rag quilt cutting guide and tutorial

     A rag quilt cutting guide to help you get started on a basic quilt. This is a great sewing and quilting project for a beginner. The raw open edge is very forgiving and hides a lot of mistakes. Once you are confident in your skills you can vary the pattern and make quilt blocks. A rag quilt is a great use of fabric scraps and a way to recycle clothing too.

     Sewing has become my greatest passion. Making something can can be reused again and again makes me happy. There are so many techniques to try that it feeds my need for creativity too.  I can dye my fabric, paint or stencil it or even purchase custom printed fabric online and as I get further into sewing and quilting there are techniques that can be joined for unlimited design possibilities. Excitement fills my soul at the thought of all the possibilities. I made this handy rag quilt guide so I would know how many pieces to cut out.  Pin this to your favorite pinterest board or print it for a quick reference.     Quilting requires baby steps and Rag quilts are a nice place to start. I consider myself a beginning quilter. Yes, I sew but I have never made a quilt.  My first rag quilted piece was a pillow. I like to start small and work my way up to larger projects. A friend asked me to take part in a quilt drive called Project Linus. This was the perfect opportunity for me to learn how to do a basic quilt and a child would get something special to use during their hospital stay.  How could I say no?            

     Then, as I prepared my supplies to make the quilt, I thought tweens and teens might need them too and that most people would select fabric for little kids. So I went with one of my favorite fabrics called Urban Nomad and solids from Kona. I learned a lot of lessons along the way. A 4″ square is the ABSOLUTE smallest I would ever go. I made a bazillion and one squares and a few mistakes along the way. But most importantly I learned that no matter how many mistakes I make that a child will receive something handmade just for them and their hospital stay will be a little easier. It warms my heart to know that my efforts will be helping a child in need and I made it happen with something as simple as fabric and thread.

Materials for the Rag Quilt:
Affiliate links – I earn a tiny commission off sales.

• Fusiboo Fusible Batting
• Fabric for backing
• Fabric for front
• Scissors
• Sewing machine and coordinating thread.
• OminiGrid ruler,  Rotary cutter  and cutting mat.  or Starter Kit
• Straight pins

     Select your size of rag quilt and rag quilt square.  Use the rag quilt cutting guide to determine the number of squares needed. The larger the square is the quicker the cutting is and less sewing.  I wish I would have made my squares bigger. Lesson learned! The next quilt I do will have much bigger squares.  Each square for the quilt will need a top, a batting, and a backing. Use a 1/2-inch seam allowance for the rag quilt.  This will give you a nice edge all the way around.

     The stacks should go top fabric face up, batting then bottom fabric face out. Slide a few straight pins through the stack to hold fabrics together. Make as many pieces as you need for the size of rag quilt you are using. Make your pattern and stack in rows according to pattern placement. If you are tight on space you can hang a sheet on a wall and pin the pieces to the sheet to arrange.  My dinning room table doubles as my work space when piecing together.   Gather the first two blocks in the first row. Place the stacks backing sides together, noting which edges should be connected. Sew along the aligned edges with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Some people like to sew Xs in the center of each square.  I did it on the center and not the outer bands. I like the X look better. You decide what you like.

    Add the next block, again placing backing sides together.  Finish sewing the blocks in each row together. Attach rows to each other, placing rows backing sides together and matching seam intersections. When the quilt is complete, sew a seam  around the entire quilt, 1/2-inch from each side. If you stop 1/2″ from ends, back-stitch at each angle of the corner. Once the pieces are sewn together you will need to clip the edges. Make perpendicular cuts about 1/4″ apart along all seams. Do not cut too close to the seam lines. I did this on a few and had to go in and repair them after the washing.  Lesson learned.I made this handy guide for your use. Take my advice and go with bigger squares unless you enjoy the cutting process.  Some people do and I am not one of them. I hope you enjoy the rag quilt cutting guide.  The A rag quilt cutting guide makes it easier to determine the amount of fabric you will need. 

 

SaveSave