Rag quilt question?
 

I am making a rag quilt for my son and the rag quilts I have made in the past I used cotton,batting and flannel. This time I am using cotton and two layers of flannel and no batting. I did not put an x in the middle , some where I read if you have two layers of flannel together it will hold without the x. Now I am second guessing myself. Will this hold without the x?

I just finished a rag quilt with the X in the center of each block. My blocks finished at 7.5". Two trips through the machine (first one at the Laundromat because of lint) and it came out beautifully. Only wished I'd gone around the outside edges twice to really secure the edges. You should be just fine with only an X.

I just finished two rag quilts for a one year old and a newborn. My blocks started out 5" but with 1/2" seam they ended up 4". I put an X in each block anyway for security, and so they wouldn't look 'unfinished'. I've always heard that rag quilts have an X in each block. I love the way they turned out. Only have a pic of the first one because the second one hasn't been washed and frayed yet. I love rag quilts!!!

The quilting is to keep the stuff in the middle (batting) from moving around and clumping up. If your center flannel goes all the way to the edges - that is, you are sewing through it on all sides and it is part of the ragging - then it is already secure and will not clump. Then you do not need to do any quilting, so no X's.

I have made a few with denim on one side and flannel on the other with no batting and no Xs. I haven't had any problems with them and they look fine.

I agree with Dunster. When you use batting, it is cut smaller then the block and may not get caught in the seams. This is the reason you need the X thru it.

My avatar is my first attempt at a rag quilt. I used 5 1/2 inch squares with 5 inch flannel "batting" with an X.. I am very happy with it, as is my grandson.

...X keeps it from clumping later... But you can also do a circle, star, or whatever..

There is no rule that the quilting/sewing inside of each block has to be an X. If it is the X that is bothering you then do something else, maybe something whimsical. You might want to go around the inside seams of each block then to secure the batting.

If both layers of flannel are sewn into the edges, I see no problem without having any quilting in the center of each block. If the center layer of flannel is cut smaller, I would think you would want something.

I made a rag quilt using one layer of cotton and 2 layers of flannel. I didn't sew the "x" in the center as all three layers are the same size and the seam keeps them in place. I made mine a couple of years ago and it gets washed every couple of weeks (the dogs really like it!) and it is holding up very well.

if your blocks are quite large you might want the X just so when it's washed/dried they do not 'puff' become pillowy...but if the blocks are fairly small (less than 10" I would guess) it will be fine without the X. I only say this because the kids one time made one with 12" squares- it was very cute- but the 3 layers did not really shrink equally (cotton, muslin, flannel, flannel== I don't know why they chose to include the muslin) they did not think they needed to stitch the sandwiches- since no batting to pull apart- but it came out rather puffy & wonky in places- still good for what it was for- (a play blanket) but I think the larger the squares the more 'stability' the layers need.

I would say that if all three layers are the same size, then you are probably safe. The x is generally to keep the batting (cut smaller) in place so it doesn't clump up. If your middle piece of flannel is not the same size as the top and bottom, you may want to go back and sew an x through the blocks. Raggyquilts are fun to make but can be costly so I don't think I'd skip the x step, myself.

I think you will regret not doing an x in the middle of the sandwich. Flannel is just like any other fabric and needs to be sewn to stay together. Just my opinion, if you find it works let us/me know. Oh and I just want to add that I bind my rag quilts that I've made. I cut the binding 3 inches wide so the binding is a little bit wider than other quilts. I like the look because I don't like the itchy thought of the raggy end on my chin.

I have made 2 denim rag quilts for my guys. I used 6 inch squares without the x sewn in them. However, I used no batting and regular quilt cotton on the back. These quilts are heavy & warm. No problems with laundering---except they take a long time to get dry.

Thanks everyone:)

This is my first post, although I have learned a ton from reading your posts every day. Thanks for all the information you generously share.

There's something I've always wondered about rag quilts for babies. They seem so soft and cuddly, but do babies pull and 'worry' at the frayed bits? I know mine seemed to be able to loosen (and swallow) the darndest things, and I was always checking the stuffed animals.

It would be fiber, I guess. . . .:)

Hugs,
Charlotte

If you did not stitch the "X" in the block, and you didn't catch the flannel up in the stitching around the perimeter of the block, wouldn't the flannel just be loose and "floating" inside the block?

I have read/heard you should never use a rag quilt on a baby because of the loose threads and lint generated by the "fringe" on the quilt.

My first rag quilt was made with cotton & 2 layers of flannel. Unfortunately I made the center flannel (my batting) the same size as the rest and started sewing them together. Well, it was too thick, so I had to rip out seams, and then go back and cut the center block smaller. I used a Sizzix die cutter & it cut the fringe which made it really fast and my 3 pieces were already stuck together. My next ones I use a smaller square in the center. I had read that flannel will stick together without sewing it in, which I don't do. So far, I haven't had any problems when washed, but I've give these away as baby quilts, so if they have fallen apart, I haven't been told.

Haven't been told they've choked, but if you're worried about it, I wouldn't do one.

I don't bind my rag quilts, but it sounds like a good idea, and I will probably try it on the next one.

If you do, don't cut the quilt before you bind it. Let me know how you like it. I'll try again to down load a picture for you to show how a raggy quilt looks my method. My quilting friends thinks I'm crazy to bind a rag quilt. Oh and I open up the seams when I put the binding on.

Having made several rag quilts, I suppose it might hold without the x in the middle, but doing the x provides
the 'quilting' so that when it is done, it is also quilted. It has to be washed a number of times to get the frayed
look, so I think the x would insure that the flannel in the middle won't bunch up. Just my suggestion. :)

If you are using something other than batting in the middle, you can make it the same size as the outer squares. Then no x. If whatever is in the middle is smaller the u need the x.

I'm overcautious and would do something if it were mine, but it's yours so do what you feel comfortable with. jmho

I made one with all three layers of the blk the same size. I used flannel for all three and did not quilt with an x and did not have any problems. My squares were 7 inches.

Hello from one Charlotte to another!

This was a great thread! I've been intimidated a great deal about rag quilts and I finally want to do one. I'm looking at a pattern that's half denim and half flannel. With the size I'm cutting, 6.5" squares and a 1 inch seam, the blocks are 5.5 inches finished and I will not include batting since it's denim and flannel, but I don't think I'll have to sew the X either. I hope it turns out nice. I love picking up new tricks and such on techniques I haven't done yet, in case I do them, I'll have more notes. :)

Hi. "It seams" like a 6.5 square with a 1 inch seam yields a 4.5" block lol assuming 1inch on all four sides. Either make your square 7.5 or use a 1/2" seam. Personally I prefer and use only the one inch seam. It curls up nicely and is easier to clip. Denim and flannel will be plenty heavy w/o the middle layer. One thing about denim is it comes in weights. I never thought abouT it til I made a denim qayg and noticed the weights on the bolt labels. I used a 6 oz. for my qayg an it was plenty heavy, but if I was making a garment I might go with something a little sturdier such as a 10 oz, which does cost a bit more. Have fun.

Leave it to me to do my math wrong the first two times. This is why I have my son double check all my math when I map it out. Silly me, 6.5" would yield a 4.5" block. I have a 6.5 ruler, but I might just have to make them 7.5. I will know more about what I can do when I get the seams out of all the jeans. It's going to depend on how wide the legs and stuff are. The best man at our wedding, 13 years ago, passed away due to cancer. I'm making his brother a memorial quilt as all Mike wore, even to our wedding, was big overalls. Everyone called him Big Mike. He was 6'7 and a good 350 pounds or more back before any of us thought it was cancer. I saw a pattern for a rag quilt with denim and flannel and it alternates every other block. That's exactly the stuff he wore, so I know I would honor him well with that pattern. It looks like everything he ever wore was bibs and flannel. His shirts were still in good condition, so when he realized the cancer had gone too far and he needed to get his affairs in order, he donated most of them to Goodwill himself. I've been all over town and I can't find them. I'm going to just buy several yards of plaid flannel as I think the flannel is the only fabric I can think of that I can pair up with denim. A regular cotton would be two thin.