rag quilt: batting vs flannel
 

I have a rag quilt on my bucket list. I've already made one with batting, and I know I can substitute flannel for the batting. Here's my question: has anyone used more than one layer of flannel for the batting?

Sorry, I can't answer your question. I haven't made one yet but, I have had lots of flannel for quite a few years and have toyed with the idea of making on or more of them. I'm afraid of having all that lint going through my dryer. I wouldn't want to worry about a dryer fire.
I'm sure someone will have an answer for you as I have seen lots of them on here. I think I would use just a couple of layers of flannel with the top. It probably depends on how warm you want it to be.

I made a queen size rag quilt out of flannel and then used flannel for the backing. I put a very low loft poly/cotton batting in it. I don't see why it can't be done, though. Mine was REALLY heavy when I finished. Good luck.

Why do you want to use more than one layer of flannel inside? Warmth? I don't see why you couldn't do it, but it will mean that you're cutting through 4 or more layers - unless you have one of those dies that cuts the squares and cuts the slits too.

Well, warmth is a consideration, and we do like heavier quilts. I was wondering if the rag part would be fluffier. I was also hoping flannel would drape softer than batting - I have a flannel top-batting-flannel back quilt that is wonderful, but I wish it was a little less stiff. Maybe I used the wrong kind of batting, it was one of the first quilts I ever made.

I made a rag quilt using cotton on the front a layer of flannel in place of the batting and then backed it with flannel. It ragged up wonderfully. It isn't too heavy and keeps me warm while watching tv. Let me look for the link to the pix here on the board.

Here it is! http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t152774.html

This was just one time through the washer and dryer after finishing it and I haven't washed it again. My only gripe is the pilling on the golden yellow backing. I had used a dark blue flannel to keep with the UofM colors. It is only on the backing so it isn't that big of a deal to me.

I have made 3 rag quilts with batting, one for each of my grandsons and one for my hubby. The little boys loved their quilts. Hubby thought the quilt was too heavy with the batting. So, if I make him another rag quilt, I will not use batting.

I have made 3 rag quilts with batting, one for each of my grandsons and one for my hubby. The little boys loved their quilts. Hubby thought the quilt was too heavy with the batting. So, if I make him another rag quilt, I will not use batting.

I made a small rag quilt for a changing pad for my great-grand nephew. I used flannel on top, 2 pieces flannel in the middle and a flannel backing. It was soft, absorbent, washable and fuzzy. I learned that the best way to have fluffy "ragging" is to have lots of clips. The more you clip the seams, the more fluff. Also the more lint in the dryer! But it works well. It also makes the quilt much warmer although heavier. I will only use flannel in my raggedy quilts.

You do get more ragging with 3 layers of flannel, and you have the opportunity to add another color in the ragging if you want. It is a soft quilt as well. But I've never made one with batting, only with 2 or 3 layers of flannel, so I can't compare the two, except to say that it seems to me that using batting is a lot more work than just the 3 layers of flannel, since you have to do some quilting on top to keep the batting in place, and you have to layer the batting "just so" in order to keep it just at the edges of the stitching. (If you use the 3 layers of flannel you don't have to quilt it with the traditional "x" since there's nothing to shift around inside the quilt.)

Good point Dunster! When I made mine, I didn't want to have to mess with the batting squares and I used 2 different colors of flannel and a layer of cotton. I liked how the ragged part looks variagated. I didn't sew the X either!

In the past you could purchase cheap flannel at the Walmart. I loved that flannel for one purpose only and it was to put a couple layers in the middle of rag quitls. I loved the way they ragged and even though the flannel was cheap they were very warm. I did use nice flannel for the top and bottom, the cheap was only in the middle layers.

Wouldn't all that flannel be more expensive then buying high loft batting/ I may have the name wrong but I have seen a couple of long arm quilters comment on how they made the quilting fluffy...Hope to help

auntpiggy - thanks for the pic of your Michigan quilt - it looks great!

april - thanks for the info about clipping, that helps.

dunster - I hadn't thought about not having to quilt the X, that's a good point!

Rachel - the fluffy look I want isn't in the quilting, but the raggy edges. And I'm not too worried about the cost of the flannel, I picked up some flannel king sheets from Target that were clearance, I think I paid $4 for the whole set. Can't beat that with a stick.

Thanks to everyone for chiming in! I'll post a pic when I get it done. :)

I use batting in the center because of the cost for flannel... BUT.... when i sew the two squares together, i slip in a strip or two of 1.25" flannel pcs..... I have done one extra, but prefer 2 or 3 different colors, both from themselves and from top and bottom squares... this makes it look like there are lots of layers and after the 'ravel' wash and trimming, you have lots more personality to your edges without all the cost.... one of my faves was a navy poly silk jacket with the navy on both top and bottom but each set of squares had either daisy yellow, grass green or candy pink inserted in the seam.... the little touches of color really made the jacket... it was one of those simple 'graph paper' kind of pattern where every pc was made of squares... i think i took it from a crocheted, afghan version of a jacket and just counted squares.... it's been a long time...

Can't wait to see it!!!!

Oooh, this is a fabulous idea! Thank you!