Strange question -- I could be a real meanie I suppose....
 

I'm making a quickie rag quilt for a baby gift using Jo-Ann's pre-cut FQ flannel bundle.

Not concerned about shrinkage issue that much, but just wondering if anyone can tell me if I should wash the FQs first. They are blues, pinks, greens, yellows, purples. Not dark, not pastel, sort of medium color. Question #1 - If I make the squares 5", how many squares should I end up with and how big will the blanket be?

Now confession time: I'm making it for someone I really don't care for, but I feel the obligation because it's someone in my DH family. I frankly don't care if it shrinks or not. Just thinking it would be nice for the baby to drag around and nap with. Not concerned about impressing the parents, so I'm not going to a lot of trouble on this one.

Question #2 - Have you ever felt obligated to make a gift and didn't really care to much about the outcome?

If the pre-cut's are 18" x approx. 42" you should end up with 12 - 5" blocks from each fat quarter. Flannel usually shrinks a lot so you may want to wash it before. You don't say what you are backing it with.

Sorry you feel so "obligated" to make this quilt. Remember no matter how you feel about the person receiving it, it is an example of your workmanship.

This new baby will no doubt love his or her comfy 'blankey.'

The flannel should be fine without washing *if* you are cutting 5" squares *and* quilting an X through each block. If you are not quilting the X, then definitely prewash the flannel. Quilting ties the flannel to the batting. When you have sufficient quilting (which I think an X through a 5" block would provide, assuming the batting is Warm and Natural), once the block is quilted the flannel will not be able to shrink more than the batting. If you were cutting 10" squares and machine quilting an X, this would not be enough to prevent some of the flannel from shrinking more than the batting.

My thought, to be honest, is that the quilt is for the child (not the parents), so I would still enjoy making it. Also, if I thought about it, the child is likely to love the quilt and drag it around for years -- making a wonderful way of daily reminding the not-so-likeable-adult of me. :D

never felt obligated to make a quilt and not care about the outcome! If I make a quilt I care how it looks.

One of DH's coworker's wife is very sick. DH asked me if I had a quilt I could send her. He wanted to do something and didn't know what to do that would mean something to her and her DH. I met her several times and knew we would never be more then acquaintances if that. My heart wasn't in it but I picked out colors I thought she would like and sent the quilt with a nice card. She was very appreciative and that made me feel glad I took the extra effort to make it nice for her.

I have made baby quilts for little ones whose parents I really didn't care for, after all it's the babies I love and do it for.

Even if I were making a quilt that I felt obligated to make, I would still want to make it the very best that I could. The quilt says a lot about the quiltmaker. Make it as nice as you can for the baby and for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

Yes I have been obligated to make a quilt for someone I really did not care for... I was miserable the whole time. Pick a fast any easy pattern and get it over as quickly as possible. It felt like a weight on my happiness.

Fat quarters are approximately 18" x 22" so you would get 12 5" squares per fat quarter. If you only have 5 FQ (one each color) you would get 60 squares. Remember a rag quilt has 1" seams so the size would be about 4" finished or a grid 7x8. 28" x 32". Not very big even for a baby. You can make it larger by adding borders.

I can't say I have ever been in the situation where I felt obligated to make a gift for someone I didn't care for. I am sure in such a circumstance I would either buy them something or write a check, but never invest my time for them in such a way. Good grief! I don't have enough time to make quilts for all those I LOVE.