euclid

If any of the quilt stores in your area has an Accu quilt cutter club, maybe you could rent some time on the machine. Accuquilt has a die which cuts the block and the fringe at the same time. You would not have to cut the fringe at all. You spend a little more time layering the fabric before cutting, but it spares you all of the time and pain of cutting that fringe afterwards. I cut one out on the machine in about a half hour, with about another half hour of prep time before that.

dp

The 9 inch square is what I have used. Simply sew an x across the square (putting batting in if you wish). With homespun I might use a smaller square. Cut batting smaller--about an 1 inch.The two sides of the material are sewn wrong sides together with the batting between the two. This is a fun quilt so experiment. I have seen them done in squares and triangles and rectangles and a combination of them all.

BellaBoo

I had no problem with the washing machine getting a lot of loose strings, only the dryer.

SandyGail

I have made several rag quilts. I used homespun on one with denium & flanel in side for batting. I also X 'd mine blocks which were 6 inch. I stitched my seams twice, a quilt shop told me it would make a sturdier quilt after the clipping & ragging if I double stitched it.
Sandy

Mousie

stitch twice, good to know, SandyGail. :D

janislynne

Hello to you...I have made lots of rag quilts and have used every size from 5 inch to 12 inch squares. I have found that even using 1/2 in seams do okay, but I prefer 3/4 inch. You can't go wrong...EVERYONE loves them. Homespuns are the best.

chamby

I have enjoyed reading all of this advise as well. I am in the middle of making my first rag quilt. A friend of mine has ask that I make one for her. I explained to her that I did not know how to do this. She keeps insisting that I make one for her anyway. So I decided to just jump in. I am making my squares 6 inches before stitching. I will remember to stitch 3/4 to 1 inch as suggested above. I will also try to find the clips that were suggested.
chamby :D

susan s.

I recommend going to second hand stores and yard sales. Buy old clothes or whatever you can find in fabrics you like to work with in colors you like and cut them up for quilting. Then you can call it an ecologically green project as well :lol:

prisjo

I downloaded a great rag quilt pattern from Penny Halaron (penny@how to quilt.com) I think I paid about 5 dollars for it. Takes about 48 hours from start to finish. There are about 5 styles to choose from. There were complete instructions from start to finish. I thought it was so much fun, I taught some of the ladies at my church on a Friday and Saturday.
Prisjo

GailG

that is on my wish list and I won't be doing another rag quilt until I get one.