Rag Quilts - Sewing projects and design ideas

How to Make a Rag Quilt

Rag quilts are nothing like traditional quilts because there's no quilting. They probably fit better in the "blanket" category. The frayed exposed seam allowances on their front side is what gives them the "rag" look.

Some rag quilts have three traditional layers: a top, batting, and backing. But the ones I usually make from recycled denim omit the batting, saving both money and time, and are just as snuggly as quilts that include batting.

Choosing the Fabrics

Any combination of quilting cottons, denim, flannels, and homespuns are your best choices for rag quilts. I prefer recycled denim (blue jeans) for the front and high quality flannel for the back. Avoid any type of polyester blends because they won't fray properly.

Assembling

Rag quilts are assembled first in horizontal rows and then the rows are sewn together. Simply back each denim front block with a flannel back block of the same dimensions, wrong sides together. Sew the blocks together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance with your seams facing the front (denim side) of the quilt.

Once the individual rows are pieced together, join the rows by placing them wrong (flannel) sides together.

I like to finish my rag quilts with a more "finished" looking top and bottom border and a

fluffier ragging to the right and left edges of the quilt. For the top and bottom borders, cut an 8-inch high piece of fabric to the width of the finished quilt PLUS 1-inch. For instance, if the finished width of your quilt is 36 inches, the two pieces of border fabric will measure 8 inches by 37 inches. Then cut two pieces of batting 3-1/2-inches by the width of your quilt. (For a 36-inch wide quilt, the border batting will be 3-1/2 inches by 36 inches.) Fold the border fabric in half, right side together, sew a scant 1/2-inch seam on each end, and then turn right side out. Slip in the batting piece and sew the borders to the pieced quilt so the seams face the front (denim) side of the quilt.

For the right and left sides of the quilt, most people simply sew a straight

line 1/2-inch from the edge and proceed to the clipping step. I don't like doing it that way. The edges are only 2 layers thick while the exposed seams are 4 layers thick. I like the edges of the finished quilt to be just as "fluffy" as the seams. So I cut a long 1-1/4-inch wide strip of fabric, fold it in half lengthwise and iron a crease, then stitch that to the unfinished edges of the quilt, stitching through the folded edge of the border strip.

Clipping the Seams and Edges

After it's all sewn together, it's time to clip the seam allowances and the edges to start the "ragging" process. Any sharp scissors will work, but your hand will cramp using regular scissors. I use and strongly recommend spring loaded type scissors that open automatically after each cut.

Clip about 1/4-inch apart all along the exposed seam allowances, making cuts perpendicular to the seam and being careful not to cut the seam itself. It's a bit time consuming and tedious; I like to do it while watching TV. After clipping all the seams, I take it outside and shake it vigorously to get rid of all the loose thread I can prior to washing the quilt.

Washing and Drying the Quilt

Machine washing and drying the quilt gives all the seams the fluffy "ragged" look. This is going to create an enormous amount of lint, so be prepared. After washing, it's a good idea to take the quilt back outside to shake off as much of the frayed threads as possible before throwing it into the dryer. Even if you shake it out before drying, your lint trap is going to fill up quickly, so you'll need to clean the trap every 10 to 15 minutes during drying. Neglecting to do this could damage your dryer and possibly cause it to overheat and catch fire. Don't neglect the lint trap!

Wash and dry the quilt one or two more times if you'd like the frays to be softer and more noticeable. The seams of the rag quilt shown here are extra fluffy because I used a 3/4-inch seam allowance, and this quilt has been washed numerous times over many months.

Creating rag quilts is a great way to get your younger generations interested in sewing. Unlike traditional quilts, rag quilts are more forgiving of mistakes and usually quicker to complete. And what teenager doesn't love denim? And, perhaps best of all, rag quilts are a terrific, affordable way to create something special from recycled blue jeans.

Let your imagination be your guide, and start planning your rag quilt today!