What is it exactly? :?:

I am working on a jean rag quilt. You cut squares of old jeans and squares of old flannel. stack a piece of flannel on each jean square. sew each two sqares to the same. The seam will be your top side. Continue to whatever size you want. You can put little snips in each seam to make it fray more. [ the seams are on the jean side and this is the top.] You are always sewing two wrong sides together. No binding or filling required

thank you, very clear explaination

http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltpatternsprojects/ss/rag_quilt.htm

The above is a link to a site I stumbed upon, much like I found this awesome Quilter's Board!
I think the idea of a rag quilt is so wonderful. It may just be something I get into after I get my house cleaned up some and get things back in order...I have two small children that've been really sick lately...they come first, and the house looks awful! The house will be here for cleaning later, though!

I made several flannel rag quilts. Mini to fit little doll beds. So quick, so much fun. I made a twin bed size and just quilted a star in the center of each rectangle with embrodery thread.

I have made several rag quilts, out of various material, I've also made 2 rag coats, These where patch work rag coats. I made them about 4yrs ago. One for my sister and one for myself. I wear mine still. I'm cold nature and I wear mine around the house and sometimes to the store, but mainly around the house, I did'nt take great pains in picking the fabric when I made mine, But I plan on another one, and taking more time to pick the fabric as well as personalizing it, with some of my own ideas. I used batting in mine, but not in my sisters. I never fail to hear someone say, Where did you get that? When I wear it to the store or out for a quick trip to my friends. It really is a neat little coat.

Hi Everyone :)
when you make a rag quilt do you put batting in the middle of it?? I was thinking of making one for my grandaughter but the batting in the middle seems to thick. Have you ever made one with just flannel and no batting?

now I've heard of string quilts, what are they?
kathy

I have made rag quilts and rag coats with and without batting, My sister did'nt want batting in her coat, I did. As with quilts, I think it's a preference. I don't find that it's to thick, I use low loft batting, 1/4" loft. The quilts are warmer with the batting.

Please let me know what a string quilt is.?!

ok thanks for the advice, i will try the lighter batting.
I would like to know what a string quilt is also!

How do you go about making a coat with the rag method. D o you have a picture? I can't quite get my mind around it. I have seen hand bags. :?:

Idon't have the capablitiy to send a picture, But I will try my best to explain it, also check this site out and when you get on the site, look to the left. It gives a list of different subjects to click on, Click on RAG FUR COATS. And you will get a picture of one. Heres the site to go to.www.amisimms.com/stash.html
Look at it, and then if you still want to know the steps I'll be happy to share. I don't know how much their pattern is, but I have the pattern, it's really a simple basic raglan sleeve pattern. I'm sure the pattern is cheaper through W-mart. So let me know.

Becky,
My mom-in-law used to make string quilts. She used a muslin or old clothes square about 12x12 and sewed strips of scrap material on them at a diagonal. The strips varied in width, even from one end of the strip to the other. Start in a corner by placing two strips right sides together, at the corner, and sew a seam. Trim the excess in the seam if needed, and open the fabric. Then, sew another strip to the block, right sides together, open that, and continue until block is covered. Then, trim the block back down to a 12x12 square. She usually set them in a zigzag pattern. It goes fast, can use any leftover fabric at about any width from a "string" up to about 4 to 5 inches. She usually tied them rather than quilted. I still have one she made.

Thanks Norah, my mom has one that my grandmother made but we didn't know what it was called.

Nora, that sounds like a neat quilt!! I never saw one nor heard of one. Im going to have to try it now :)

Nora do you have a picture of the quilt?

Norah

Thanks so much: I think I may have to try that. Good use of scraps. Using the 12x12 block is the same technique,I learned to use for the crazy quilt, I made. THANKS AGAIN. I also had to tie it.

Hi,
I love rag quilts and have made two for my grandchildren. I don't get the corners right in my mind when sewing them or maybe it is the way I cut them. Can you tell me help me out with this? I would sure appreciate it. I looked on a site I found here and still am not sure that I am sewing them correctly.
Thanks for your help.
I am new to quilting. I love it and have lots of material I need to use.
Susie :)

Susie

Please explain to me, (What do you mean you don't get the corners right?) When I make a rag quilt I use sq's, EX: 10x10" sq. I sew a 1/2" seam. After I sew all the sq's together, with the seam on the right side of the quilt, I then sew a 1/2'' line all the way around the quilt. Then I start snipping about every1/4'' around. Making sure not to cut the sewing line, or else my snip would tear in deeper to the quilt. Dose this help any? Let me know.

I also have used very thin batting with my rag quilts. Also, a flannel flat sheet, cutting if needed. I have made rag wall hangings with just 100% cotton fabric. For smaller wall hangings, I have used flannel baby blankets for the batting. I usually buy them at thrift shop. They have been washed and used, therefore not much $$ involved.

Thank you for replying.
When I sew the seems together and you have the 4 seems there together which makes a square joined, mine are always too thick. I understand what you mean. I clip after everything is sewn. A friend of mine made fun of me because she said I always make the rag quilts. I had to start somewhere. One friend said rag quilts are too hard. I find them fun and you can get one done in a day. They are very cozy. I never thought of getting the blankets from the thrift stores for batting. I have seen some at the Goodwill. Great idea. I have never seen anyone make a rag quilt and so I have nothing to go by in person. I worry too much when sewing. They say that makes a quilt have charater.
Thanks

What would you estimate your thickness to be? Is that with or without batting? The sq's are thick. I use 1/4" batting, so when my sq's are sandwiched, I estimate it just a tad over a 1/4". Your right about a rag quilt being warm,cozy, and snuggiliy,

http://www.quiltknit.com/patterns/rag_quilts.htm


these will give you some ideas, I don't think you need to buy a pattern. you can use whatever you have or like :P

This is a great site. Thanks
Your right, I can look at the pictures and figure out a pattern.

Maybe that is the problem, the thickness. I use flannel and the warm and natural batting that is probably 1/4 thick.

I tried the warm and natural and I did'nt find it to be to needle friendly. I also found out that the warm and natural is'nt machine washable. Maybe they have since came out with one that is. If so please give me the brand name, I would really appreciate it. To really create the rag effect you need to be able to wash your quilt.

how about old clothes, or old towels. makes more raggy edges and can be as heavy as you like. You will need to adjust the pressure and use a heavy duty needle

Sounds like that would work. Ecxcept for the towels, when they are cut, they always leave a trail behind, dot's of tiny pieces of thread.

Ok, I feel the need to interject my two cents. When making a rag quilt, or rag type apparel, the batting is cut an inch smaller. This allows for the 1/2" seam allowance. If you are using a 1" seam allowance, then cut the batting 2" smaller.
Let me give you an example. If my fabric, let's say flannel, is cut 8" square, I then cut my batting 7" for 1/2" seam or 6" for 1" seam. Lay out a square of fabric, center the batting, top with second piece of fabric. Now sew from corner to corner making an X thru the center of the block. When all your blocks are sewn in this manner, then you sew them into rows. Your seam allowance does not contain any batting. I clip those seams about 1/4" apart, making sure to stop short of the actual seam stitching. Trust me, you don't want your quilt to come apart. As you will be cutting thru 4 layers of fabric, regular sewing shears don't work well. I have some spring loaded clippers from Fiscars. Much less work and less tiring on the hands.
Final tips on rag quilts. Warm and Natural batting works well and washes fine if you follow the above method of sewing the X. The size of the block will be determined in the above example by the size of the batting. In my example, I cut 6" of batting for 1" seam and 8" fabric. Therefore, block will be 6" finished. After washing quilt, place in dryer and clean lint trap every 10-15 minutes. I have often resorted to taking to laundrymat and using their dryers. Some rag quilts like to be wet down and dried a second time. Hope you find this information helpful.

I made a rag quilt using green/navy plaid flannel, green solid flannel, and demin. It looks great. The sewing was too much stop and start to be very fun. But the cutting the frayed edges was TERRIBLE. Would never do another one. No, there is no batting in the middle, just 3 or 4 layers of fabric. My son loves it for a TV quilt. But my arthritis from cutting it will last for months. I have seen special cutting shears just for rag quilts, but I sure didn't enjoy it enough to buy the shears. S.

If you want a simple rag quilt, use large squares. on the sencond row start with a half square., much like a brick pattern. This offsets it so all the seams are not together. this is just one way. :-)