How to Assemble Rag Quilts
Rag quilts have become very popular in recent years. Easily made by inexperienced quilters, many professional or experienced quilters have looked to rag quilts as a break from the ordinary. Rag quilts found even more popularity as the "primitive" home decor trend took storm in the mid to late 2000s.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Two square yards each of two or more different materials
- Scissors or rotary fabric cutter
- Needle
- Thread
- Sewing machine
- Washer and dryer
- Lint roller
- Quilt batting
- Quilt backing
Instructions
-
-
1
Cut all fabric pieces into the sizes needed for the quilt. The size of the blocks that are cut from the fabric is up to you. Additionally, different quilt sizes will require a different number of blocks. It's important to get enough fabric to make an appropriately sized quilt. Also, try to use material with different patterns.
-
2
Use a rotary fabric cutter or sharp, regular scissors to cut blocks into necessary sizes. Make fabric or material squares at least 4 inches square and up to 8 inches square. You may go larger or smaller on the block sizes, but the pieces will be harder to work with.
-
-
3
Lay two unprinted sides of the fabric against one another and align all edges. Sew a single, straight seam through one side of the two blocks. Set the seam back a half-inch from the edge of the fabric and sew, either by hand or with a sewing machine.
-
4
Unfold the two pieces and align a third piece in the same way so that the three pieces form a single strip. Sew this piece in the same way and repeatedly add pieces until you have completed a full strip in the length you require.
-
5
Continue to sew blocks together in strips, alternating the material by design in a pattern or at random. Make enough strips to complete the width of the quilt.
-
6
Lay strips together with unprinted sides touching; pin together with quilting stickpins or safety pins. Sew a long seam to hold strips together. This seam should also sit a half-inch in from the edge of the fabric strips.
-
7
Cut lines in the half-inch seam allowances; make the cuts approximately a quarter-inch apart. Once you are finished making the cuts, launder the quilt on a normal cycle and dry by machine. Remove large, loose threads with scissors and any small lint with a sticky lint roller.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Using heavy fabric, such as denim, prevents the need to quilt the rag quilt, as the top piece itself is heavy enough without backing and harder to maintain when quilted. However, should you choose to quilt your rag quilt, cut batting blocks 1 inch smaller than the blocks of the quilt. Set the blocks into place between the seams, attach the quilt-backing piece and sew the backing into place along the seams. Place X-shaped seams through each block to quilt the piece.
