How to make a rag quilt
A rag quilt is made of squares that are each already a little quilt: a front, a back and a middle, sewn together with ½" seams that face out and are snipped to fringe. For 7" finished squares, cut the fronts and backs 8" and the middles 6".
Flannel, homespun and denim fray best. There is no binding and no separate quilting, which makes it a good first quilt.
By Editorial Staff
Making a rag quilt
Make a sandwich for each square: the back square face down, the middle square centered on it, and the front square face up. Sew an X from corner to corner through all three layers.
Sew the squares together with ½" seams, backs together, so the seam allowances stand up on the front. Sew them into rows, then join the rows the same way.
Stitch ½" from the outer edge all the way around. Then snip every seam allowance and the outer edge every ¼", close to the stitching but not through it. Spring-loaded rag quilt snips save your hands.
Wash and dry the quilt to fluff the fringe. Clean the lint trap often during the first dry; a rag quilt sheds a lot the first time.
Squares and flannel for every size
| Size | Finished | Squares | Fronts and backs | Middles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 43" × 64" | 54 | 6¼ yd | 1½ yd |
| Throw | 64" × 71" | 90 | 9½ yd | 2½ yd |
| Twin | 71" × 92" | 130 | 14 yd | 3½ yd |
| Full | 85" × 99" | 168 | 17¼ yd | 4½ yd |
| Queen | 92" × 106" | 195 | 19¾ yd | 5¼ yd |
| King | 106" × 106" | 225 | 22¼ yd | 6¼ yd |
7" finished squares, 8" cut. Middles are batting or flannel cut 1" smaller than the finished square so they stay out of the seams. The [Rag quilt pattern](/patterns/rag-quilt) splits the fronts between five fabrics.
Plan your next quilt in your own fabric
Quiltspiration draws any pattern in the fabric you own and works out the cut list for any size.