How to Cut a Rag Quilt

Fraying fabric makes for a homey rag quilt sewing project.

Rag quilts are fast, cuddly projects that are ideal for beginners to tackle. With a rag quilt, all the seam allowances are exposed on the top of the quilt and then cut so that they unravel and fray into fluffy thread rows when washed. The two keys to success in creating a rag quilt are choosing a loosely woven fabric that will fray easily and cutting along the seam allowances closely enough to encourage fraying without cutting into the material.

Things You'll Need

• Finished quilt top
• Sewing machine
• Sharp scissors or spring-loaded rag quilt scissors

Instructions

1. Assemble your quilt with all seam rows on the quilt top facing outward. Stitch around all four sides of the quilt about 1/2 inch in from each edge.

2. Make perpendicular cuts into the fabric at 1/4-inch intervals along each block seam line of the quilt. Make each cut to within 1/8 inch of the stitching holding the block together. You want to get as close as possible to each seam without actually cutting into it.

3. Repeat the cuts on the outside perimeter of the quilt, again cutting up to the seam line at 1/4-inch intervals.

4. Wash and dry the quilt to start the fraying process. Many quilters use commercial washers and dryers since the multiple cuts will produce a good deal of lint.

Tips & Warnings

• Cutting a rag quilt is easy, but time-consuming. Sharp scissors or specialty spring-loaded rag quilt scissors make it much easier on your hands to clip into row after row of fabric edging.

References

• Jen Yu: Flannel Rag Quilt
• Green Apple Orchard: Easiest Quilt Ever! The Rag Quilt Tutorial