is washed, the fraying tangles all of the threads and helps keep it from fraying right into the seam. I have seen several that have taken a lot of abuse and no seams have popped yet!!!

Sewing an X in the center just helps to keep the blocks together... I think it is more necessary when you are using a batting than with just cotton blocks. You can sew circles, squares or any other design of your choosing in the center.

Thanks! I'm going for a bright contemporary theme in my room, so I was really excited to find that fabric (and on sale too!).

Good to know it's not gonna just fall apart in the wash.

Circles would be cute, but I think that it would be difficult to make them look good and circular, no?