

With most sewing projects, you spend a lot of time hiding seams and finishing all the raw edges. Well toss that worry out the window for this one! A rag quilt is sewn together so the seams show on the outside. After washing and drying, the seams gently fray or 'rag,'producing a very soft and cuddly feel. If you can sew a straight line, you can make this quilt. And, you can easily put it together in a single day.
The trick to a good rag is to choose cotton and other natural fabrics, which are more likely to unravel when washed and dried. Anything with a loose weave will work well. Flannel is always a favorite for rag quilts because it's soft to start with and rags up wonderfully.
Our sample was made for a baby girl's nursery, using Patty Young's Andalucia collection. There current collections available for your project are nearly limitless. Have fun mixing and matching to create your own look.
Sewing Tools You Need
- Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome HD3000)
Fabric and Other Supplies
- Fabric for 20 top scalloped edge panels: 1 yard of 45" wide fabric: we used Patty Young's Andalucia in Kiwi Flora
- Fabric for 8 of 16 top center square panels: ½ yard of 45" wide fabric: we used Patty Young's Andalucia in Earth Flora
- Fabric for the other 8 of 16 top center square panels: ½ yard of 45" wide fabric: we used Patty Young's Andalucia in Petal Jester
- Fabric for all 36 back panels: 1¾ yard of 45" wide fabric: we used a brown flannel with small pink polka dots that we found at our local fabric store – no specific designer was noted on the bolt
- All purpose thread
- See-through ruler
- Fabric pencil or marking pen
- Template plastic: this is available at your local fabric store – you could also use cardboard, but it's easier if you can see through it
- Iron and ironing board
- Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
- Ruler
- Straight pins
Getting Started
- Download and print out the three templates. Cut out the template shapes.
- Using the template shapes as a pattern, cut one Corner Scallop template, one Side Scallop template, and one 7" Square template from the template plastic.
- Position the Corner Scallop plastic template on the WRONG side of the Kiwi Flora fabric, and trace around the shape with a fabric marking pen. Repeat to trace a total of four Corner Scallop shapes. Trace the shapes as closely together as possible to minimize fabric waste. Using the Side Scallop plastic template, trace sixteen Side Scallop shapes on the Kiwi Flora. Cut out all the shapes on the drawn lines.
- Repeat step 3, but this time draw the two shapes on the WRONG side of the Brown and Pink Polka Dot Flannel, cutting four corner scallops and 16 edge scallops.
- Position the 7-inch Square plastic template on the WRONG side of the Earth Flora, and cut eight 7" squares.
- In this same manner, from the Petal Jester cut eight 7" squares.
- In this same manner, from the remaning Brown and Pink Polka Dot Flannel, cut sixteen 7" squares.
At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board
Note: Use a ½" seam allowance throughout.
- Match up your fabric pieces according to size and shape. You will pair each of the Brown and Pink Polka Dot pieces with corresponding Kiwi Flora, Petal Jester, and Earth Flora fabric pieces.
- Place each pair of fabrics WRONG sides together (fabric patterns facing out) and pin.
- Stitch an 'X' through the center of each 7" square (This makes sure the fabric squares hold together through washing and drying. Without this step, your squares would like come out of the dryer looking twisted or puckered.). Do your best to stitch an 'X' in the scallop shapes, but don't worry if it isn't perfectly symmetrical.
- With Brown and Pink Polka Dot sides together, place one 7" Earth Flora square together with one 7" Petal Jester square. Pin. Stitch along one edge using a ½" seam allowance. Note: The Petal Jester fabric is directional, which means the pattern of the fabric runs in a specific line. Be sure to keep the direction of this fabric consistent as you sew the quilt together.
- Repeat step 4 to create eight two-square units.
- With Brown and Pink Polka Dot sides together, stitch two of the units created above to create one row of four squares. Be sure to alternate Petal Jester and Earth Flora squares. Repeat to create four rows.
- With Brown and Pink Polka Dot sides together, stitch the four rows together along the long sides to create the Quilt Center.
- With Brown and Pink Polka Dot sides together, stitch two Side Scallop pieces together. Repeat to make eight two-scallop units. Note: Be sure to stitch on the STRAIGHT SIDE EDGES ONLY - leave the curved scallop edge unsewn.
- Stitch two units sewn above together to make one long row of four Side Scallop pieces. Repeat to make four rows of four Side Scallop pieces. Remember, you're always stitching with the Brown and Pink Polka Dot sides together so your seams stand up.
- Stitch one Side Scallop row to side of the Quilt Center.
- Stitch a Corner Scallop piece to each end of the two remaining Side Scallop rows, making a six-square row.
- Stitch these final two rows to the top and bottom of the Quilt Center.
- Stitch around the entire outside scalloped edge of the quilt, using a ½" seam allowance.
- Using your scissors, make snips in the raw seam edges at ¼" intervals. Do the same around the outside edges of the scallops. Be careful not to cut through any actual seams.
- Wash and dry your quilt to 'rag' the seams. Caution: this will leave a lot of thread and fabric pieces in your washer and dryer so don't forget to clean out your lint trap.
Hints and Tips
We didn't use batting in our quilt, and were very happy with its light weight. It's perfect to bundle up your baby without making her sweat bullets. Batting is that fluffy stuff placed between the quilt top and the quilt backing to add definition and weight to a quilt.
If you would like to use batting in this project, choose a lightweight cotton type for best results. You will cut a piece of batting for each of the quilt pieces. Cut each piece ½" smaller on all sides from the fabric version. So you will need sixteen 6" squares, four Corner Scallop pieces and sixteen Side Scallop pieces. Cut the Scallop pieces so that they are ½" smaller than the template on all sides. Then, as you match up all the pairs of squares (that's fun to say .... pairs of squares ...) in Step 2 above, sandwich a piece of batting between the top fabric and the back fabric. When you stitch the 'X' you'll secure the batting in between. Finish your quilt following the rest of the steps as-is.
Contributors
Project Design: Alicia Thommas
Sample Creation: Heather Tucker
New to ragging. Will it stop fraying after the wash? I want to make a carseat cover using this technique but want to make sure that it will not be constantly dropping thread on him.
@Loganw - It will probably take more than one washing to completely stop the effect. It really depends on the type of fabric you're using. You might want to send the finished covered through the wash two or three times prior to putting it on the carseat. The more you launder a rag quilt, the softer the seams become - so that's an added benefit !
This is great. Im making this for a co-workers granddaughter. Ive been sewing a few years but this will be my first time with this pattern. Thanks
did you get yours to print out correctly at 7" SQUARE.. i CANT get it to print to size.. it isn't 7" square
@ BethNorred - we have tested all the patterns again using two different in-studio printers and they all print at exactly 7". If your printer is set to print at actual size, it should work correctly. Troubleshooting computers and printers long distance is tough as there are so many system and software variables. All we can insure is that they do print correctly when printed actual size. However, the patterns aren't super complex; you could draw your own 7" x 7" sqaures and then follow our drawings to make your own rounded top for one and rounded top and point for the other. Sorry for your frustration.
I have printed out the templates by clicking on the underlined link and printing them. The 7" block is not 7" but approx. 6.75" as well as the other templates where they would be connecting. I have a new Dell laptop with all the newest software on it so can you tell me how I can get the template to be 7". I did not see anything about downloading it. I have never made a raggy quilt but thought this would be nice for a friend's baby but I need to get moving on it since we will see him on Thursday, 1/30/13. I hope that we can get this fixed quickly. I even measured the printed block and added the necessary amount all around the block to make it 7". My main concern would be the other two templates match and I even added around each of those; however, I am not sure this is he right thing to do. It should be easier than that. I have template plastic that I can put through my printer so if I could get the right dimensions, I could print it. I don't want to waste my template plastic if its not and it would be bette than tracing it onto it. Thanks, in advance, for you assistance and quick response.
@EMblady03 - It sounds like your printer is set to shrink the pattern to fit the page. Make sure your printer is set to print at 100% or Actual Size. You'll also noitce this note at the bottom of the printed page along with a scale box to test. We just happened to do a tutorial about prinitng this week. You can see that here:
http://www.sew4home.com/tips-resources/guide-successfully-printing-and-a...
hey, ok, i done everything you said to do. and as far as the Scale 1x1 is PERFECT, but the paterns do NOT measure 7".. guess i need HELP.. love this pattern, just not sure how to do this
so excited to see this pattern! I came up with a pushchair cover a while back using squares of denim (from old jeans) a a piece from a fleece blanket that had rag seams like this, and I get so many comments on it. Can't wait to try this out, doing it 'properly', and with the scalloped edge!
how big is the quilt from kimberlee in joliet?
@ Terri B - I don't know, we only saw the pictures. It appears to be about 7 squares each direction, but I don't know the final dimension of her squares. It is actually more similar to our full size rag quilt than the baby one. You can find the tutorial for the full size quilt here:
http://sew4home.com/projects/bed-linens/valentines-woolie-rag-quilt
I have made this several times now and just love it. The scalloped edge is such a fun twist. Thanks for the pattern!
Thank you for the beautiful pattern!
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I used a layer cake (10" pre-cut squares), 2 different flannels for a checkerboard back, and the even feed foot. I did not do the scallops, but I love those and if I make this quilt again, I will try them. I love the weight and the softness of this quilt, I did not use batting. I feel this is already heavy enough.
You don't have to backstitch your Xs, because those seams will be secured when you stitch the squares together. Plus, you want the edges to rag, and backstitching could leave a little stiff part. Good luck, so glad you're giving this project a go!
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