| The first time I heard the term "Rag | | | | other corner. You could do some fancy |
| Quilting," I though it had something to do | | | | quilting in each block if you would like. |
| with using big, long rags of fabric and | | | | |
| somehow weaving them together to make a | | | | Continue this layering and stitching for as |
| quilt. | | | | many squares as you would like - depending on |
| | | | how large you would like your quilt to be. |
| Boy, was I wrong! | | | | |
| | | | Once you have all of your squares/blocks |
| It turns out that rag quilting got its name | | | | stitched, it is time to begin to sew them |
| from the ragged edges on the quilt. No doubt | | | | together to make your quilt. |
| in my mind that this quilt design was created | | | | |
| by a quilter as a variation of a Quilt as You | | | | The process is the similar as if you were |
| Go kind of pattern - whether it was | | | | sewing blocks together to make a quilt top, |
| intentional or accidental is something only | | | | with just a slight twist or two. Take two |
| that quilter knows. | | | | blocks and place them WRONG sides together. |
| | | | Stitch them together using a 1" seam |
| Wide seam allowances are common for rag | | | | allowance. Sew the seam along the entire |
| quilting - usually at least 1." So, if you | | | | edge of the fabric, and do not backstitch. |
| would like each block to be an 8" square when | | | | |
| finished, you should cut 10" squares of | | | | Sew the blocks in each row together. Now you |
| fabric and 7¾" batting or flannel. | | | | have a bunch of rows of blocks with all of |
| | | | the seam allowances facing to one side |
| To make a rag quilt, you take 2 squares of | | | | (usually the front side). |
| fabric (could be triangles or any other | | | | |
| shape, but squares are most common), and a | | | | Once that is done, open the seam allowances, |
| piece of batting for each block in your | | | | and sew the rows together, continuing to |
| quilt. You could use a piece of flannel | | | | place the WRONG sides of the fabric together, |
| instead. The batting or flannel should be | | | | so your seam allowances will face the top |
| cut about 1¼" smaller than the squares of | | | | (right side) of the quilt. |
| fabric. | | | | |
| | | | After all of your blocks are sewn together, |
| Place one square of fabric right side down on | | | | clip the seam allowances - that is what makes |
| your table. Place the piece of batting or | | | | the "ragged" edge, or fringe. Take a very |
| flannel in the center of the fabric. And | | | | sharp pair of scissors and cut about ½" |
| then place the other piece of fabric right | | | | into the seam allowance, making sure not to |
| side up on top of the batting. You now have | | | | cut into the stitching. Make these slices |
| a stack with 3 layers, and the right sides of | | | | about ¼" apart from each other. |
| the fabric are facing out. | | | | |
| | | | Once all of the seams are clipped, shake your |
| Stitch through all of the layers, to secure | | | | quilt out to remove as many of the loose |
| them in place. Usually these squares are | | | | threads as possible, then wash the quilt and |
| machine stitched, using a simple straight | | | | place it in the dryer. This will cause the |
| stitch, making an X through the square. To | | | | clipped seam allowances to fringe even more. |
| do that, you begin in one corner and stitch | | | | |
| to the opposite corner. Take your square out | | | | And, now you're done! |
| of the machine, and repeat the process on the | | | | |