How to Make a Shaggy Quilt

Shaggy quilts get their name from the frayed seams. After the quilt is washed, the seams fray and give the quilt a soft and fun look. Shaggy quilts are machine sewn making the project time minimal. Shaggy quilts are great for beginning quilters and sewers. They even make a great project for kids to learn to sew. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 30 4 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch top squares
• 30 4 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch bottom squares
• 30 3 inch by 3 inch squares of batting
• Thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Washing machine
• Clothes dryer

1. Cut thirty 4 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch squares for the front of the quilt and thirty of the same size for the back of the quilt (60 squares in all). Cut thirty 3 inch by 3 inch squares of batting.

2. Place a bottom square face down. Place a piece of batting on top of the square. Put a top square, face up, on top of the batting. Do this for all 30 of the squares.

3. Use a sewing machine to sew an X through each square to hold the batting in place. Sew straight lines from corner to opposite corner to do this. Stitch an X in each square.

4. Lay out the quilt squares 5 by 6. Make a stack of quilt squares for each row, keeping the squares in order.

5. Sew each row together by sewing the seams so that they are facing up on the right side of the quilt. Lay each completed row down in the order it will be sewn.

6. Sew the rows together so that the raw edges are facing the up side of the quilt. Remove any pins and clip excess threads.

7. Clip all of the raw edges almost to the seams. Make a cut approximately every half inch. Wash and dry the quilt two times. Clip all excess fray and any loose strings.

Tips & Warnings

• Make larger quilts by increasing the number or size of the squares.
• Use flannel for the back of the quilt.
• Use coordinating fabric for the squares and another coordinating print for the back.