How to Make a Rag Quilt

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If you've been wanting to try your hand at quilting, a rag quilt is the perfect place to start. All you have to be able to do is cut squares and sew a straight line. No need to worry about fraying around the edges either because on this quilt, the more fray, the better. Since the seams are exposed and they are expected to fray, this quilt is very forgiving and fairly quick to make. So let's embrace the fray and get started.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Things You'll Need

  • Sharp rag quilt scissors

  • 20 pieces of 7-inch square black flannel

  • 25 pieces of 7-inch square plaid flannel

  • 10 pieces of black and white print flannel

  • 10 pieces of another black and white print flannel

  • 205 pieces of 7-inch square white flannel

  • Straight pins

Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 1

Place flannel squares into fabric layer "sandwiches." Place two white squares on the bottom and one square of printed, black or white on top. For a quilt that will be ten squares on one side and nine squares on the other, you will end up with 90 fabric sandwiches:

  • 20 with black on top
  • 25 with white on top
  • 25 with plaid on top
  • 10 with black and white pattern on top
  • 10 with black and white pattern on top
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 2

Lay out the fabric squares into the pattern.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 3

Sew an X from corner to corner on each of the layered squares. Place them back into the layout so you remember where they go in the quilt.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 4

Place squares with ​wrong​ sides together and pin.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 5

Sew together with a 1/2-inch seam. Continue sewing the squares together to form a strip. Remember to place them with ​wrong​ sides together every time. The seams will be exposed on every square in the strip. If you've been sewing for a long time, this will go against every sewing bone in your body.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 6

Once all of the squares are sewn into strips, pin the strips together with ​wrong​ sides facing each other. Match the corners of each square.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 7

Sew the strips together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. As you come to a seam, open it up on both top and bottom and sew across it.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 8

When the strips are all sewn together, sew a straight line that is a 1/2-inch in on all of the outside edges of the quilt. Again, sew across each of the seams to hold them in an open position.

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Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 9

Use sharp rag quilt scissors to clip each seam and all around the outside of the quilt. Be very careful to not cut any of your stitching. The closer your cuts are to each other, the better the seams will fray when the quilt is washed.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Step 10

Wash and dry the quilt several times to achieve a nice fray in every seam.

Image Credit: Beth Huntington
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

Get comfy!

Image Credit: Beth Huntington
Image Credit: Beth Huntington

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