Cut, Sew, Snip, Wash

I've finished another rag quilt.  I really enjoy making these.  Heather (from BitterSweetAndPrim) had a piece of flannel fabric she gave me to create something for her.  A rag quilt was the first thing that came to mind.  I like using flannel to make them but any cotton will work.  It has to be a fabric that will fray to give a nice fringe look to the raw edges.  I usually make them with two layers, but in this case, I didn't have enough coordinating fabric, so this one is just one layer.  Two layers would make it warmer, for actual usage, and also add to the fringe. It still looks just as good and is just being used for decorationg. Here's the process I went through to create it.

First step is to cut out squares.  The size is total preference.  I used a 5" square.  Keep in mind, you will be sewing a 1/2" seam around the square, so the finished square will be a little smaller. 

Then you need to lay out your design.  Since I'm just using the two colours, that was the easiest part.

Stack up the squares in each row and it's off to the sewing machine.  If you are using two layers, you need to sew and "X" from one corner to the other, to attach the two layers together. (wrong sides together) Then you will first sew the rows of squares together with a 1/2" seam.  Lay them WRONG sides together.  This will bring your seam to the front of the quilt.  That's what you want.  Total opposite to making a traditional quilt. Your finished product will be strips of squares.

Lay your pieces out again.  Then gather them up in order and it's off to the sewing machine again. 

Now your going to sew your strips together with a 1/2" seam, wrong sides together, in the order you gathered them up.  When your done this step, the quilt is completely assembled.

It's looking a little funky, but now we will release those corners.  It's time to create the fringe.  To do this, I recommend spring loaded scissors.  It really saves your hand.  These are the pair I use.

You have to snip the fringe about 1/4" apart, but take care not to cut through the seam or you will have it coming apart.  Where your squares meet, cut just along the side of the seam.

I find this part of the quilt, takes the longest.  Here it is, all clipped up and you'll be left looking like the sewing room floor.  Lots threads all over you.

Here's the back side.

Now you have to wash it.  Your going to get a lot of thread come off of it during this process.  My washing machine empties into a laundry tub, so I have a lint catcher on the end of the tube that comes out of the washing machine.  It catches all the loose threads in the water.  I put a couple of towels in with it as well, to help fringe it even more.  Then it's into the dryer.  Make sure you clean out your lint tray before and after.  Trust me, it's going to be full.  The more you wash it, the more it's going to fray.

Here is the finished product.  It finished sized ended up being 35"x44" (11 squares x 9 squares)