Ragged flannel just out of the dryer!
 

This is going to an ex-sister-in-law--now new friend. She's been sober now for about 8 months after years and years of not. We are getting together tomorrow so I can give her some old pictures of her kids I found--that she'd like to have. She doesn't know this quilt is coming. I'm so excited. I made a ragged flannel for her daughter--my niece--for her wedding--and my friend uses it every time she visits. God told me she needed one of her own. :-)

I chose the fall fabrics because it's what is on her daughter's--but afterwards I discovered her favorite color is blue--and she loves the lake, so the back plan changed.

This is wonderful. She will love it!

SO PRETTY!!! I love the autumn colors, and the little bit of blue coming through from the back makes a nice frame for the squares. I'm sure she will love it.............and be so surprised!!

I so would like to cuddle into that. Love the colors both front and back.

Very nice. She will love it!

Bless your heart! What a wonderful gift! She'll love it... Great job on the quilt!

I love it! Great job. I know she will very gratefull!

you did a nice job she will love it!

Thanks! I was a bit worried about the blue showing through--but it didn't stop me because I know how important the blue is. I'm pleased with how it looks!

Giving quilts as a surprise is the best!! And when we know the receiver is soooo appreciative--even better.

Ragged flannels aren't fancy--but I love that I don't need to have it quilted and the best is how cuddly they are. I feel it's the best gift of all. A hug to go!

I've thought about making one of these. How long are the clipped areas? 1/2 inch? 1 inch?

This is very pretty. I agree with an above post - I think the blue coming through from the back frames up the pretty autumn colors nicely! She will love it :)

1/2"! I cut the blocks at 7".

Love Love Love this ragged quilt. The colors you've chosen are so pretty. I've been thinking about doing a ragged quilt for our bed. I should get on with it. Thanks for sharing.

I just realized this--as far as I know--is my 14th ragged flannel. I already know who is getting the 15th--but her favorite color is yellow and I have to find the perfect flannels... this will be tricky, but fun! I'll work on blocks for the Back to Nature quilt until I find them.

Love it, Karla! It had to be a bit time consuming to make the pattern work on front and back. Nice going!

I love it. Did you put batting in it?

You always do such nice work and the colors you chose work so well together. Another quilt well done!

I'd like to add that this is a special gift to mark a new friendship. 8 months is a long time to someone who's spent years not sober. Blessings to her and your friendship!

Tink's Mom--it was tricky! Usually I just put the same fabric on both sides of a block. I take a photo of the lay-out and number the rows--and pick the blocks up in rows and label, but for this I had a second picture of the top with the darker blue squares where they will go (EQ7 helped me plan that) so I knew where each went. I had to pay attention! lol

Sweetpeaches--yes batting is in there-- cut at 5.75".

Yes it is! She got that liver disease that sneaks up on those who drink heavily for years--and now she cannot swallow another mouthful. But she survived and does not crave alcohol at all now. Her new addiction is Popsicles! :-) She lost everything--her husband (my brother), and three out of four of her kids haven't spoken to her in years. One daughter stuck by her--and she's the one I'm close to. Her daughter told me once "When she's sober she's the best mom in the world." And I'd add one of the nicest people you can meet. She needs something to celebrate the rest of her life. This will help. I'm happy to add that one of her sons visited her at Christmas, and the other wrote a letter. The oldest daughter is still not ready. It's a horrid disease.

ok, one more question. Does it matter what kind of batting you use? I have some that I bought at Walmart yesterday. It's 80/20 and says recommended quilting distance 2-4". That would work, right?
I just love your quilt and want to start one tonight!

It's a wonderful quilt. How kind of you. She will love it.

Beautiful quilt Karla!! What a special surprise for her!

What a lovely thing to do. It is so pretty. She will love it.

very nice of you and she will love it and know you care!

I use all cotton for mine--Warm and Natural. But--I'm sure all battings will work. Here are the directions I typed out a while ago. I can't wait to see yours! Let me know when you post so I don't miss it!

1. Buy your flannel—2 colors, or more. I’ve discovered it takes 1 yard to make 10 full 7” squares (full meaning both sides). Most of my raggeds have been about 9x12.

2. Also buy some Warm and Natural cotton batting—about 3 yards because it’s extra long? (I’m not good at yardage—but that one you can get more of if you need to.)

3. There are many options as to square size. You can cut your flannel into 6 inch, 7 inch, 8 inch squares. The bigger they are, the faster it’ll go together, but the smaller the squares, the more interesting your pattern will be. I always cut the flannel into 7 inch squares. If you want, you can cut any scrap pieces into rectangles 7 x 4 inch pieces. Two rectangles sewn together will equal one square. They add even more fun to the finished product!

4. Cut the batting into 5 ¾” squares. For rectangles, the batting needs to be 5 ¾ x 2 ¾ inches.

5. Choose 2 flannel squares of the same color and 1 batting square. Layer the squares of batting between the 2 quilt squares so the right sides of the flannel are facing the out. (let me know if you need a picture) Then sew each square from corner to corner—so there’s an X across the square. I eye it up, but you may want to draw on a line to follow. Use a continuous seam to sew these together, first one line, then the other. Are you familiar with the continuous seam? It’s so easy, and makes things so much faster, AND it saves on thread!

6. For any rectangle pieces, I just sew a wavy line from the middle of one short side to the middle of the opposite side.

7. Complete every square and rectangle in this way.

8. Lay out the squares in the pattern you like. Take a picture if you have a digital camera.

9. Pick up each row by starting at one end and stacking each square under the previous one. Label each pile with its row number. Pin the row number on the top square.

10. Sew all the rows together, using a ½ seam. Make sure all seams are on the same side.

11. Sew each row to the next, pinning at every seam so they match perfectly. Lock the seams—meaning have one folded to each side as they are sewn together. Make sure all seams are on the same side. (I always goof at least once and have to rip a row apart.) It pays to double check.

12. Now sew around the whole quilt using a ½ seam.

13. Once the whole quilt is together, you need to rag it. I place the quilt, folded at a seam facing toward me, on the ironing board, and clip almost to the seam—all the way from one end to the other—about ¼- ½ inch apart. The directions say to snip right to the seam, but I have never gotten that close. Now and then, you will cut through the seam. Just stick it under your sewing machine and repair it by sewing over that area again. It happens.

14. Once ever seam is clipped, clip around the whole outside.

15. Now, shake your beautiful creation outside to get some of the lint off.

16. Most directions say to wash the quilt now, but I have found it works to just spray the front well with water, and wet the back a bit too. You decide what you’d like to do.

17. Shake the quilt outside again. Then put it in the dryer. The dryer will be what makes the seams rag up.

18. Now and then clean your lint filter and even shake the quilt outside again.

19. Smile, you’re done. 

How nice of you! I really like the contrast of the blue on the back and the "bordering" it gives to the front. Good job!

Just beautiful, great job
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

So Beautiful and Snuggly.. she will love it!

Beautiful on both sides and just what she needs for encouragement! God will bless you for your obedience!

It turned out nice, it's beautiful.

I love rag quilts. Yours looks great on both sides.

Very nice. :)

I love fall colors and this is beautiful. the reverse side can be used the other cool months of the year. great quilt.

"1. Buy your flannel—2 colors, or more. I’ve discovered it takes 1 yard to make 10 full 7” squares (full meaning both sides). Most of my raggeds have been about 9x12. "

How many yards do you think you used in this quilt. If it takes 1 yd to make 10 squares, and you have appx 80 squares, you used 8 yards? wow, that's a lot. Did i calculate that right?

I love it and I know she will too :)

Autumn colors against a sunny blue sky is a winning combination.

That is the tricky part--remember you're figuring for the front and back. I bought 10 yards for this one--but ended up using leftover blue from the back of my last posted quilt, Stepping Stones. Since I always use a variety I've never actually determined needed yardage. But--for the next one I have to--and I'm going to get 10 just to be safe. I make them 9 x 11 blocks--which is 63" by 77" (going by the 7" cut blocks not 6" finished) and it's 4851 and divide that by 144 (sq foot) and you get 33.68. Then divide that by 9 to get how many square yards you need--and it's 3.7 for one side. (My husband helped me figure out what to divide by.) But fabric comes wider. So--8 yards should be plenty. But--I like to do random patterns and sometimes need more of one than another so I like extra of each.

Hope that helps.

Aww--I like that!! Thank you!

I love it and I am sure she'll love to receive it from you! Kudos to her for her sobriety and I pray she continues with much success in the days to follow!